HOUSTON – The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the selection of the 2011 ATSSB All-State Band. More than 9,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands. The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held this past weekend across the state and only 240 of these 1360 students were selected for all-state honors.
The ARSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Texas, February 9-12 and will present a concert beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2011, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.
Larry J. Livingston from the University of Southern California will be the clinician–conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band. Lowell Graham, Director of Bands at the University of Texas at El Paso, will be the clinician–conductor of the All-State Concert Band. ATSSB has commissioned Wiliam Owens to write a piece for the Concert Band. Chris Vadala, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Maryland, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Jazz Ensemble.
Megan Irwin, a member of the Brownwood High School Band, was selected as a member of this band. She was chosen for this honor in competitive auditions held this year across the state at region and area levels. Irwin plays the trumpet at school under the direction of Mr. Richard Graham, who is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1000-member group of band directors in class 1A, 2A and 3A high schools in Texas. This is her first time to perform as a member of the ATSSB All-State Band. Her other interests at school include Jazz Band, Choir and Drama. She is also active in church activities at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church and also enjoys swinging and reading as well. She is the daughter of Allen & Sandra Irwin of Brownwood, TX.
