Seven Montgomery ISD choir students named to Texas All-State Choir

All-State honor reflects students’ extraordinary commitment to musical excellence

Four Montgomery HS choir students and three Lake Creek HS choir students have each earned the prestigious honor of being named to the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Choir for 2022.

“The choir departments at both Montgomery and Lake Creek high schools are phenomenal programs full of extremely talented individuals,” Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison said. “Receiving such high praise at the state level is highly commendable and Montgomery ISD is very proud of these students, their directors and the work they have put in to represent not only themselves, but all of Montgomery.”

Seniors Anna McKaughan, Landon Pate and Cassidy Ruda, and Junior Kaitlyn Reeves are members of the Montgomery HS Varsity Choir and the Montgomery Madrigals, under the direction of Heather Orr. This is the first time for Cassidy and Kaitlyn to perform as members of the TMEA All-State Choir, as Anna will be performing for her second time and Landon, his third.

“These students have shown so much dedication, focus and resilience in this competitive process and I am so proud of their work ethic,” Orr said. “Making the Texas All-State Choir is an individual honor that also brings honor and acclaim to the Fine Arts and Choir programs at Montgomery High School.”

Seniors Madison Berg, Patrick Hermes and Mary McCreary are members of the Lake Creek HS Choir Department, under the direction of Cameron Carnley. This is Madison and Patrick’s first time to perform as a member of a TMEA All-State organization and Mary’s second time.

“Making an All State Choir is the highest honor an individual choir student can achieve in the state of Texas,” Carnley said. “Mary, Madison, and Patrick have all grown into fine musicians over the past four years and I am beyond proud of their determination and pursuit of excellence. Our theme at Lake Creek High School this year is “Premier is Here,” and these students have proved that true.”

All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. These students were chosen for this prestigious honor through a competitive process held this year across the state at District, Region, Pre-Area, and Area levels. TMEA sponsors the Texas All-State audition process to promote students’ dedication to their musical knowledge and skill and to encourage educators to support their students in this development.

This competitive process begins throughout the state in auditions hosted by 33 TMEA Regions. Over 70,000 individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. From this ranking, a select group of musicians advances from their Region to compete against musicians from other areas in eight TMEA Area competitions. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to a TMEA All-State music group.

Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the Texas All-State competition. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in a TMEA All-State music group. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians; 1,875 students selected to perform in one of 18 ensembles.

These All-State students participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the TMEA Clinic/Convention and will perform with the Texas All-State Choir in San Antonio, Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Their performances for thousands of attendees will bring this extraordinary process to a close.

For the All-State concert schedule and conductor information, go to the Performances section of http://www.tmea.org/convention.