The All-State musician process is a multi-step audition process put on by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). Students begin in early fall learning etudes that they will perform in a multilevel audition process that runs from October through early January. If a student places high enough at their Region level (cutoffs vary by instrument), they will advance to the Area level auditions. If they place high enough at Area, they are invited to perform in an All-State ensemble at the yearly TMEA convention in San Antonio in February. This is the highest individual honor that a high school student musician can receive! This recognition is given to only the top 2% of all high school student musicians who enter the audition process. We are so proud of the hard work of these students, their private lesson teachers, and the support from their families, friends and teachers!
2025 All-State Musicians
Jack Decker-10, Viola
Leon Jiao-11, Violin**
Yujin Son-11, Cello*
Joseph Zhang-12, Violin***
Dylan Zhong-10, Violin*
Joshua Fox-11, Bb Clarinet
Brooks Parker-11, Bb Clarinet*
Jacob Philbrook-10, Bb Clarinet
Ella Poscic-12, Trumpet**
CharlesTester-12, Bb Clarinet*
*Denotes Second Year All-Stater
**Denotes Third Year All-Stater
*** Denotes Fourth Year All-Stater
The above students, members of the Westlake High School Chaparral Band and Orchestra will perform with the Texas All-State Ensembles in San Antonio, Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the Henry B. González Convention Center as part of the 2025 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.
They earned this prestigious honor through a competitive process held this year across the state at District, Region, and Area levels. These students are all members of the Westlake High School music programs under the direction of Head Band Director, Thomas Turpin and Orchestra Director, Josue Martinez, both members of the Texas Music Educators Association, a 14,000+ member organization headquartered in Austin. For some of these students, this is the second or third time to perform as a member of a TMEA All-State organization.
High school students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed through auditions to qualify at the state level. All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. 1,875 students are selected through a process that began with over 70,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles (bands, orchestras, and choirs).
Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the Texas All-State competition. This competitive process begins throughout the state in auditions hosted by 33 TMEA Regions. 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 perform in a TMEA All- State music group. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.
These All-State students participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the TMEA Clinic/Convention. Their performances for thousands of attendees bring this extraordinary event to a close. For the All-State concert schedule and conductor information, go to the Performances section of www.tmea.org/convention.
About TMEA
Since 1920, Texas Music Educators Association has worked to ensure excellence in music education for all Texas students. TMEA’s 19,800 members include over 13,800 school music educators who belong to one of five TMEA Divisions: Band, Orchestra, Vocal, Elementary, and College. Members elect Vice-Presidents to their Division to guide the Division’s programming. On behalf of its members and Texas students, TMEA monitors the actions of state decision-making bodies on issues affecting fine arts instruction in Texas. In addition to many member benefits, TMEA offers professional development for its members through workshops and its annual Clinic/Convention that hosts over 30,000 attendees. TMEA supports the future of music education by offering scholarships to music education majors and sponsoring the Texas Future Music Educators, an organization through which high school students interested in careers in music education learn more about what to expect in their college education and future careers.
Go to www.tmea.org/convention for more information about this event.