On Friday, Feb. 19, members of the Greenville High School Lion Pride Band performed at the Region 4 UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest. The GHS Band had 59 event entries with every entry earning either a Division I (superior) rating, which is the highest awarded, or a Division II (excellent) rating. In all, the GHS Band UIL competitors earned 45 Division I ratings and 14 Division II ratings, with five ensembles and four solos qualifying for the state contest in Austin on May 28 and 29.

The following five ensembles earned a Division I rating and have qualified for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Austin:
-Saxophone Quartet, including Andrew Walker, Laura Foote, Berkley Smith and Logan Wood.
-Saxophone Quartet, including Laura Foote, Kolton Evans, Emma Anderson and Ethan Payne.
-Flute Trio, including Rebekah White, David Foote and Amanda Manning.
-Trombone Quartet, including Hayden Willeford, Thomas Cade, Jonathan Tapia and Michael Sisto.
-Woodwind Quintet, including Emma Anderson, MaKenzy Mulder, Kenny Redmond, Melissa Chacon and David Foote.

While ensembles are allowed sheet music for reference, all solos must be a level one, which is the most advanced, and done completely from memory in order to receive a Division I rating and qualify for the state competition. The following Soloists earned a Division I rating and qualified for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Austin: Andrew Evans, Alysia Martinez, Tessa Mitchell and Katie Wolfe. Berkley Smith also performed a level one solo, un-memorized, and received a Division I rating.

The following students also earned a Division I ratings on their solos:  Mireya Cruz, Martha Hill, Sessia Ramirez, Jennifer Santos, Kennedi Wilson, Jonathan Castillo, Shelby Rich, Desteny Ruiz, Makayla Woods, Joel Redmond, Jazmyne Thomas, Ethan Payne, Lydia Shatney, Logan Wood, Shea Garland, Evelyn Pena, Delilah Ruiz, Nicolas Rimirez, Jeffery Fain, Nathan Slemmons, Vance Cassidy, Erin Morrissey, Levi Prine, Joshua Ross, Juan Lopez, JT Foote, Jack Arsenio, Ryan Bakkum, Colton Crump, Xavier Griggs, and Amalilah Williams.

The Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest will be held in Austin, Tex. on May 28-29. For more information on the Greenville High School Band, please contact Joel Weisberg, Director of Bands, at weisbergj@greenvilleisd.com.