Eleven Coppell High School Band students earned spots in the Region 20 All-Region Orchestra recently and participated in a clinic and concert Nov. 13-14 at Nimitz High School in Irving.

About 80 CHS band students auditioned for a possible 30 spots in the Region Orchestra tryouts. More than 40 high schools are in Region 20.

Students making orchestra were: Lucy Huo and Grace Choe, Flute; Catherine Esquivel, Oboe; Emily Hyslop, Bassoon; Richard Song and Arnold Hechanova, B Flat Clarinet; Mitchell McBrayer and Leah Gray, French Horn; Shaan Patel, Tenor Trombone; Michael Lu, Tuba and Krish Suresh, Percussion.

In addition, 11 students were certified to the area level audition, which is required to make the Texas All-State Band. All the students making the All-Region orchestra qualified for area except for one and bass trombonist Hayden Grimes qualified for area, but did not make the orchestra.

Esquivel, a senior who made the All-Region Orchestra for the second straight year, said the best part of making it was not only getting the experience of playing with strings, but also being able to qualify for area.

Also making All-Region Orchestra for the second time was junior Emily Hyslop who said her orchestra experience was challenging, yet it strengthened her ability to play with other great players.

“The best part of orchestra was the actual concert because I was surrounded by the amazing players who I had only spent two days with,” Hyslop said.

“This was my third year to be in the orchestra and this year was the best,” said senior Leah Gray. “Not that I like spending my Friday and Saturday sitting in a chair, but this year the time flew by.”

Gray said she enjoyed the music she played and she liked her director Dr. David Itkin, who happens to be the director of orchestral studies at the University of North Texas where she wants to go to school next year.

“It was cool to talk with him,” she added.