ATSSB Announces 2016 All-State Band Selection; Tenaha's Samford Selected

January 12, 2016 - HOUSTON - The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the selection of the 2016 ATSSB All-State Band. More than 9,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands.

The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held this past weekend across the state and only 290 of these 2,020 students were selected for all-state honors. The ATSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Texas, February 10-13 and will present a concert beginning at 9:30a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2016, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio. Stephen Pratt, Indiana University, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band.

The Symphonic Band will premier Resolution by Kenneth L. Griffin, commissioned by ATSSB to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of ATSSB. Phillip Clements, Texas A&M University-Commerce, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band. The Concert Band will premiere Where Morning Dawns, Where Evening Fades by Eric Rath , the winning entry in the 2016ATSSB Composition Competition. Dean Sorenson, University of Minnesota, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Jazz Ensemble which will perform at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13,2016, in Stars at Night Ballroom East of the Convention Center.

Jacob Samford, a member of the Tenaha lSD High School Band, was selected as a member of this band. He was chosen for this honor in competitive auditions held this year across the state at region and area levels. Jacob Samford is a student of Mr. Brian Sours, Director of Bands at Tenaha ISD, and plays the trombone at school under the direction of Brian Sours as well, who is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands a I 000-member group of band directors in class I A, 2A and 3A high schools in Texas. This is his second time to perfonn as a member of the A TSSB All-State Band. His other interests at school include playing the ukulele and participating in robotics. He is also active in church activities at Ramah Baptist Church and enjoys hunting and fishing as well. Jacob is the son of Ronald and Rhonda Samford of Tenaha, Texas.