Senior Saif Saleh (French horn), sophomore Vincenzo Guandolo (bassoon), Michelle Cheng (flute), and Tyler Sharpe and Maddox Linder (percussion) have been named to the Texas Music Educators' Association All-State Band. This marks Saleh's and Guandolo's second year to be selected for the highest honor a Texas high school music student can achieve.
"Despite the innumerable challenges encountered throughout this school year, 2021 All-Staters remained committed to their personal musical development," HPISD Director of Instrumental Music Rylon Guidry said. "They demonstrated the very perseverance and dedication that ongoing participation in a music program fosters."
More than 1,860 students were selected in 2021 through a process that began with approximately 50,000 students across Texas competing for a spot. This process begins throughout the state with auditions hosted 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 a TMEA All-State music group.
According to a statement on its website, the "TMEA Executive Board has made the difficult decision not to host an in-person TMEA All-State performance event this year. With a commitment to follow continued health and safety protocols for all involved, the scale of a TMEA All-State event involving several ensembles would not be possible. This unanimous decision was based on thoughtful investigation and considerable deliberation."
"The Highlander Band has had a successful season with 68 students earning All-Region status and 28 earning All-Area status, both school records," Guidry added.
Junior Juliet Allan was named second chair, Alto 1 in the All-State Mixed Choir. She is a member of the Lads & Lassies and Park Version choral groups and she began her preparation with a virtual choir camp in July. Although she greatly missed the opportunity to interact with students from other schools as in years past, she says that she appreciates the opportunity to get to do it at all. "There is something really special about singing with a group of people who have a similar passion for music," Juliet explained. "It's so uplifting and is something that I don't think I will ever tire of."
“Due to COVID-19 protocols, there will be no state music performances this year," HPHS Director of Choral Music Natalie Walker said. "So it's especially important that we congratulate Juliet on this special accomplishment and let her know how proud we are that she represented HPISD so well.”