HOUSTON – The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the 2020 ATSSB All- State Band. More than 10,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty-two different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands. The top chairs in each region advanced to one of five area auditions held in early January across the state and only 280 of these 2288 students were selected for all-state honors.
The ATSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Texas February 12-14 and will present a concert beginning at 9:00 am on Saturday, February 15, 2020, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.
Dr. David F. Wilborn (Texas A&M University) will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band which will premier Scherzito, After Gustav Holst by Christopher Lowry, winner of the 2020 ATSSB Composition Competition.
Eugene Corporon (North Texas State University) will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band. Paul Harshman (University of Washington) will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Jazz Ensemble which will perform at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020, in the Convention Center Hemisfair Ballroom 1.
Keelan Knight, Abernathy senior and member of the Abernathy High School Band, was selected to perform in this prestigious ensemble. He was chosen for this honor through competitive auditions held across the state at region and area levels.
Knight is a private student of Dr. Anthony King (Wayland Baptist University) and plays percussion at school under the direction of Mr. Matt Knight, who is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1175 member group of band directors in class 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A high schools in Texas. This is his second time to perform as a member of the ATSSB All-State Band. His interests at school include Uil Academics, National Honor Society, and UIL Solo & Ensemble. He attends First Baptist Church in Abernathy and enjoys playing xbox, spending time with family and friends, and doing odd jobs for his number one fan, Bettie Hardin. He is the son of Matt and Anna Jo Knight, in Abernathy, Texas.