Ten GCISD students have been named Texas All-State musicians by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. About 1,780 students are selected through a process that begins with over 70,000 students from around the state vying for the honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles (bands, orchestras, and choirs) at the TMEA Convention.
All-State musicians typically perform at the TMEA Clinic/Convention for thousands of attendees. However, due to health and safety guidelines, the TMEA Executive Board has made the difficult decision not to host an in-person TMEA All-State performance event this year. That, however, does not diminish the significance of being named an All-State musician.
This competitive process, which was completely virtual this year, begins throughout the state in auditions organized by 33 TMEA Regions. Individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. From this ranking, a select group of musicians advances from their Region to compete against musicians from other areas in eight TMEA Area competitions. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in a TMEA All-State music group. Only the top 2.5% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.
Students representing GCISD include:
5A All-State Band
Ryan Blankenship – CHHS, Senior – Percussion
Diego Cruz – CHHS, Sophomore – Bass Clarinet
Max DiFonzo-Jones – CHHS, Freshmen – Tenor Trombone
Ben Drummond – CHHS, Sophomore – Percussion (Two-time All-State selection)
Abigail Isley – GHS, Junior – Bb Clarinet
Tyler Lane – CHHS, Junior – Tuba (Two-time All-State selection)
Alissa Park – CHHS, Junior – Clarinet
6A All-State Band
Kimberly Nelson - CHHS, Junior - Trombone (Three-time All-State selection)
All-State Mixed Choir
Jessie Olsen - CHHS, Freshman - Alto 1
All-State Treble Choir
Mattison Beezley - CHHS, Senior - Soprano 2