MHS students advance to Area round of auditions for All State Band

Five Mission High School (MHS) band students are just one audition step away from earning a coveted spot in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All State Band. The students are advancing to the Area level competitions to be held in January at Alice High School.

The students are (L-R): Briana Alonso, oboe; Jesus Olivares, contra bass; Selena Martinez, bass trombone; Noe Jaramillo, tuba; Nancy Colunga, bass clarinet.

A total of 14 MHS students competed at the Pre-Area level. They were: Briana Alonso, oboe; Abigail Roman, piccolo, Marlen Villarreal, clarinet; Jesus Olivares, contra bass clarinet; Nancy Colunga, bass clarinet; Anibal Pena, tenor sax; Carlos Rodriguez, baritone sax; Efren Suarez, trumpet; Jordy Lopez, trumpet; Marco Lazo, French Horn; Robert Gonzales, tenor trombone; Selena Martinez, bass trombone; Noe Jaramillo, tuba; Jose Acosta, percussion.

Earlier, 16 students from the MHS band were selected for the All Region Band. They are: Marlen Villarreal, clarinet; Stefanie Florez, clarinet; Adry Salazar, alto clarinet; Nancy Colunga, bass clarinet; Jesus Olivares, contra bass clarinet; Jose Guerra III, alto sax; Anibal Pena, tenor sax; Efren Suarez, trumpet; Jordy Lopez, trumpert; Armando Sanchez, trumpet; Marco Lazo, French horn; Christian Gonzalez, French horn; Robert Gonzales, tenor trombone; Joe Saenz, tenor trombone; Noe Jaramillo, tuba; Jose Acosta, percussion.


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Craig Verley 
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Office: 956-323-5530
cverley@mcisd.org
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, Texas 78572-4399
www.mcisd.net

VMHS FFA Chapter student advances to state competition

The Veterans Memorial FFA Chapter is sending Greenhand FFA Creed Speaker Zenaida Zlaniz to the state semifinal competitions. She recently placed first at the Area X Leadership Development Events. The state competition will be held at Sam Houston State University later this week.

Other Veterans Memorial FFA Chapter teams performed well at the Area X competitions. The farm radio broadcasting team placed fifth. Team members are: Meagan Garrett, Brittany Gernentz, Zenaida Alaniz. The greenhand FFA quit team placed eleventh. Those team members are: David Bazan, Samantha Diaz, Daniel Rojas, Gabriel Seigel.


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Craig Verley 
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Office: 956-323-5530
Fax: 956-323-8103
cverley@mcisd.org
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, Texas 78572-4399
http://www.mcisd.net

VMHS student makes regional orchestra

Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) student, Benjamin Garcia recently competed at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) regional orchestra clinic for oboes and earned a position in the region orchestra in the 5A division. VMHS is a 4A high school.

Garcia earned first chair in the region orchestra. Garcia now advances to the area auditions for a chance at a spot in the All State Orchestra. Those auditions will be held on January 12, 2013, at Alice High School. 

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Craig Verley
Director of Public Relations and Marketing Office: 956-323-5530
cverley@mcisd.org
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, Texas 78572
www.mcisd.net

Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park Celebrates 50 Years

The Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park celebrates 50 years in operation on December 1, 2012. The celebration starts at 10 am and ends at 3 pm. The park will have free admission to the public during the event.

Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park is located at 2800 S Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission, Texas, which is at the southernmost end of that road.

VMHS Harlequins present a Dickens classic, with a twist

The Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS) Harlequins Drama Club is proud to present the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” However, do not expect the traditional play many may have seen before on TV or stage. Theater director, James Hodgson has taken the familiar storyline; inter-twined traditional holiday carols, and come up with a re-freshed version of the tale.

Performances will be held in the VMHS Performing Arts Building on November 29, 30, and December 1, 6, 7, 8. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the performance starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door or at the VMHS front office during school days. Tickets cost $ 5.00 for students, $10.00 for adults.

Pictured are actors, Beto Cantu (L) and Alex Hinojosa, during a recent dress rehearsal.

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Craig Verley
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Office: 956-323-5530
cverley@mcisd.org
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, Texas 78572-4399
www.mcisd.net

MHS choir students advance to All State Choir finals

Two choir students from Mission High School (MHS) performed well enough  at the recent Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Pre-Area or semi-final round of auditions to earn a spot in upcoming final auditions for the All State Choir. They are Xavier Alonzo, sophomore (left) and Frankie Chaires, freshman.  While Alonzo earned fifth chair in the Pre-Area Choir, Chaires will serve as an alternate for the Area competitions. 

The auditions will be held on January 12, 2013 at Rockport-Fulton High School.

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Contact: Craig Verley, Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Office: 956-323-5530 
cverley@mcisd.org
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, Texas 78572
www.mcisd.net

Veterans Memorial FFA has strong showing at district leadership event

The Veterans Memorial FFA Chapter was one of about 20 schools that recently participated in the Rio Grande Valley FFA District Leadership Development Event. Over 150 students competed. 

The Greenhand FFA Quiz Team from Veterans Memorial FFA placed first in their competition. Team members were: David Bazan, Samantha Diaz, Daniel Rojas, Gabriel Siegel. The team will now advance to Area competitions to be held on November 19 at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The Greenhand FFA Creed Speaker from the group is also advancing to the Area competitions after placing first at the district level.

The Farm Radio Team placed second at the district competition. Team members were: Meagan Garrett, Brittany Gernentz, Zenaida Alaniz. This team will now advance to the Area competition on November 19.

Senior FFA Creed Speaker, Meagan Garrett placed fourth at the district competition.

The Senior FFA Quiz Team placed sixth. Team members were: Dannell Cerroblanco, Anthony Guerrero, Roy Guerrero, Evelyn Ovando.

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Contact: Craig Verley, Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Office: 956-323-5530
cverley@mcisd.org
1201 Bryce Drive
Mission, Texas 78572 
www.mcisd.net