Mission High School (MHS) had several accolades this school year and band directors are extremely proud of their students for their accomplishments. Band students participated in several Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) competitions. The results of those competitions are as follows.
Jazz Band student, Eddie Rivera, auditioned virtually on October 17th for the region jazz band and placed 3rd overall. He also placed as 1st chair tenor sax in Jazz Band II. He was the only student from MCISD to earn a chair this year in the region and first from MHS in several years. He was also 1st alternate to Area.
At TMEA Region Phase 1, eight students placed well enough in the sections involved in that audition to advance to the region level. This is a record for MHS and included one student earning 1st chair, Angel Alanis, on trumpet. All these students advance to the Region One level on December 12th. Those students are: Abigail Valadez, Stephanie Gerena, Angela Alanis, Alex Leal, Esteban Pena, Madison Garcia, Bernardo Hurtado, and Erika Cruz.
The MHS Band set a school record by having 16 students place in the Region Band, including two first chair students. Seven students placed in the Honors Band, five in the Symphonic Band, and four in the Concert Band. Those students are: Abigail Valadez, Stephanie Gerena, Carlos Gerena Alba, Juan Carrillo, Esteban Peña, Madison Garcia, Bernardo Hurtado, Erika Cruz, Amanda Soza, Eddie Rivera, Angel Alanis, Jose Castillo, Cruz Segovia, Orlando Loya, Esteban Lopez, and Agustin Solis.
MHS also set a school record with SEVEN students advancing to the Area G Band audition set for January. This number is also the third highest number of 6A area band members in all of Region XV. The seven students are: Carlos Gerena Alba, Esteban Peña, Juan Carrillo, Eddie Rivera, Angel Alanis, Jose Castillo, and Esteban Lopez. It should be noted that other 6A schools have 8 to 14 band directors as opposed to the four at MHS.
These students are competing for a chair in the TMEA 6A All-State band. This is the highest achievement possible for student musicians in Texas. 6A is open to students in all classifications regardless of school classification and is the highest level of achievement. Less than 2% of students who begin the process become an All-State musician.