Vanguard Beethoven Secondary has set the tone for the music department as four Orchestra students will be representing Vanguard Academy as members of the All-Region Orchestra. Orchestra students Oscar Moreno, Jacob Flores, Averi Macias, and Matthew Gomez earned a spot with the All-Region Orchestra at both the junior high and high school levels via virtual and/or live competitive audition.
“I am really happy to get this tradition started,” Beethoven Secondary Orchestra teacher Cristina Amorim said. “It is a great feeling to know that our Vanguard community is now being represented in the All-Region Orchestra. It is an honor and great recognition.”
All-Region Orchestra member and 11th grade student Oscar Moreno also agrees.
“The competition was challenging and rigorous,” Oscar, a six-year Orchestra member said.
“One major challenge, I felt, was performing in front of people once again since the COVID-19 pandemic had kept us from doing so.”
Orchestra students were first introduced to the music during a summer workshop where they were instructed by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley music professors and Vanguard music department instructors.
“Receiving this achievement is empowering,” 7th grade student Averi Macias said. “When they announced the results my mom and I looked at each other in disbelief and began to cry of joy.”
All-Region Orchestra students also gave advice to others wishing to join.
“This is my first year playing cello and my advice to anyone considering to pick up an instrument is ‘practice, practice, and practice,” two-year orchestra student Jacob Flores said.
On November 13 All-Region Orchestra students will perform together in a concert to be held at McAllen High School for the public.
“We are extremely proud of our Orchestra students,” Amorim said. “This is a new tradition that has been set by these students and we are excited.”