Band students earn seats at All-Region, advance to Area competition

By Marc Robertson - Editor | December 6, 2023

Free public concert in Pleasanton this weekend

Dilley High School band students earning places on the ATSSB All-Region Bands (Back row, L-R) Audrianna Rodriguez, Johnathan Osio, Daniel Kelley, (Front) Klaudya Garcia, Dhylan Moreno and Dante Mendez

More than four hundred high school band students from across South Texas traveled to Lytle on Saturday, December 2, to audition for seats on the Association of Texas Small Schools All-Region Bands, and several from Frio and La Salle counties returned with the coveted honors.
Among those from Pearsall, Dilley and Cotulla high schools taking seats on stage for a public performance in Pleasanton this weekend will be those who have also earned advancement to the ATSSB Area Band, which will host a competition later for a chance at state titles. Those who advance from Area to the All-State Band will perform in the Henry B Gonzales Convention Center during the annual convention of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) in February.
Pearsall ISD will send 22 students to Pleasanton after they earned seats on the All-Region Symphonic and Concert bands. Thirteen of them have also advanced to the Area level of competition.
All-Region Band students from Pearsall include the following:
Trumpet players Steven Herrera, 1st chair in Symphonic Band; Matthew Frazier, 4th chair in Symphonic Band; Philip Rivera, 8th chair in Symphonic Band; and Diego Corona, 12th chair in Concert Band;
French horn players Codey Huston, 1st chair in Symphonic Band; and CJ Garza, 3rd chair in Concert Band;
Trombone players Brianna Guerra, 6th chair in Symphonic Band; Kyle Anizan, 7th chair in Symphonic Band; and Ryan DelReal, alternate to region;
Tuba players Erick Aguilar, 4th chair in Symphonic Band; Davian Pena, 3rd chair in Concert Band; and Johnivan Gomez, alternate to region; and euphonium player Jason Jimenez, 5th chair in Concert Band;
Clarinet players Christa Garcia, 8th chair in Symphonic Band; Julian Lopez, 3rd chair in Concert Band; Adrina Benavidez, 7th chair in Concert Band; Sophia Garcia, 10th chair in Concert Band; and Shalynn Vera, alternate to region;
Flute players Lily Garcia, 8th chair in Symphonic Band; Shania Martinez, 6th chair in Concert Band; and
Alto saxophone players Joey Segura, 4th chair in Symphonic Band; and Jeremiah Gutierrez, 5th chair in Concert Band.
Advancing to Area competition from Pearsall are Steven Herrera, Matthew Frazier, Philip Rivera, Codey Huston, CJ Garza, Brianna Guerra, Kyle Anizan, Erick Aguilar, Davian Pena, Jason Jimenez, Christa Garcia, Julian Lopez and Lily Garcia.
Earning seats on the All-Region Bands from Cotulla this year are Alejandro Coronado on alto saxophone, 6th chair in the Concert Band and earning a place at Area; and Elijah Rios on trumpet, 9th chair in the Concert Band.
Dilley High School will be represented on the All-Region Band by six students, of whom five have earned advancement to the ATSSB Area Band. The All-Region performers include Audrianna Rodriguez on bassoon, 1st chair in Symphonic Band; Jonathan Osio on trumpet, 4th chair in Concert Band; Daniel Kelley on trombone, 2nd chair in Symphonic Band; Klaudya Garcia on flute, 3rd chair in Symphonic Band; Dhylan Moreno on tuba, 1st chair in Concert Band; and Dante Mendez on trumpet, 3rd chair in Symphonic Band.
Area qualifiers from Dilley are Daniel Kelley, Audrianna Rodriguez, Klaudya Garcia, Dhylan Moreno, and Dante Mendez.
The ATSSB All-Region Symphonic and Concert Bands are scheduled to perform at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in the Pleasanton ISD Auditorium. Admission is free to the public.