Southwest High School's Colorguard has added another achievement to their already impressive record, winning first place at the TECA State Championships held in Hidalgo, TX on March 25th. The team's performance was nothing short of exceptional, beating the next group by almost 4 points in their class. Their talent and hard work were acknowledged with the Outstanding Movement, Design, General Effect, and Equipment awards. Jamie Cirilo, a member of the team, also received a scholarship worth $1,000 from the TECA Association. This win makes them repeat state champions for two consecutive years. The Colorguard has made Southwest HS proud by winning their class and adding another title to their list of accomplishments.
On March 29th and 30th, the two concert bands from Southwest HS hosted and participated in the UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. Only 11 out of the 30 bands that competed received the Sweepstakes Award from UIL. The Wind Ensembles A and B from Southwest HS were two of those 11 bands and were among the eight bands that received "Superior" ratings from all six judges (three concert and three sightreading). What's more, six out of the 11 bands that won the Sweepstakes Award were from SWISD. These are outstanding achievements for our school and speak volumes about the dedication and talent of our music department.
The Jazz Band from Southwest HS was also in the spotlight as they participated in the Taft Jazz Festival held on April 1st. The band's performance was outstanding, and they were awarded a Superior Performance plaque. Caleb Fuller, a member of the band, was recognized as an "All Star" of the Festival for his Trombone performance. This is yet another testament to the exceptional talent of our students.
These students aren't slowing down anytime soon. They will be performing during Fiesta, St. Mary's Jazz Festival, Spring Concerts, and the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest.