Dublin Band members earned high marks at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest with Grady Meador taking the highest Division 1 Rating for his solo trumpet performance.
Dublin ISD Band director Ronny Luedke said this was particularly impressive of the 8th grader because musicians competing at this level in competition are usually in their junior or senior year of high school.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” Luedke said. “Now we’ve got to determine how to push him further.”
The DHS clarinet quartet of Mia Jaimes, Lorenzo Ortega, Laura Garcia and Carla Saucedo earned a Division 2 rating for their performance while the Brass Quintet of Priscilla Perez, Nate Caldera, Ruby Ortega, Grace Luedke and David Hernandez got a Division 3.
Luedke said both teams did well in their performances and praised the adaptability of the quintet members since someone had to step in and work with the other members shortly before the performance.
Due to pandemic restrictions, performances for this contest were recorded and sent to judges for evaluation.
“It was weird,” Luedke admitted of this year’s process. “We were having to find a good place to record and work around exams during the end of [the school year].”