Eleven SBISD high school students have been named to this year's Texas All-State Choir and Orchestra. The All-State recognition is the highest individual honor that students can earn.

These students and their choir and orchestra directors were honored Feb. 25 during the regular monthly meeting of the SBISD Board of Trustees. Tens of thousands of Texas high school students audition for All-State Honors yearly. Only about 1,300 students earn this distinction.

Named to the Texas All-State Choir are Dominic Spencer of Spring Woods High and Marlen Nahhas of Memorial High. Dr. Terry Morris leads the Spring Woods Choir; Kerry Talley directs Memorial’s Choir.

Seven Memorial High students will play with the All-State Orchestra: on violin, Soo Jin Cho, Gene Hu, Hannah Moore and Junji Wiener; viola player Shawn Banon; and cellists Danny Cho and Daniel Kim. Binjiee Shiu is Memorial Orchestra’s director.

Also named to All-State Orchestra are Stratford High cellists Kristina Ko and Placido Wang. Stratford High’s orchestra director is Michael Fahey.

The Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the All-Region and All-State band, choir and orchestra competitions. Auditions are held at the region, area and state level. All-State Choir and Orchestra members also performed in February at the association's annual convention in San Antonio.

posted 02-26-08