Ending on a high note | GHS band students earn first division in state competition

Fourteen Granbury High School band students finished the school year strong, earning a first division rating at the Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest held on May 27 and May 29 at Pflugerville High School and Connally High School.

“They either played a solo or they were part of an ensemble,” Director of Bands Mario Morales said. “At the state level, the average score was a second division so for them to get a first division, it was a good day for sure.”

The percussion ensemble was led by Director of Percussion Angel Hernandez and consisted of eight students: Sophomores Ezekiel Adams and Wyatt Green, juniors Brooklyn Bennett, Lucas Hyde, and Reagan Neal, and seniors Olivia Barone, Palma Norwood, and Matt Wilson.

A percussion mallet solo was also performed by Bennett, and juniors Kate Mauldin and Ethan Mayes performed a trumpet solo.

A flute ensemble also consisted of freshman Jina Kim, junior Layla Escatel, and senior Julia Vargas.

“We were fortunate to have the seniors come back to compete — especially because they had just graduated the day before,” Morales said. “There was growth in all of the students. Since COVID, Granbury hasn’t participated in the Texas State Solo-Ensemble contest, so it was a pretty big accomplishment for them to be able to get to that level and compete.”

Each student who received a first division rating at the state competition also earned a gold medal for their achievement.

“This was all work that they had done individually,” Morales added. “Very little did we help them. It was all self-motivated for sure.”