Feb. 24, 2023 - The Comal ISD Board of Trustees recognized a dozen fine arts students who received All-State honors this fall including All-State Musicians, All-State Choir and All-State Dance.
Sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), more than 70,000 high school students across the state audition in their region and only the best are ultimately selected as All-State Musicians. These students then rehearse and perform during the annual TMEA Clinic and Convention in San Antonio.
This year, two of these students from Canyon High School were named the ‘Best in State’ when they were selected as 1st Chair of their sections. These students are Gabriel Ledezma, contrabass clarinet and Ryan Lopez, percussion.
The remaining students who earned All-State honors were the following: Nicholas Arnold, percussion, CHS; Caleb Atkins, trumpet, Davenport High School; Noah Bliss, trumpet, DHS; Lindsay Creel, French horn, DHS; Carter Elza, clarinet, DHS; and Luke Gately, French horn, CHS. Band directors are Stephen Vaden at CHS and Jeffrey Keyes at DHS.
The TMEA also hosts the All-State Choir auditions and performances annually, and this year, Comal ISD had one All-State Choir honoree, from Pieper High School, Zoey Koehl. Choir director at PHS is Andrew Specht.
Similar to TMEA, the Texas Dance Education Association invites All-State Dance finalists to perform during the TDEA convention in Houston. Three student dancers represented Comal ISD this year including Grace Conley from CHS, Cheyenne Guillory from CLHS and Caroline Beach from Smithson Valley High School. Dance instructors include Taylor Goodman and Reagan Reynolds from CHS, Sarah Grudle and Samantha Vrazel from CLHS and Melanie Phillips and Lindsey Gillean from SVHS.
-Comal ISD All-State Musicians were recognized Feb. 23 at the Board of Trustees meeting.
-Comal ISD All-State Choir honoree was recognized Feb. 23 at the Board of Trustees meeting.
-Comal ISD All-State Dance honorees were recognized Feb. 23 at the Board of Trustees meeting.
-Comal ISD All-State Dance honorees are pictured from left Grace Conley, Cheyenne Guillory and Caroline Beach.