On Saturday, January 11th, Sarah Levy (9th), Alexis Sampley (11th), and Trevor Davis (11th) represented Italy at the ATSSB Area Central auditions. These students advanced to the area round by placing at the top of their sections at the Region 8 auditions back in December. We would like to congratulate these fine young musicians on their outstanding accomplishment in having made it this far. In addition, we would like to recognize Sarah Levy for becoming the first Italy ISD student to be selected to the All-State Band. Kenneth L. Griffin, Executive Secretary of ATSSB has issued this press release…

HOUSTON— The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the selection of the 2014 ATSSB All-State Band. More than 9,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands. The top chairs in each region advance to one of the five area auditions held this past weekend across the state and only 290 of these 1620 students were selected for all-state honors.

The ATSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Texas, February 12-15 and will present a concert beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2014, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.

Richard Floyd, Director of Music-Emeritus for the University Interscholastic League, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band. Dr. Timothy Rhea, from Texas A&M University, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band. The Concert Band will premiere And Sail Away by Jack Wilds, the winning entry in the 2014 ATSSB Composition Competition. Charles Owen, from the University of South Florida, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Jazz Ensemble which will perform at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2014, in Ballroom B of the Convention Center.

Sarah Levy, a member of the Italy High School Band, was selected as a member of this band. She was chosen for this honor in competitive auditions held this year across the state at region and area levels. Levy is a (private) student of Carolyn Nussbaum and plays the flute at Italy High School under the direction of Jesus Perez and David Graves, who are members of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1000-member group of band directors in class 1A, 2A, and 3A high schools in Texas. This is her first time to perform as a member of the ATSSB All-State Band. Her other hobbies and interests include National Junior Honor Society, shopping and hanging out with friends. She is the daughter of Tim and Denise Levy, in Italy, Texas.