“Making it once is tough, and it is even tougher a second time when the pressure is on,” said Jeffrey Keyes, band director at DHS. “We are super proud of Matthew.”
The details
This achievement marks the seventh time a band student has earned a chair in an All-State ensemble from DHS in four years. Auditions for All-State Jazz take place each fall, with talented students selected to perform during the annual Texas Music Educators Association Clinic in February. All-State Concert Band auditions will take place in January, according to a news release.
Noe Marmolejo, director of jazz studies at the University of Houston, will conduct the 2024 All-State Jazz Band for the Association of Texas Small School Bands.
Items worth mentioning
DHS Wolf Band and Color Guard also placed sixth in the State 4A UIL Marching Band Competition at the Alamodome on Nov. 1, with its percussion section, led by Associate Band Director Tyler McClendon, ranking first overall. Out of the 26 bands that qualified for the state competition, only 10 including DHS advanced to the finals. DHS was named the 2023 4A UIL Area E Champions on Oct. 21, according to a news release.
