The Hays High School Band showing at regional auditions at Westlake High School proved a positive one, with sixteen members reaching the Region Band level. Among those were (back, left to right) Ely Allen, Anthony Bond, Colby Padgett, Will Poeppelmeyer, Michael Ebbinghaus, Ryan Edgel, Erin Korzeniewski; (front, left to right) Marlene Torres, Ashley Loosier, Casie Lomeli, John Wallgren, Ross Andress, Emily Briceno, Pedro Balderas. Not pictured: Ursula Clarence, Tanner Murphy. (Photos by Jim Cullen)
Lehman High School’s Lobo Band returned from recent region auditions with eleven members reaping either Region or District Band honors. The honorees included (back, left to right) Alexander Baker, James Vera, Matt Elkins, Earl Grey, Josue Moreno; (front, left to right) Kyron Bryant, Cecelia Zea, Elise Rose, Tracy Ruiz, Angie Mitchum and Jared Dunn.
by JIM CULLEN
It’s that time of year again and the respective band members of Hays and Lehman high schools have once again stepped onto their usual lofty perches atop the showings at District and Region Band auditions.
No fewer than 33 local students earned recognition, five of those at a level high enough to advance to next month’s Area auditions for the All-State Band. Auditions were held in early December at Westlake High School in Austin.
Hays High School Band Director Tony Gibbs saw his charges tally 22 of the coveted slots, the most heady of those the three qualifiers for the upcoming Area auditions at the University of Texas. Lehman High School Director Joey Lucita and his staff reaped the enjoyment of seeing a pair of Lobo Band members advance to that level.
Hays High’s John Wallgren, Michael Ebbinghaus and Will Poeppelmeyer advanced for their auditions on B-flat clarinet, alto saxophone and French horn, respectively. Lehman High’s James Vera and Tracy Ruiz qualified to advance for their shot at state on trumpet and piccolo, respectively.
Among the Hays Region Band qualifiers were the advancing threesome, as well as Marlene Torres, Pedro Balderas, Anthony Bond, Colby Padgett and Ely Allen for Symphonic Band and Ashley Loosier, Casie Lomeli, Ursula Clarence, Ross Andress, Emily Briceno, Ryan Edgel, Erin Korzeniewski and Tanner Murphy for Concert Band.
In addition to Vera and Ruiz, the Lehman Band grabbed Region Band slots for Elise Rose, Cecelia Zea, Angie Mitchum, Jared Dunn and Josue Moreno.
Claiming District Band slots were Rebels Kaitlyn Williamson, Cole Smith, Amanda Pettit, Sam Simoneau, John Bowen and Greg Cadenhead. Rounding out the district’s high-flying showing were Lobos in the District Band including Alexander Baker, Kyron Bryant, Matt Elkins and Earl Grey.
Directors Lucita and Gibbs, as always, heaped praise on their entire contingent of auditioning students, but held out special words of congratulations to their placing – and advancing – students. Gibbs offered “This is an extremely competitive region and the results speak well of the students’ performance.” Lehman’s Lucita echoed his counterpart’s note on the level of competition in this Central Texas region and added, “We are very excited to have yet another solid showing of commitment, effort and accomplishment,” while wishing his advancers good fortune at the next round.
