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Plano ISD Orchestras Win 3 of 4 State Honor Orchestra Titles
Honor Orchestras, PSHS Choir & 62 All-State Musicians Perform at State Music Convention
February 16, 2009
For the 12th consecutive year, a Plano ISD orchestra has won the top prize in the Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA) Honor Orchestra Competition. There are four categories in the contest, and Plano ISD orchestras won three of the four categories this year.
The three honor orchestras were invited to perform at the TMEA state convention held February 12-14 in San Antonio. Also invited to perform at the convention were the Plano Senior High School A Capella Women's Chorus and Plano ISD's 62 all-state musicians.
Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra - This orchestra is directed by Brian Coatney, orchestra director, and Jeremy Kondrat, band director. This is the second time in two years that the full orchestra has received this distinction. This orchestra has also won the TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra title four times in the past. As Honor High School Full Orchestra, this group from Plano Senior High School presented a 50-minute concert on February 12 for the membership of the Texas Music Educators Association at their annual convention in San Antonio.
Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra - The Plano East Senior High Chamber Orchestra is directed by Betsy Thomas. This is the fifth time this ensemble has won the TMEA Honor String Orchestra Title. As Honor High School String Orchestra, this group from Plano East Senior High School presented a 50-minute concert on February 12 for the membership of the Texas Music Educators Association at their annual convention in San Antonio.
Robinson Middle School Orchestra - The Robinson Middle School Chamber Orchestra is directed by Mary Havenstrite. This is the first time for this ensemble to win this title but the second consecutive year that a middle school orchestra from Plano ISD has won TMEA Honor Middle School String Honor Orchestra. As Honor Middle School String Orchestra, this group will present a 45-minute concert on February 13, 2009 for the membership of the Texas Music Educators Association at their annual convention in San Antonio.
Orchestra Selection & Plano ISD Awards History
Orchestras entering these competitions must submit a recording of a live, unedited concert to TMEA. A judging panel listens to all of the submissions and selects the top six. A second panel of judges listens to these six recordings and ranks them. Orchestras that have won the honor orchestra designation are not eligible to submit a recording the year following their TMEA appearance.
In addition to these Plano ISD Orchestras, four other Plano ISD orchestras were finalists in honor orchestra competition.
- Jasper High School Orchestra – Julianne Booth, director, placed 2nd in High School String Orchestra Competition,
- Hendrick Middle School – Dennis Langevin, director, placed 4th in Middle School String Orchestra Competition,
- Rice Middle School – Barbara Fox, director, placed 2nd in Middle School Full Orchestra Competition, and
- Armstrong Middle School – Ludmilla Lozovyy, director, placed 3rd in Middle School Full Orchestra Competition.
This competition does not distinguish between varsity and non-varsity programs, thus these 9-10 schools compete against recordings of varsity orchestras from 9-12 grade high schools across the state.
The Plano ISD orchestra program has a long history of TMEA Honor Orchestra titles, as follows:
2008-2009 - Plano Senior High, Brian Coatney, Director; Plano East Senior High, Betsy Thomas, Director; and Robinson Middle School, Mary Havenstrite, Director
2007-2008 - Plano West Senior High, Jo Wallace-Abbie, Director, and Rice Middle School, Barbara Fox, Director
2006-2007 - Plano Senior High, Jeff Turner, Director, and Haggard Middle School, Sue Ewing, Director
2005-2006 - Plano West Senior High, Jo Wallace-Abbie, Director
2004-2005: Plano East Senior High, Betsy Thomas, Director
2003-2004: Plano West Senior High, Jo Wallace-Abbie, Director
2002-2003: Plano East Senior High, Betsy Thomas, Director
2001-2002: Plano West Senior High, Jo Wallace-Abbie, Director
2000-2001: Plano East Senior High, Betsy Thomas, Director
1999-2000: Plano Senior High, Jim Frank, Director
1998-1999: Plano East Senior High, Betsy Thomas, Director
1997-1998: Plano Senior High, Kathy DeBerry, Director
1994-1995: Plano Senior High, Kathy DeBerry, Director
1992-1993: Plano Senior High, Kathy DeBerry, Director
Plano Senior High A Cappella Women’s Chorus
Derrick Brookins directs this select choir, and Christopher W. Ahrens serves as assistant director. The Plano Senior High School Choir Department is devoted to the cultivation of the art of choral music in the lives of its students and in the broader community; to teach techniques of musical expression; providing a sequential developmental music curriculum which allows each student an opportunity to build musical skills and understanding through a wide variety of quality musical experiences.
62 Students Selected for All-State Ensembles
The Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) announced the selection of 62 Plano ISD students representing all high school campuses for positions in this year’s coveted all-state music groups. Band and choir students completed the audition process on January 10 in Richardson. Orchestra students were notified of their selection in late November, 2008.
The following students spent three days in intensive rehearsals with outstanding guest conductors and performed a concert before the TMEA membership on Saturday, February 14, in San Antonio.
2009 All-State Band Members
- Jasper High School – Kelsey Avery, Claire Kamenish, Chelsea Kersh, Danae Kersh, Jeemini Lee, and Andres Olivero.
- Plano East Senior High School – Trevor Ball, Tony Gonzalez, Kristi Gurski, Sarah Kang, Jennifer Lane, Scott Nguyen, and Max Weaver.
- Plano Senior High School Band – Kyle Bilbray, Linnea Coveney, Vineet Gopal, Derek Hawkes, and James Kendrick.
- Plano West Senior High School – Eric Choi, Will Gorman, Louis Lu, Kevin Modisette, and Michael Xing.
2009 All-State Choir Members
- Jasper High School – Wesley Parker
- Shepton High School – Harrison Tsai and Kelly Silverthorn.
- Vines High School – Allie Herrera.
- Plano East Senior High Choir – Dominque Williams
- Plano Senior High School – Brittany Arrambide and Dain Ussery.
- Plano West Senior High School – Rina Adorable, Kara Dunlevy, Natalie Logan, Lauren Manza, Robert Noble, Matthew Phaneuf, and Alexandra Zeto.
2009 All-State Orchestra Members
- Jasper High School – Sally Jang, JiYoung Min, Julie Yoon, and Justin Zhao.
- Shepton High School – Derek Ou.
- Vines High School – Christina Kwon.
- Williams High School – Alexander Choi and Derek He.
- Plano East Senior High School – Ian Chan, John Chen, and Danny Hahm.
- Plano Senior High School – Brian Gung, Dustin Lao, Jason Lee, Howard Tsai, Bill Wang, and Jeremy Ying.
- Plano West Senior High School – Jonathan Chern, Daniel Gonzalez, Bryan Han, Joseph Huang, Raymond Hung, Justin Lyan, Tina Ou, and Dawn Zhao.
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