High schoolers will perform in SA
Dante Mendez
Steven Herrera
Two high school band students from Frio County have earned seats on the All-State Band after area-level auditions last week and will perform in San Antonio next month.
Pearsall High School’s Steven Herrera and Dilley High School’s Dante Mendez are among 286 students from across Texas who have earned the coveted seats on the state band. Both are trumpet players and advanced to the Area level of competition after ranking among the top chairs at the regional auditions in December.
More than 10,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in 22 regions for a place in their respective all-region bands, among them dozens from Pearsall, Dilley and Cotulla. The top-ranking players at each region advanced to one of only five Area auditions last week, with the final selection earning All-State honors, according to DHS Band Director Danny Chavera this week.
Herrera earned second chair in the Area Band; Mendez earned third chair. Both are trumpet players. They will perform for judges again in February to determine which chair they will take in the All-State Band.
The Association of Texas Small School Bands’ (ATSSB) All-State Band will perform a concert in the Lila Cockrell Theatre at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio at 9 a.m. Saturday, February 10, during the annual convention of the Texas Music Educators’ Association.
