13 NISD students earn TMEA All-State honors

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Northwest ISD would like to congratulate the 13 students, representing Byron Nelson, Eaton and Northwest high schools, who were selected to Texas Music Educators Association’s (TMEA) All-State ensembles, the highest honor a high school musician can achieve in Texas. These top-ranking musicians have advanced through progressively tougher rounds of competitions to earn a spot in one of 18 Texas All-State ensembles sponsored by the Band, Orchestra and Vocal Divisions.

NISD’s All-State Musicians will now perform in San Antonio on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Henry B. González Convention Center as part of the 2026 TMEA Clinic/Convention.

“These students earned this honor through years of hard work, along with the support of their parents, teachers and the community,” said Northwest ISD’s Executive Director of Fine Arts Dr. Kevin Lacefield.  “This is the highest achievement a high school musician can achieve in the state of Texas, and Northwest ISD is very proud of these highly accomplished student musicians.”

TMEA sponsors the Texas All-State audition process to promote students’ dedication to their musical knowledge and skill and to encourage educators to support their students in this development. Beginning each fall, over 70,000 high school students across the state audition in their TMEA Region. Individuals perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. A select group of musicians advances to compete against musicians from other Regions in their TMEA Area. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in All-State ensembles.

NISD All-State Musicians include…

All-State Symphony Orchestra
Bryce Orupabo, Junior, Eaton HS, Bassoon
Elizabeth Johnson, Senior, Northwest HS, Contra-Bassoon
Isaac Nielsen, Junior, Byron Nelson HS, Percussion

All-State Philharmonic Orchestra
Aiden Flora, Senior, Eaton HS, Viola
Benjamin Brooks, Senior, Byron Nelson HS, String Bass

All-State 6A Symphonic Band
Aspen Katkin, Senior, Byron Nelson HS, Oboe
Kai Schumann, Junior, Eaton HS, French Horn

All-State 6A Concert Band
Davis Taylor, Senior, Eaton HS, French Horn

Large School Mixed Choir
Taryn Hernandez, Senior, Eaton HS, Soprano 2
Noah Merriweather, Senior, Eaton HS, Bass 1

Treble Choir
Reese Puckett, Junior, Byron Nelson HS, Soprano 2
Aubrielle Neal, Junior, Eaton HS, Alto 2

Tenor-Bass Choir
RJ Cruz, Junior, Byron Nelson HS, Bass 2