Los Fresnos News

LFHS, Middle School Bands Take Top Honors

150416 Mariachi

It has been a clean sweep of awards for band students at the five secondary schools.

Los Fresnos High swept top awards in the Rio Grande Valley Multicultural Festival April 10 and at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading April 14-15.

Los Fresnos CISD middle schools took top honors at the UIL Concert/Sightreading contest at the Harlingen Performing Arts Center April 10 Rio Grande Valley Cultural Arts Festival in Harlingen April 11.

Twenty-four middle school bands from Brownsville to Donna competed in the UIL contest. Los Fresnos CISD is one of only two districts in Region 28 to have all competing bands earn a Sweepstakes.

Los Fresnos High School – RGV Multicultural Festival

The LFHS Mariachi won the Class 6A Division and won every caption – best vocalists, best trumpets, best harmonica, and best violins.

The LFHS Jazz Band also won the 6A Division and also won every caption – best trumpets, best trombones, best saxes, best rhythm sections. The Jazz Band also won the Overall Grand Champion in the 6A Division among all 6A music groups.

Los Fresnos High School/Los Fresnos United – UIL Sight-Reading Concert

LFHS and LFU earned a Sweepstakes trophy for Superior rated performances on stage and in sight reading. Taking Superior ratings were the Ninth grade band conducted by Andy Salois, Abel Gomez and Michael A. Garcia; the Cadet Band conducted by Abel Gomez, the Symphonic Band conducted by Andy Salois, and the Wind Ensemble conducted by Michael A. Garcia.

The four-band sweep in the Sweepstakes marked the first time in recent memory.

Los Cuates Middle School

Both the Honor Band and Symphonic Band received First Division ratings from all judges. LCMS was among the four schools in the entire region to have both bands receive the Sweepstakes award, which is the highest achievement in UIL Bands.

The bands, under the direction of Criselda Morrell, were one of only eight to receive First Division ratings from all judges. Among the comments from judges: “It is very obvious you all work hard to make good music happen.”

Resaca Middle School

At the UIL contest, the Band was one of only eight to receive First Division ratings from all judges. RMS was among the four schools in the entire region to have both bands receive the Sweepstakes award, which is the highest achievement in UIL Bands.

The band, under the direction of Steve Philippus, received a first division at the Arts Festival and was rewarded with trophies for outstanding rhythm, sax, trumpet, and trombone sections.

Liberty Memorial Middle School

The Band earned a First Division at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading portions of the competition, and also earned Sweepstakes.

LMMS Band, under the direction of Brian Kuntz, also traveled to three other contests – the Donna Band Festival, Royal Music Festival, and the South Coast Music Festival and earned First Division at each contest.