Two Industrial band students performed in the 3A Association of Texas Small School Bands last week in San Antonio at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. They met in rehearsals, participated in auditions and performed on Saturday night after only a few days practice.
More than 10,000 high school students auditioned for spots in All-Region bands in 22 regions. In the end, only 286 students were selected for All-State honors.
Both, senior Christopher Garza playing the euphonium and freshman Trevor Ledbetter playing trombone finished first at Area. At state, Ledbetter earned first chair in the concert band out of 10, while Garza earned fifth chair out of eight.
Their band director, Larry Firmin, said he’s seen the two putting in lots of extra time before and after school, plus weekends, in order to achieve the goal of All-State.
“It’s been a pleasure to teach these students and see what doors this achievement can open for them,” he said. “And it’s not just about their work ethic, but how they treat and help others is how I feel they best represent the school district and they are both great examples for their peers.”
Ledbetter has been playing the trombone since the fifth grade, and has been playing the euphonium as well for nearly as long. He’s had quite the mentor in his father, Ron, who is a professional trumpet player lead for Victoria’s and Corpus Christi’s Symphony Orchestra.
“I first started playing trumpet because of my dad, but eventually we decided I wasn’t getting to where I was supposed to be by a certain point,” Ledbetter said. “I tried the French horn, which is complicated for a near-beginner, so then I tried the trombone. I could get a better sound from it and it was less of a problem for me to play, so that’s what I stuck with, and I think it was a good choice.”
For Garza, he’s been in band for seven years, but started to take more of an interest in it during his freshman year and started to fall in love with the euphonium. This is his first year at state.
“It was the easiest instru- ment and it’s been perfect for me,” he said. “My fast piece, Allegro Mosso, I played better than my slow piece at Area because I was nervous and played my scales a little wobbly in my slow piece.”
Christopher Garza Euphonium, 5th Chair
Trevor Ledbetter Trombone, 1st Chair
It was the Allegro Mosso piece for Ledbetter as well. “I believe what caused me to place first at Area was my fast piece by Gatti. Though I personally think I played everything well, the etude was very challenging and I think I had a very good run of the piece at competition.”
To be sure, the entire school district of Industrial must be proud.
Ledbetter is the son of Christine and Ron, while Garza is the son of Anna Marie Garza and his grandmother, Nicole DeLosSantos.
