During Memorial Day weekend 2017, 181 Coppell High School Band members traveled to Austin to participate in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest. Coppell dominated the competition, returning home with 173 medals: 45 students earned gold or Division I ratings, 78 students earned silver, or Division II ratings, and 41 students earned bronze, or Division III medals.
Additionally, 8 Coppell students were named Outstanding Performers, which is the highest honor a UIL Solo and Ensemble performer can receive in the state. They are: John Bishop–percussion, Michael Cho–clarinet, Trevor Holmes–trumpet, Aditya Rajesh–bass clarinet, Terri Rauschenbach–trumpet, Tiffany Suriadinata–percussion, Sam Wang–clarinet and Smrithi Upadhyayula–who won for both flute and piccolo.
To qualify for the Austin event, students had to receive Division I ratings during the UIL Region 31 Solo & Ensemble Contest held in February 2017, where they performed a selection from a prescribed music list by memory.
“Our student performers worked tremendously hard to prepare for both the regional and state solo competitions,” said Gerry Miller, Director of Bands for CISD. “The spring semester can be tough, with AP exams, final exams and end-of-year activities. However, our student performers are very focused and their efforts paid off. We had an amazing solo round in Austin.”
Coppell celebrated other achievements this spring, including the 25th consecutive 2017 UIL Sweepstakes Award, which was awarded as a result of Division I “Superior” ratings earned in Marching, Concert and Sight Reading by Coppell’s five varsity and non-varsity bands (Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band I, Symphonic Band II, Concert Band I and Concert Band II) during the fall and spring UIL band competitions. In the fall, Coppell was a 2016 UIL 6A State Finalist in the marching contest.
Coppell also participated in the Gulf Coast Showcase of Music on May 19th in South Padre Island, Texas. Coppell earned First Division Ratings for all five bands, as well as Best in Class and Overall Outstanding Band.
“We have had a stellar year,” said Miller. “We are so thankful for our band family, our Coppell middle school band directors, our private lesson teachers, the CISD team and the Coppell community. Everyone came together to help our students perform at their highest level, all year long. It’s been an incredible journey.”
The Coppell High School Band will perform next in Coppell’s July 4th Parade on Tuesday, July 4th at 9:00 a.m.