Band, choir students earn state honors

Top: Courtesy photo
Earning a place in the All-State Band were Jack Dyre, Emily Nicks, Samantha Ellis and Savannah Ellis.
Bottom: Courtesy photo
Canton students who will be playing in the All-State Choir are, from left, Brice Terry, Sabrina Ellis, Jenna Stanley, Matthew Hook and Lexi Viehl.

Nine Canton High School students will represent the school at the state level musically next month.

Four CHS students have been named to the All-State Band and five have earned a place in the All-State Choir.

Band

More than 9,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in 20 different regions for a place in the Association of Texas Small School Bands. The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held earlier this month across the state.

Only 290 of these 2,020 students were selected for all-state honors.

Representing Canton will be Jack Dyre playing baritone sax; Samantha Ellis playing clarinet; Savannah Ellis playing flute and Emily Nicks playing trumpet.

The All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals Feb. 10 through 13 and will present a concert beginning at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13 in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio.

Stephen Pratt from Indiana University will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band. The Symphonic Band will premier “Resolution” by Kenneth L. Griffin, commissioned by ATSSB to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of ATSSB.

Phillip Clements from Texas A&M University-Commerce will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band. The Concert Band will premiere “Where Morning Dawns, Where Evening Fades” by Eric Rath, the winning entry in the 2016 ATSSB Composition Competition.

Dean Sorenson of the University of Minnesota will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Jazz Ensemble which will perform at 1p.m. Feb. 13 in the Stars at Night Ballroom east of the Convention Center.

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