The Tullahoma City School bands made a lot of noise in December when it was announced that 35 students received all-state or mid-state honors.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the students who prepared for and participated in the rigorous audition process this year,” said the TCS Band Directors, Justin Scott, Lisa Burden and Johnathan Johnson, in a joint statement. “The fact that 35 TCS band members were chosen to participate in a Mid-State ensemble, whether it be a concert band, orchestra, or jazz band, is a testament to their hard work and talent. This achievement is particularly impressive, as only nine to 15 percent of students who audition for these groups are selected. Additionally, five of our students earned the distinguished honor of being named All-State musicians—an accolade reserved for the best of the best.

High school students Ella Farmer, Jonah Vallejos, Richard Thomasson, Alexander Cook and Liz French were selected to the Tennessee Music Education Association’s (TMEA) All-State Band. These students will next travel to perform with the All-State Band at the TMEA Annual State Conference at Opryland Hotel in Nashville on Saturday, April 12.

This recognition follows the news that Tullahoma City Schools had several students named to the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association’s (MTSBOA) Mid-State Band.

East and West Middle School had a combined eight students earn seats in the MTSBOA Seventh/Eighth-Grade Concert Band. Those selected students are Whit Vaughn, Alisson Milhan, Isaac McVey, Jack Harris, Nathan Miller, Cayden Jernigan, Hobbes Schwer and Evan Nalin. Isaac McVey, Jack Harris and Cayden Jernigan were also selected for the Seventh/Eighth-Grade Jazz Band.

TCS also had 27 high school students with seats in their respective MTSBOA Mid-State Band Clinic. The district had 14 students selected to the Mid-State Ninth/10th-Grade Concert Band, with 13 students named to the 11th/12th Grade Concert Band.

TCS Ninth/10th Grade Concert Band members include Jenna Gill, Scout Wiggs, Ella Farmer, Aiyanna Dale, Jonah Vallejos, Evie Hatmaker, Edward Henry, Javier Fletcher, Jake Fisher, William Dawe, Jonah Dorman, Richard Thomasson, Alexander Cook and Hayden Good.

TCS 11th/12th Grade Concert Band Members are Naziya Warden, Natalie Howard, Julia Liner, Sarie Hoffner, Haidan Curry, Hailee Brown, Elijah Moorehead, Liz French, Ethan Howell, Will Childers, Josh Jones, Connor Shasteen and Jonas Carter.

Members of the MTSBOA Mid-State bands will participate in a clinic that starts Thursday, Jan. 16 and concludes with a performance on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Lipscomb University.

Will Childers and Jonah Dorman were also selected to the MTSBOA Jazz Band. Liz French was also named to the 11th/12th Grade Orchestra. These students will take part in a clinic that starts Jan. 23 and concludes with a concert on Jan. 25 at Blackman High School.

“From our seventh graders, who are just beginning to learn this process, to our seniors preparing for their final auditions, this journey is as much about personal growth as it is about musical achievement,” said the TCS Band Directors in a statement. “It’s a gradual and demanding process that pays dividends—not only for the individual students but for our entire band program. Whether they were selected or not, their commitment strengthens the culture of excellence and growth in our program,” the statement continued. “The high number of participants and the remarkable success of those selected are a source of pride for TCS and a clear indicator of the bright future of our band program.”

TCS Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens, also offered her congratulations to these band members.

“I am continually amazed by our band programs at each of our schools,” Dr. Stephens said. “The Tullahoma City School band programs are renowned throughout the state, and with results like these, it is easy to see why. I am extremely proud of each one of these students and their directors for their commitment and their continued success.”