01/17/25 Fine Arts Department News

Congratulations to our Lads and Lassies members, Caroline Davidson, Jaron Pierce and Wright Watters, who qualified for Area and will compete on January 11 for a place in the TMEA All-State Choir. If selected, they will perform at the TMEA All-State Convention February 12-15 with other students from all over Texas. Congratulations also to Area alternates Raj Luthra and Ruthie Cave. TMEA All-State Choir selection starts in September with 70,000 students and the final choirs are made of just 1800 singers. We are so proud of our HP Scots who have made it to the last step. We look forward to hearing our Singing Scots’ voices at State!

Following a demanding try-out process with a panel of experienced judges, the Lieutenants for the Highland Belles were selected on January 8, 2025. We are incredibly excited to announce the 2025-2026 Lieutenants shown left to right: Elizabeth Slates, Josie Borders, Ashley Mowan, Sadie Baker, and Dylan Roy. Congratulations!

Seventeen musicians from the Highlander Band competed at TMEA Area Auditions on Saturday, January 11. Congratulations to Lucy Zeng, Jack Teter, Lakshmi Vemula, Grace Lopez, Ian Hyde, Sam Stobaugh, Reuben Obel, Luke Bowden, Nathaniel North, Ryan Corbitt, Romi Segal, Sebastian Stahl, Charles Lampe, Nicholas Garretson, Jacob Neilson, Carson Critcher, and Laya Mani! These musicians had excellent auditions at Area and made us proud!

The Highlander Band is thrilled to announce that we have six new All State musicians. Congratulations to Lucy Zeng, Ian Hyde, Sam Stobaugh, Reuben Obel, Luke Bowden, and Carson Critcher for being named 2025 TMEA All State Musicians!

TMEA All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. Approximately 1,800 students are selected through a process that begins with over 70,000 students from around the state vying for the honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles sponsored by the Band, Orchestra, or Vocal Divisions. The All-State student ensembles will attend clinics and perform in concerts at the annual TMEA Convention in February in San Antonio.

Congratulations Lucy, Ian, Sam, Reuben, Luke, and Carson! We are so proud of you!

Armstrong Elementary has its first Recorder Music Master! Elizabeth Zahn earned that honor by playing 22 songs utilizing every possible note that can be played on the recorder. Well done, Elizabeth!

First graders have been reviewing lines, shapes, and patterns with a fun snake project because this year is the year of the snake. We discussed Lunar New Year traditions and what each animal represents. It was fun to see if our characteristics match up with the animal of our birth year!

UP Panthers are having fun with different instruments!