LV Jr. High Students Make All Region Band

On March 25, 2008, 40 students from La Vernia Junior High Band and 1 student from the 6^th Grade Band competed at Region Band tryouts in Marion, TX. These students had to prepare music to play in front of a panel of judges. Schools throughout Region 12 brought students to compete in these tryouts making it a very challenging audition. Four of our students, (Matthew Batey, JP Montgomery, Abigail Nixon and AJ Ramon) made 1^st chair out of all the students in our region! We also had a 6^th grader, Connor House, compete in the junior high contest and make 4^th chair in the Concert band with his French horn!

More than 400 students competed in the Region band tryouts. Band students came from Cole Jr. High at Ft. Sam, Castle Hills 1^st Baptist Academy, Cuero, 1st Baptist Academy of S.A., Falls City, Karnes City, La Vernia, Luling, Marion, Navarro, Randolph, Poth, San Antonio Christian Academy, Stockdale and Yoakum. There were only 79 chairs or places available in the Symphonic band and only 90 chairs available in the Concert band.

Out of the 41 students from La Vernia who competed, 28 made scores high enough to make region band. 18 of the 28 students made outstanding scores and were placed in the top group, the Symphonic Band: Abigail Nixon made 1^st chair flute, Michaela Champagne made 6^th chair flute, Russell Staffy made 7^th chair flute, Kirsti O’Brien made 4^th chair clarinet, Kayla Yarbrough made 6^th chair clarinet, Andrea Johnson made 8^th chair clarinet, Britnee Fox made 11^th chair clarinet, Shelby Shaw made 2^nd chair bass clarinet, Melissa Santoro made 2^nd chair alto saxophone, AJ Ramon made 1^st chair trumpet, Jacky Valdez made 8^th chair trumpet, Nicolaus Appling made 9^th chair trumpet, Linda Vela made 12^th chair trumpet, Brandon Padier made 3^rd chair trombone, Jonathan Jupe made 4^th chair trombone, JP Montgomery made 1^st chair baritone, Matthew Batey made 1^st chair snare drum and Brandon Bippert made 4^th chair snare drum.

10 of the 28 students placed high enough to be selected for the second band, the Concert Band: Rachel Walker made 1^st chair flute, Connor House made 4^th chair French horn, Mario Avila made 6^th chair French horn, Dustin Hurley made 2^nd chair trumpet, Heather Sedlock made 11^th chair trumpet, Teresa Shoemake made 4^th chair trombone, Jacob Hoffman made 8^th chair trombone, Adam Poore made 5^th chair tuba and Christin Crosby made 1^st chair xylophone.

These 28 students will participate in an all-day region band clinic on April 3^rd at Texas Lutheran University. At the clinics the students will rehearse under the direction of two very distinguished band directors. On the evening of April 3d the students will perform the music they rehearsed at a concert at 7pm in Jackson Auditorium at TLU in Seguin, Texas. Everyone is welcome to attend this free concert and hear these outstanding musicians!