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Eleven talented students earn positions in All-State Band and All-State Choir

The musical talent of several Lone Star College-CyFair students will be heard at the 2010 Texas Music Educator Association’s (TMEA) Convention set next month in San Antonio.

After a state-wide audition process, LSC-CyFair Symphonic Band members and saxophone players Sean McLellan (alto), Matthew Janik (tenor) and Bryan Menelas (baritone), earned positions in the Texas Community College Band Directors Association All-State Band. Janik and Menelas also won first chair.

“The auditions are rigorously challenging and highly competitive. Most junior colleges don’t have members make the band,” said Dr. John Wolfskill, director of LSC-CyFair bands. “So we are very proud of their accomplishment and that three exceptional instrumental musicians will be representing LSC-CyFair at the TMEA Convention.”

Just as proud is Alex Qian, LSC-CyFair’s vocal director and music department chair. Eight of his choral students, including Cyril Ostendorf and Luis Velez – Bass; Janet Preston and Katherine Rusk – Alto; Elizabeth Smyser and Monika Cummings – Soprano and Stephan Richards and Scott Jones – Tenor, earned positions in the All-State Choir. Preston, Richards and Smyser represented LSC-CyFair at the TMEA conference last year.
 
“These are the best of the best singing high level, beautiful but hard music and in different languages, too,” said Qian, who holds his own vocal try outs prior to determine who goes on to the state-wide auditions. “They worked very hard to reach this goal, we are so proud of them.”

Ostendorf said he has been in choir for at least four semesters as have several of the LSC-CyFair choral members. Most have also performed in other LSC-CyFair music productions.
 
“I personally am honored to represent LSC-CyFair this year and grateful to have been selected,” he said. “I believe that everyone in the group is as equally honored as I.”

All these students will attend a three-day conference in February featuring workshops for band, orchestra, vocal, elementary and college educators; concerts by the finest musicians and two exhibit halls filled with booths representing all facets of the music education industry. Students will also rehearse and perform with other singers and musicians from across the state.

“They will learn from the conductor, learn from each other and make new friends,” said Qian. “This also looks good on their transcript and could lead to scholarship opportunities. Making the all-state choir/band shows they are committed to their talent.”

Go to LoneStar.edu/cyfair-music-department for information on LSC-CyFair’s bands and choirs.

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