STAFF REPORTS

The Lehman High School Band will have five soloists and a woodwind quintet competing at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest later this year. (back, left to right) trumpet soloists James Vera, Blake Vajgert, Edwin Guadarrama, Cecilia Ortiz; (front, left to right) multiple percussion soloist Ziggy Zantana and woodwind quintet Cameron Harris, Cecilia Zea, Stephanie Vega, Jared Rodriguez and (not pictured) Johnny Edds. (Photo by Joey Lucita)

Both the Lehman High School and Hays High School bands had stand-out performances in the recent Region 18 Solo and Ensemble Contest, hosted by the Rebels.

Strong contingents from each school qualified for the State Solo and Ensemble Contest later this year, capping off a huge number of Division 1 showings in their auditions.

At Lehman, trumpet soloists Blake Vajgert, Cecilia Ortiz, Edwin Guadarrama and James Vera qualified to move on to state, as did multiple percussion soloist Ziggy Santana and the woodwind quintet of Johnny Edds, Cameron Harris, Jared Rodriguez, Stephanie Vega and Cecilia Zea.

Hays High’s Will Poeppelmeyer was certified to advance after his French horn audition and he’ll join Rebel percussionists Josh Delgado, Amber Hamblin, Ricky Bracamontes and Ely Allen.

Not advancing as soloists, but nevertheless drawing Division 1 scores for their auditions were Lehman’s Angelica Solis, Elise Rose, Stephanie Vega, Tracy Ruiz, Jared Rodiguez, Johnny Edds, Josue Moreno, Christopher Villarreal, Harleigh Elliott, Kyron Bryant, Michael Steeple, Devin Marzullo, Cameron Harris, Matthew Elkins, Earl Gray, BriAna Garza and flute trio Juliana Galicia, Alexis Pinda and Melanie Whitaker.

Hays soloists drawing first division scores for Class 1 music were Tina Heinrich, Casie Lomeli, Ashley Loosier, Lizzy Macias, Marlene Torres, Jayme Foulkrod, Denise Garcia, Sarah Moody, Ross Andress, Ursula Clarence, Adrian DeLeon, Paul Olguin, Jennifer Putman, John Wallgren, Sarah Yager, Emily Briceno, Kayla Fink, Pedro Balderas, Steven Claggett, Michael Ebbinghaus, Ryan Edgel and Miguel Lopez.

The Hays High School Band certified five of its members to the State Solo and Ensemble Contest with auditions recently. The Rebels headed to the state competition include (left to right) Ely Allen, Ricky Bracamontes, Will Poeppelmeyer, Josh Delgado and Amber Hamblin. All but Poeppelmeyer (French horn) perform percussion for the Rebel Band. (Photo by Jim Cullen)

Additional Hays first divisions with Class 1 music included Shaddi Zamrik, Bridget Garraway, Alyssa Gonzales, Amanda Petitt, Tanner Murphy, Ray Racine, Joshua Martin, Christina Milburn, Greg Cadenhead, Caleb Ruckel, Cristina Tenney and Bella Hunt.

Hays first divisions with Class 2 music included Emily Cervantes, Alyssa Tenney, Michelle Garcia, Laina Gonzales, Paty Ponce-Moreno, Esmerald Salinas, Clay Cooper, Melyssa Harvell, Michael Squires, Sam Simoneau, Michael Schneider and Brittany Pape.

Hays Class 1 ensemble members included Ross Andress, Ursula Clarence, Adrian DeLeon, Paul Olguin, Jennifer Putman, John Wallgren, Sarah Yager, Heidi Casas, Sarah Wilson, Alyssa Limon, Emily Briceno, Kayla Fink, John Brandt, Ashley Loosier, Denise Garcia, Sarah Moody and Will Poeppelmeyer. Class 2 Ensemble members included Paul Olguin, Katy Summers, Allison Gleason and Paty Ponce-Moreno.