Texas Border Business
McAllen ISD middle school and high school students did an outstanding job at the recent Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region XV Middle School and High School Region Orchestra auditions.
Nearly one third (29 percent) of the students selected for these prestigious groups were from McAllen ISD. As a district, McAllen ISD had 40 middle school and 21 high school students selected for a total of 61.
In addition, Cathey Middle School enjoyed the highest number of region orchestra students in the region with 20. Five of the eight first-chair positions are held by McAllen ISD students.
“Being chosen as the top performer in any of these sections is an amazing feat,” McAllen ISD Fine Arts Director Jim Egger said. “The competition is fierce. It’s amazing for McAllen ISD that most of the top students are from our district.”
These outstanding students are:
- Andrew Trevino, Morris Middle School – First chair violin in the MS Region Orchestra
- Raciel Imanol Juarez, Cathey Middle School – First chair viola in the MS Region Orchestra
- Carlos Solis, Memorial High School – First chair violinist in the HS Region Orchestra
- Greta Cortez, Memorial High – First chair cellist in the HS Region Orchestra
- Robert Kohler, Rowe High – First chair string bass in the HS Region Orchestra
These students will present at the TMEA Region XV Region Orchestra Concert at the UTRGV Performing Arts Center on Saturday, November 9. The Middle School Concert will begin at 4 p.m. and the High School Concert at 6 p.m.
“Congratulations to all of these very talented McAllen ISD orchestra students and their hard– working orchestra teachers,” Egger said.
Cathey Middle School:
Violin – Camila Rojas, Lorena Reyes, Alejandro Salgado, Derek Silva, Isabella Rodriguez, Jonathan Garcia, Adrienne Garcia, Taylor Anzaldua, Linette Alegre, Izabella Rodriguez
Viola – Raciel Juarez, Breanna Rocha, Aaliyah Alfaro, Mary Vallejo, Aeris Williams, Ariana Garcia, Kaindan Garza, Aysia Zarate
Cello – Isabella Pazmino, Nathaniel Walborg
Morris Middle School:
Violin – Andrew Trevino, Christopher Ham, Obed Alvarez, Evelyn Mantle, Jade Trevino
Viola – Metzli Gloria
Cello – Catherine Bynum, Demitri Ayala
Bass – Damian Mendez
Fossum Middle School
Violin – Jose Guerra, Jeremy Salazar
Viola – Max Davila
Cello – James Carpenter, Nicolas Orozco
Bass – Cristian Villarreal
De Leon Middle School
Violin – Halle Martinez, Emilian Sosa
Travis Middle School
Violin – Sergio Mendez, Jose Herrera
Brown Middle School
Violin – Karla Jimenez
Memorial High
Violin – Karla Hinojosa, Jules Alday, Sebastian Turk, Chi Mai Pham, Oscar De Leon, Alicia Ziegler
Viola – Carlos Solis, Sofia Nino
Cello – Greta Cortez, Aram Garza
Rowe High
Violin – Shainah Vidal
Cello – Joseph Garza, Vicente Camacho, Asher Bautista, Octavio Cruz
Bass – Robert Kohler, Jonah Cortes
McAllen High
Violin – Jan Paolo Yap, Andrew Salinas, Ashley Trevino, Jared Hurtado
 Region XV Middle School and High School Region Orchestra auditions.){kind=link}