Azle High School Band

AHS Band Wins at UNT – May 2006

Last Saturday the Azle High School Band took top honors in the Peak Performance Music Festival at UNT’s Murchison Performing Arts Center.  The AHS Honors Band, which is composed of the band’s top 65 student musicians, performed in the world-class concert hall.

 “This was a first for me,” remarked Elisabeth Lee, junior clarinetist.  “Up until now, all my band performances had been in high school auditoriums, either in Azle, or Breckenridge, or Corpus Christi.  Our directors wanted us to experience playing in a professional concert hall.  It was just great!”

 Senior trumpeter Jose Gonzalez added, “I’ll never forget playing the off-stage solo on The Pines of Rome. We sounded great!”  It was a fitting way to end their competition season. Later that evening the Azle Band hosted 340 students and parents at their annual awards banquet.  At the banquet, it was announce that three sections and two soloists were singled out by the judges for their exemplary musicianship: The clarinet section, the trumpet section, and the French Horn section, along with clarinet soloists Kimberly Grooms, and Flute soloist Christina Jackson.

 The AHS Honors Band earned all superior ratings for the third straight time this spring, and also for the third straight year.  They also won “Best High School Band of the Day”, over all bands in all classifications.

 Judge John Garrett, Director of Bands at Lamar University, commented in his critique, “Fine, Fine Band!  What an undertaking! I am really impressed by what you did. Congratulations to both the directors and students!”

 Judge Randy Vaughn, retired director of bands at Houston Klein High School, added, “What an outstanding band! You are playing very difficult music at a rally high level. Good band sound – well balanced. Good listening skills are being demonstrated – excellent intonation. Super soloists and terrific preparation.”

 Judge Randy Vaughn, retired director of bands at Houston Kleine High School, concluded, “Awesome Band! “Very Mozart Style’ on The Marriage of Figaro. Bravo! That is so hard for a band to do. Also an amazing job with The Pines of Rome. Stunning Soloists! Very Exciting, yet controlled. So few bands perform this literature, and for good reason – it is terrifyingly difficult.”