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2005-2006 Cougar Band Achievements
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Cougar Band wins
second at Battle of Flowers Parade and top spirit award at Band
Festival
The
Clark High School Band and Color Guard made an
outstanding showing at the 2006 Battle of Flowers Parade Friday,
April 28, winning second place in the High School Bands - Public
School division. The previous night, the Cougar Band and Guard were the
most spirited musical group out of the 29
entries in the Parade of Bands at the 2006
Battle of Flowers Band Festival at Alamo
Stadium. The Cougars also won second place overall among the 5A
bands at the festival.
Clark was the fifth band in the first half of
the Parade of Bands that kicked off the Band
Festival. Clark drum major Courtney K. also was
selected to assist Guest Conductor Glen Richter
of The University of Texas at Austin while he
conducted the Massed Band and Fireworks Finale
themed "Celebrating America's Music."
Clark musicians were also in the San Antonio's
Own High School Herald Trumpets, which played
fanfares while Fiesta royalty and honored guests
were announced.
In
addition, the highly decorated Clark High School
JROTC, under the direction of Maj. Donald
Shackelford, presented the colors.
James
Miculka, Northside's director of fine arts, was
recognized along with Manuel Flores of
Brackenridge High School for their roles on the
Band Directors Executive Committee, as producers
of this year's Band Festival.
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Clark
Bands shine at UIL Concert and Sightreading
Contests
The
Clark High School Bands carried on the tradition
of great performances at the 2006 UIL Concert and
Sightreading Contests held April 11 through 13 at
Taft High School.
A-1
came home with its 27th consecutive sweepstakes,
earning a First Division in both the performance
and sightreading categories.
A-2
made First Divisions in both their concert
performance and sightreading for the third year in
a row.
A-3
received a First Division for their concert
performance. This is the first time in the history
of Clark High School that a sub-non varsity
ensemble received a first division on stage.
See
the judges' comments below for A-1's performance,
beginning with Judge #1's comments on the concert
performance.
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Clark Winter
Guard wins first place in 2006 TECA state contest
The Clark Band Winter Guard won first place in the Scholastic
Open Class at the
Texas Educational Colorguard
Association's State Championships April 1 at
Southwest High School.
Clark
scored 93 points, followed by News Braunfels in second place
with a score of 89.
Molly B. and Chantal L. were selected all-state performers.
Molly also won one of the four TECA scholarships awarded to
seniors from the 48 high schools competing in the contest.
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Clark Color Guard wins first place in TECA competition
The Clark Band Color Guard placed first with a score of 91 in
the Open Division of the TECA Color Guard contest, held
Saturday, March 18, at Clark. The color guard beat New Braunfels
High School, which scored an 86.
More
than 35 teams participated in the event in four divisions.
For the complete results, go to the
TECA Web site.
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Thirty Clark
band students earn chairs in Region Band and Orchestra
Thirty Clark Band
students were selected for the TMEA All-Region Band
following Region 11 Band and Orchestra tryouts Dec. 9 and 10
at Southwest High School. Fifteen of the students will
advance to the Area Band tryouts Jan. 7 at Judson High
School. Seven Clark Band students were also chosen for the
All-Region Orchestra, based on their chair rankings and
whether they played instruments used in an orchestra.
Students selected
for the All-Region Orchestra will participate in a clinic
and concert Jan. 13 and 14 at Taft High School. Those who
made the All-Region Band will be involved in a clinic and
concert Jan. 20-21, also at Taft.
“Hundreds of
students from San Antonio, Del Rio, Eagle Pass and
surrounding areas competed for placement,” said Marcos
Telles, Clark's associate director of bands. “The
Clark High School Band consistently has the most students
make the All-Region First Band and this year is no
exception.”
While Ryan T.*
earned first chair on tenor trombone, he will not advance to
the Area tryouts because he already earned a position in the
All-State Jazz Ensemble in November. University
Interscholastic League rules state that a student can only
qualify for All-State for one type of band. Ryan will,
however, participate in the All-Region Band and Orchestra
concerts and be recognized for his achievement.
