4 District Student Musicians Perform With 2026 Texas All-State 6A Concert Band in San Antonio

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Posing (l-r) are José Navarrete, head band director at Aldine HS; Benjamín Peralta-Luna from Nimitz HS, Emilio Reyna, head band director at Nimitz HS; Laisha Arredondo from Aldine HS, Rod Soto, head band director at Davis HS; Everardo Antonio González from Davis HS, Sean Rotich from Nimitz High School, Jontre Vean, assistant band director at Nimitz HS; and Joshua Mistro, assistant band director at Davis HS.

Four Aldine ISD high school musicians were selected for the 2026 Texas All-State 6A Concert Band and will perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio.

Four Aldine ISD high school musicians were among the top student performers in Texas selected to perform in the prestigious 2026 Texas All-State 6A Concert Band during the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention in San Antonio this month.

The students performed in concert at the Lila Cockrell Theatre on Feb. 14 under the direction of John Zastoupil, director of bands and associate professor of music at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Representing the top 3% of over 60,000 statewide auditioning students, these Aldine ISD musicians earned places in one of Texas’s most competitive music ensembles:

Bass Clarinet Section

Laisha Arredondo, Aldine High School

Contra-Bass Clarinet

Everardo Antonio González, Davis High School

Cornet/Trumpet

Benjamiín Peralta-Luna, Nimitz High School

Tenor Trombone

Sean Rotich, Nimitz High School

Selection to a TMEA All-State ensemble involves a rigorous, multi-level audition process that begins with regional auditions, advances through area auditions, and culminates in All-State selection. Students who reach this level are recognized among the finest high school musicians in Texas.

During the convention, the 6A Concert Band performed a challenging and diverse repertoire, including:

• Hymn to the Sun – With the Beat of Mother Earth by Satoshi Yagisawa
• Symphonic Dances, Op. 45, Mvt. III by Sergei Rachmaninoff (arr. Lavender)
• Fantastic Dreams: Movements I, II, and IV by Frank Ticheli

The annual TMEA Clinic/Convention is one of the largest music educator gatherings in the nation and features performances by All-State ensembles composed of outstanding students from across Texas.

Aldine ISD’s performing arts program offers students opportunities to excel. Participation in All-State ensembles reflects musical talent, discipline, perseverance, and commitment—qualities that align with the district’s vision of preparing students for success in college, career, and life.

“These students represent the very best of Aldine ISD,” said Stacey Smith, program director of performing arts. “Earning All-State recognition is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects countless hours of practice, dedication, and support from their directors and families. We are incredibly proud of their achievement on the state stage.”

The students are led at their respective campuses by José Navarrete, head band director at Aldine High School; Rod Soto, head band director, and Joshua Mistro, assistant band director, at Davis HS; Emilio Reyna, head band director, and Jontre Vean, assistant band director, at Nimitz High School.

Their performance in San Antonio is an inspiring #AldineStory — showing how talent, opportunity, and hard work create extraordinary outcomes for students across the district.