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News
Forsan's Johnson hits sweet note,
earns chair on all-state concert band
Forsan High School
junior Levi Johnson plays few notes on his trombone in
the high school band hall. Johnson was among the top
music students in the state in Class selected to
particpate in the Texas Association of Small School
Bands all-state concert band last week. (HERALD
photo/Lyndel Moody) |
By LYNDEL MOODY Staff
Writer
Forsan High School junior Levi Johnson
hit a sweet note last Wednesday, garnering fourth chair
trombone in the Texas Association of Small School Bands
(TASSB) all-state concert band.
The band, comprised of some of the
best students in Class 1A, 2A and 3A, was showcased at the
Texas Music Educators Association annual convention held in
San Antonio.
"It was great," Johnson said. "I was
able to play a caliber of music that we don't usually get to
play here."
The four-day convention features top
choir, orchestra and college music students as well as high
school honor bands and the Class 4A and 5A all-state
bands.
On Saturday, Johnson and his fellow
concert band members performed at San Antonio's historic
Scottish Rite Auditorium in front of an audience of more than
1,000.
"The only reason I made it was because
of Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Higginbotham," Johnson said, speaking of
band director Jim Rhodes and assistant Jeremy
Higginbotham.
Thousands of young music students
throughout the state begin the process of trying out for the
all-state band, but competition is quickly pared down through
a two-part process.
The Forsan youth began his journey in
December when he and four other students made the cut for
all-region band at tryouts held in Greenwood. Also earning a
chair in the all-region band from Forsan were Ruth Kaelin,
flute; Kyle Biggs, baritone; and Eric Ellis,
trombone.
Johnson then went on to qualify for
all-state in competition held in Lubbock.
In Class 4A competition, the Big
Spring High School band did not qualify any students for
all-state this year, but did have a number of strong
performances at all-area tryouts held in Odessa in
January.
Results from Class 4A area tryout
were: French horn: Jessica Ray, sixth; Kristen Richard, 11th;
and Alyssa Rains, 13. Flute: Melody McDaniel, eighth; Mellissa
Franco, 17th; Meredith Fillingim, 18th; and Alex Gariepy, 19.
Tenor trombone: Ryan Harris, ninth. Oboe: Meagan Smith, fifth.
Percussion: Cody Carnes, ninth; and Nick Ross, 10th. Tuba,
Vincente Flores,10th. Baritone: Cierra Butler, seventh, Bb
flat clarinet: Cynthia Padron, 27.
At all-region contest held in
December, the BSHS band blew away the competition, earning 48
positions and qualifying 28 student to advance to all-area
competition.
Results from the all-region
competition were:
Flute: Melody McDaniel, first; Crystal Ward, second;
Mellissa Franco, third; Alex Gariepy, fourth; Meredith
Fillingim, fifth; Paige Gainey, sixth; Angela Banks, seventh;
Deanna Carlisle, eighth; Amy Hanes, ninth; and Morgan Metcalf,
alternate.
Bb clarinet: Cynthia Padron, first; Jennifer Hernandez,
second; Rochelle McMeans, third; Julie Cadenhead, fifth; and
Malerie Aguilar, seventh.
Bass clarinet: Monica Lara, first; Chris Rieger, second;
and Chrissie Walters, third.
Oboe: Meagan Smith, first; Kami Huddleston, second; and
Kelly Wingert, alternate.
Bassoon: Whitney Weir, first.
Alto saxophone: Spencer Roberts, second; Jared Sanchez,
third; Ryan Beall, fourth; and Oscar Natividad,
alternate.
Tenor saxophone: Scott Fankhouser, alternate.
Baritone saxophone: Brandon Green, first.
Cornet/trumpet: Gracie Acosta, first; Braden Burchett,
third; Mark Lozano, fourth; David Welch, fifth; Anthony
Riddle; sixth; Royce Perez, seventh; Landon Jenkins; eighth;
Joel Flores, ninth; Bridgett Rodriguez, 10th; and Brian Juan,
12th.
French horn: Jessica Ray, first; Kristen Richard, second;
and Alyssa Rains, third.
Tenor trombone: Ryan Harris, first; Adam Heinis, third;
Mitchell Lowery, fifth; Jacob Martinez, sixth; and Desmond
Garcia, seventh.
Baritone, Cierra Bulter, first; Health Wilkerson,
alternate.
Tuba: Vincente Flores, first; Jeff Stanley, third; and
Jonathan McMeans, fourth.
Percussion: Cody Carnes, first; Nick Ross, second; Curtis
Osborn, fourth; and Austin Cox, alternative.
String bass: J.W. Beauchamp, first.
Contact Staff Writer Lyndel Moody at
263-7331, ext. 234, or by e-mail at reporter@bigspringherald.com
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