Following is the
list of students, their chair placement, which groups (band
and/or orchestra) they qualified for, and whether they
advance to the Area competition, which serves as the
audition process for the TMEA All-State Bands and
Orchestras:
|
Instrument |
Name |
Chair |
All-Region Band |
All-Region Orchestra |
Area Qualifier |
|
Flute |
Ali. F.
Rachel P.
Katie L.
Celeste C.
Vicki C.
|
5
12
19
20
23
|
X
X
X
X
X
|
|
X |
|
Clarinet |
Stephanie
W.
Andrew W.
Agustin G.
Judy H.
Allison S.
|
4
15
17
20
34
|
X
X
X
X
X |
|
X |
|
Alto
Clarinet |
Albert F. |
2 |
X |
|
|
|
Contra
Bass Clarinet |
Matt. M. |
1 |
X |
X |
X |
|
Bassoon |
Ben S.
Nick G.
|
3
4
|
X
X
|
|
X
X |
|
Alto
Sax |
Jordan N.
Shani N.
|
1
4 |
X
X |
|
X |
|
Tenor
Sax |
Courtney
K. |
1 |
X |
|
X |
|
Horn |
Cheuk N.
Andrea G.
|
4
12
|
X
X |
X |
X |
|
Trumpet |
Cliff R.
Eric M.
Sarah S.
|
5
20
27 |
X
X
X |
|
X |
|
Tenor
Trombone |
Ryan T.*
Blake W.
|
1
13 |
X
X |
X |
X |
|
Tuba |
Brian B.
|
3 |
X |
|
X |
|
Percussion |
Mark R.
Joann P.
Nathan L.
Steven L.
Lorenzo P.
|
1
2
3
5
11
|
X
X
X
X
X
|
X
X
X
X
|
X
X
X
X
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Clark trombonist selected for
TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble
Posted 11/26/2005
 Cougar
Band senior Ryan T. has earned a position in the
Texas Music Educators Association
(TMEA) 2005-2006 All-State Jazz Ensemble.
Ryan placed second chair on tenor trombone in the statewide
auditions after qualifying for the
TMEA Region 11 All-Region Jazz
Ensemble in September. Results of the
state-level judging were announced Nov. 21.
“When I got the phone call, I was
caught off guard,” Ryan said. “I knew the results were going
to be announced Thanksgiving week, and I kept checking the
TMEA Web site but nothing was there. Then I got a phone
call. I fell over when I heard the news.”
Selection to an All-State ensemble is
the highest honor high school musicians can achieve on an
individual level in Texas. In the jazz category, musicians
are judged on performance and interpretation of several
written jazz etudes as well as improvisational skills. Only
three tenor trombone players are selected annually for the
20-member All-State Jazz Ensemble. For Ryan, making it into
this select group is a dream come true.
“I finally achieved the one thing I’ve
been working for, for the past four years,” he said. “I
wanted the jazz title more than anything because I really
enjoy the extra freedom that jazz music gives you to express
yourself creatively.”
“It’s terrific to see Ryan reach his
goal,” said Charles Kuentz, Clark’s Director of Bands.
“I’ve ‘lived’ through all of his TMEA auditions during the
past four years, and his accomplishment just goes to show
that hard work and determination do pay off.”
Ryan been a consistent participant in
the TMEA high school All-Region Bands, was an Area Band
finalist in his sophomore and junior years, and has received
four Division I ratings for trombone solos and ensembles at
the annual UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. In
2004 he was named an Outstanding Soloist at the State Solo
and Ensemble Contest, for which he received a UIL state
champion gold medal. He credits consistent practicing,
private lessons and a summer jazz workshop for his latest
achievement.
“Last summer I attended a week-long
jazz workshop for brass instruments at the University of
North Texas, which was a real eye-opener,” Ryan said. “It
was intense, and my jazz skills improved significantly as a
result of that experience.”
