Multiple Wildcat Band Members Named All-State

The 2023-2024 school year has been yet another historic one for the Sulphur Springs Wildcats band, as they made their second consecutive trip to San Antonio for the State Band Competition. The history continues, as multiple members of the Wildcats band were recently awarded with All-State honors. 

Recently Caroline Prickette was named to the Texas All-Stand Band on clarinet. Prickette, along with 13 other Wildcat Band members qualified and competed at the Area level on Saturday, Jan. 6 at Chapel Hill High School. Top students from six regions came together for auditions to be considered for the Texas All-State Band. 

“The best musicians from these parts of the State are some of the best anywhere around,” head director Spencer Emmert said. “Our record number of Area qualifiers this year was so exciting.”

“Along with Caroline’s State qualification, we had several other students just a few places away from All-State this year,” Emmert added. “Almost all of these students are underclassmen, so the future is certainly bright for the Wildcat Band and potential All-State qualifiers.”

Caroline will travel to San Antonio in February to participate in the All-State click and concert and will get to perform under the direction of Dr. Michael Galemo, who is the head band director at Iowa State University. 

Prickette was not the only Wildcat Band member to receive All-State honors, as earlier this year Mika Petty and Levi Caton were each named to the Texas All-State Jazz Band, making it the first time in school history that Sulphur Springs had an All-State Jazz student. Petty placed first in the state in class 4A-1A on jazz alto saxophone, while Caton placed fourth in the state on trumpet. Caton also tied a school-record, qualifying for the All-State Band for a second time. 

“With it never happening before, having two Jazz All-Staters is incredible,” Emmert said. “It is a testament of how talented and hard-working these students are.”

Along with Prickette, Petty and Caton will travel to San Antonio is February for the All-State clinic and concert. They will be under the direction of Noe Marmolejo, director of Jazz Studies at the University of Houston Moore’s School of Music. 

Information provided by Spencer Emmert