Three CTC students earn all-state music honors

Special to Leader-Press

The Central Texas College (CTC) Fine Arts music program recently announced three students were named to the Texas Association of Music Schools two-year all-state choir and band. Competing against choral members from community colleges across the state during auditions at Temple Community College, Emily Selph, soprano I, and Michael Dixon-Bates, tenor I, earned all-state choir honors. Andrea Cruz-Santos, flutist, won a seat in the all-state symphonic band.
The three CTC students will now join other All-State musicians in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the annual Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) clinic/convention in San Antonio, February 14-17.
All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. Nearly 2,000 students are selected through a process that begins with more than 68,000 students from around the state vying for the honor to perform in one of 15 band, choir and orchestra ensembles. TMEA will present more than 100 music performances of choral and instrumental music by elementary through college ensembles and professional music groups. 
Selph and Dixon-Bates will participate in sectional rehearsals and joint rehearsals with other two-year college all-state choir members from across Texas. Santos-Cruz will undergo a similar rehearsal schedule with other all-state band members. Rehearsals will culminate with the All-State Symphonic Band concert at the Lila Cockrell Theatre at 6:30 p.m. and the mixed chorus concert at 7:30 p.m. in Hemisfair Ballroom 3 of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center at the conclusion of the TMEA convention on Saturday, February 17.