With Ryan’s
All-State honor comes the privilege to attend the
2006 TMEA convention
at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio in
February. The convention will culminate with concerts
performed by the 2006 All-State groups, including the Jazz
Ensemble.
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Clark Band earns
Division I in UIL Region 11 Marching Contest
The
Cougar Band and Guard received a unanimous Division I rating
in the Region 11 5A Marching contest Saturday, Oct. 15, at
Southwest High School's Dragon Stadium. The band performed
three compositions by American composer Eric Whitacre in a
show called "Pathways."
Following are the 5A
schools and their ratings, in the order they marched
Saturday afternoon:
Stevens High School
(sub-varsity) Division II
Southwest High School
Division I
Warren High School
Division I
Holmes High School
Division II
Jay High School
Division II
Marshall High School
Division I
Taft High School
Division I
Clark High School
Division I
Del Rio High School
Division II
Eagle Pass High School
Division I
O'Connor High School
Division I
The UIL judges' comments on the band and guard
performance can be found
here.
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Guard wins top 5A honors and band earns second place in Harlandale
Marching Contest
The Cougar Band and Guard had a
great showing in the Harlandale Marching Contest Saturday, Oct. 8,
in Harlandale's Memorial Stadium. The Clark Guard placed first in
the 5A Guard Division and the band came in second in the Band
Division.
This is the third critique of
the Cougar marching show before the
UIL Marching Contest Saturday, Oct. 15, at
Southwest High School's
Dragon Stadium. The band and
guard will perform at 4 p.m.
In the Harlandale contest, Taft placed first and Marshall placed
third.
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Clark Band
shines in first two marching contests
The Clark Cougar Band
marched in two band contests in just three
days since the beginning of October. The
band placed third in the Drums Along the
Medina Marching Contest on Saturday and
received constructive comments at the
NISD
Marching Band
Spectacular
Monday night.
"Monday night's
contest was a critique only, so the bands
were not ranked," said Clark Band
Director Chuck Kuentz. "Both Mr.
Telles and I are extremely proud of the
band's performances. We received many
positive comments from the judges along with
constructive comments on how to improve the
show. Once everyone understands the teaching
concepts and begins to demonstrate those
techniques, the show will be a blast to
march and play!" he said.
After performing at halftime for the Clark
vs. Holmes
football game
on Friday night, the band will perform in
the
Harlandale Marching
Contest at 5:45 p.m. Saturday
at Memorial Stadium. This will be the last
contest in which the band will perform
before the
UIL Marching
Contest on Saturday, Oct. 15,
at
Southwest High
School's Dragon Stadium. |
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Three Clark musicians earn All-Region Jazz
Ensemble honors, audition for All-State
posted 9/24/2005
Three
Cougar Band musicians have earned positions in the 2005-2006
Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region 11 Jazz
Ensemble. Ryan T.
placed 1st chair on tenor trombone, and
Cliff R.
and Mark R.
placed 2nd chair on trumpet and drums, respectively.
 The
Region 11 auditions were held Saturday, September 24, at Clark
High School.
"I was in
disbelief," said senior Ryan T. about seeing his name at
the top of the list when the tenor trombone results were posted.
"Going into the audition, I felt better prepared than I'd ever
been, but making first chair just didn't sink in at first."
By qualifying for the regional ensemble, Ryan, Cliff and
Mark also earned the opportunity to audition for the
2005-2006 TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble. Each regional qualifier
performed a second audition which
was professionally recorded for submission to TMEA's state-wide
judging, from which members of the All-State Jazz Ensemble will
be selected.
Results will be announced in
November.
"I'm really happy about making second chair today," senior
trumpet player Cliff R. said. "I'm not really nervous
about the state audition, and that's good."
All members of the Region 11
Jazz Ensemble will perform
together in a concert on Saturday, November 12, at O' Connor
High School. The concert begins at 2 p.m. and is open to the
public. Admission is free.
Congratulations, Ryan, Cliff and
Mark!
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