Caroline Prickette was recently named to the Texas All-State Band on clarinet. She along with 13 other Wildcat Band members qualified and competed at the Area level on Saturday, Jan 6 at Chapel Hill High School in Tyler. The top students from six regions came together for auditions to be considered for the Texas All-State Band. Our Area (Area C) stretches from Northeast Texas down through the Beaumont and Houston areas. “The best musicians from these parts of the State are some of the best anywhere around. Our record number of Area qualifiers this year was so exciting.” Spencer Emmert, head director.
“Along with Caroline’s State qualification, we had several other students just a few places away from All-State this year. Almost all of these students are under classmen, so the future is certainly bright for the Wildcat Band and potential All-State qualifiers.” Caroline will travel to San Antonio for a week in February to participate in the All-State clinic and concert and perform under the direction of Dr. Michael Galemo, head band director at Iowa State University. The experience will culminate in a concert on Saturday, February 10 in the Lila Cockrill Auditorium at 9am in San Antonio.
Earlier in the semester two of our Wildcat Jazz Band members were named to the Texas All-State Jazz Band as well. This is the first time in school history that Sulphur Springs has had an All-State Jazz student. “With it never happening before, having two Jazz All-Staters is incredible. It is a testament of how talented and hard-working these students are.”
Mika Petty placed first in the State in class 4A through 1A on jazz alto saxophone and Levi Caton placed fourth in the state on trumpet.
This is the second year Levi has qualified for the All-State Band tying a school record as well.
Along with Caroline, Mika and Levi will also travel in February to San Antonio for the All-State clinic and concert. They will be under the direction of Noe Marmolejo, director of Jazz Studies at the University of Houston Moore’s School of Music. Their All-State concert will be on Saturday, Feb 10 at 1:00 pm in the Stars at Night Ballroom inside the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.
