Twenty-seven Mt. Pleasant Junior High School band students have qualified for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region IV Middle School All-Region Band. Nineteen students qualified for the Concert Band and eight qualified for the Symphonic Band.  Eight students were selected as alternates.

Three students earned 1st chair, essentially 1st place in their category. Jordi Bello earned 1st chair Alto Saxophone and Taylor Hubbs earned 1st chair Bassoon both in the Symphonic Band. Pablo Mata earned 1st chair Tenor Saxophone in the Concert Band. Four students earned 2nd chairs: David Perez (Flute) and Holly Reese (Bass Clarinet) both in the Concert Band and Hannah Harvill (Oboe) and Nicholas Segovia (Trombone) both in the Symphonic Band.

“I am so proud of all the MPJH students who auditioned for the All-Region band,” said MPJHS Band Director Karen Luckett. “We took 52 students to Pine Tree High School for the auditions. Each of them had to play a piece solo before a panel of judges which can be a very scary thing for any musician but can be particularly so for a junior high student. I am pleased that so many of them auditioned. I congratulate them all whether they made the All-Region Band or not.”

Other students who qualified for the All-Region Bands are Flutes: Joshua Espinoza (6th Concert), Cristy Garcia (5th Symphonic), Vanessa Maldonado (4th Concert), Jocelyn Reyes (12th Concert), Patricia Roque (7th Concert) and Karen Trejo (3rd Concert); Bb Clarinet: Genesis Davila (7th Concert), Jayme Don Juan (17th  Concert), Lexi Humber (11th Concert), Nia Jackson (11th Symphonic) and Emmalee Wade (3rd Concert); Alto Saxophone: Lucy Molina (6th Concert) and Jonathan Tepetate (3rd Concert);  Trumpet: Jayden Beckham (6th Concert) and Samuel Dorantes (10th Symphonic); French Horn: Anna Harris (6th Symphonic); Trombone: Saide Carillo (3rd Concert) and Juan Juarez (5th Concert); Baritone: Victor Diaz (4th Symphonic); and Percussion: Jerruis Vickers (3rd Concert).

The eight alternates are Alicia Bello (2nd Flute), Ruby Ferretiz (2nd Flute), Alitzel (5th Flute), Neida Perez (4th Bb Clarinet), Haidie Fielder (4th French Horn), Maiko Estrada (1st Tuba), Donoven Young (4th Percussion) and Juan Torres (6th Percussion).

The 27 Mt. Pleasant Junior High All-Region Bands members, along with those who made the High School Jazz and Freshman Region bands will perform in the TMEA Region IV Middle School/Freshman/Jazz Clinic & Concert on Saturday, December 10th, 2016 at Paris High School.

Pictured: The MPJHS All-Region Band members and alternates. Not Pictured_ Hannah Harvill.