Six Lone Star College-University Park band and choir students were chosen for All-State Band and All-State Choir in November, selected out of all community colleges across the state.

Percussion students Bryan Blanco, Darrius Mitchell and Noah Rodriguez earned spots in the All-State Band, while vocalists Melissa Estrada, Emma Hayden and Val Moreno placed in the All-State Choir.

“This is another advantage of having faculty that are practitioners in their field,” Shah Ardalan, president of LSC-University Park said. “Their experience and compassion provide rich opportunities for the students to showcase their newly learned abilities and talents. Students’ prestigious success is a testament to the team’s talent and program quality.”

LSC-University Park students have earned several scholarships and offers to prestigious music schools despite the school’s music program only having been founded in 2017.

“We are creating the framework for a well-rounded program with the same emphasis you would find at a conservatory,” Jonathan Anderson, dean of arts and humanities at LSC-University Park said. “It’s the same outstanding education at a fraction of the cost.”

LSC-University Park students selected for the All-State music groups were chosen from more than 20 community colleges across the state.

“The multi-disciplines are what makes their submissions unique and shows the numerous skillset these students have,” Lamar Burkhalter, director of the percussion ensemble at LSC-University Park said. “The college gives students an opportunity and the exposure, then they put in their time—and it’s a winning formula.”