2011 TSSEC: Largest Music Contest in UIL History
By Jeanne Acton, Journalism Director | Tuesday, May 31, 2011 12:54 PM
Members of the PSJA Memorial High School ensemble play for their judge at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. TSSEC was held over Memorial Day weekend.
Photo by Jeanne Acton
During the Memorial Day weekend, more than 20,000 high school music students from across the state descended on Central Texas for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest, making it the largest music contest ever hosted by UIL.
UIL Music Director Richard Floyd said he was pleasantly surprised by the increased participation.
“It was the largest event in our history,” Floyd said. “I thought our number might be down because of budget constraints. This suggests that our superintendents and schools believe the contest is truly a beneficial, educational experience for their students.”
The contest was held at three sites: the University of Texas at Austin, Connally High School and Hendrickson High School, both in Pflugerville Independent School District.
“We are blessed with the fact that Pflugerville ISD has made a commitment to provide us with satellite locations so that we can more easily accommodate everyone,” Floyd said.
To advance to the state competition, students had to score a Division 1 (Superior) rating on a Class 1 (most difficult) music selection at the regional level contest.
Over the 2-day contest, more than 13,000 events took place featuring virtually every category of UIL band, choir and orchestra competition. Contests also were hosted for piano and music theory.
To host such a large state contest, Floyd brings in about 250 people to help run all of the contests.
“We absolutely could not do it without the help,” he said.
More than 5,000 medals were awarded over the weekend. Students who earned a 1 rating received a gold medal. Students who earned a 2 rating received a silver medal, and ensembles that received a 1 rating received a bronze medal.
The 128 adjudicators for the contest were nationally recognized university music professors from throughout Texas and the nation.