Fine Arts

Midway ISD Ranks 6th Among 6A Districts in Texas for All-State Musicians

Sixteen musicians from Midway High School’s Band, Choir, and Orchestra programs have received the highest honor for music students in Texas.

Midway All-State Musicians

Among these honorees are one orchestra student, two band students, and a record-setting 13 choir students—more than any other 6A choir program in Texas, all earning spots as 2025 Texas Music Educators Association All-State Musicians. Compared to other 6A districts, Midway ISD has the sixth-highest number of All-State Musicians in the state.

These students rank among the top 2.7% of over 70,000 students from across Texas who initially auditioned to become All-State musicians. They will participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors and perform with the Texas All-State ensembles on Saturday, Feb. 15 in San Antonio as part of the 2025 TMEA Clinic/Convention.

High school students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed through three levels of auditions to qualify at the state level. Individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in an All-State music group.

Two band students
Midway High School 2025 All-State Band students (from left) bass clarinet player Emmanuel Maxey and trombone player Hogan Akin.

All-State Band

Senior trombone player Hogan Akin and Junior bass clarinet player Emmanuel Maxey are members of the Midway High School Wind Ensemble who have earned seats as All-State Band members.

Emmanuel has accomplished the rare feat of earning All-State Band honors for two consecutive years, auditioning with a different instrument each year—contrabassoon and bass clarinet. 

The Midway High School Band is under the direction of Pam Hyatt.

Group photo of choir students
Midway High School 2025 All-State Choir students (back row from left) Katie Partin, Reagan Corley, Jackson Owen, Asher Beck, Sam Conaway, Johnny Holden, Cady Eggleston, (front row from left) Madison Follis, Millie Cherry, Sofia Mata, Abigail Harris, Madeleine Denman, and Hannah Rose.

All-State Choir

Midway Choir’s program record of 13 All-State students is the most of any 6A school in Texas and more than all other Region 8 schools combined. The following singers represent Midway Choir as All-State musicians:

Madeleine Denman — Senior, Soprano 1, 1st Chair Mixed Choir
Hannah Rose — Senior, Soprano 1, 4th Chair Treble Choir
Millicent Cherry — Junior, Soprano 2, 4th Chair Treble Choir
Katie Partin — Junior, Soprano 2, 5th Chair Treble Choir
Cady Eggleston — Junior, Alto 1, 1st Chair Mixed Choir
Sofia Mata — Senior, Alto 1, 2nd Chair Mixed Choir
Abigail Harris — Senior, Alto 1, 4th Chair Treble Choir
Madison Follis — Senior, Alto 2, 5th Chair Treble Choir
Sam Conaway — Senior, Tenor 2, 1st Chair Mixed Choir
Asher Beck — Senior, Tenor 2, 2nd Chair Mixed Choir
Jackson Owen — Senior, Bass 1, 1st Chair Mixed Choir
Reagan Corley — Junior, Bass 1, 3rd Chair Tenor-Bass Choir
Johnny Holden — Bass 2, 3rd Chair Tenor-Bass Choir

Among these students are four-year All-State Choir members Asher Beck and Sam Conaway—a first for Midway. Additionally, Jackson Owen is a three-year All-State Choir member, and Millicent Cherry, Madeleine Denman, and Sofia Mata are each returning for a second year. 

These students are all under the direction of MHS choral directors Jeff Rice, Jannifer Rice, and Caleb Overstreet.

Orchestra student
Midway High School 2025 All-State Orchestra violin player Glenn Eshelman.

All-State Orchestra

Midway sophomore violinist Glenn Eshelman has been selected for the TMEA All-State Philharmonic Orchestra. This marks Glenn’s second consecutive year as an All-State musician, an impressive achievement he first earned as a freshman. 

The Midway High School Orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Beau Benson.

Posted 
Jan 23, 2025
 in 
Fine Arts
 category