The hall leading into the Band Hall at Coppell High School is plastered with one photo after another of band students -- band students who have earned their place on the "The Wall."

These students earned their place on the wall by either making the Texas All-State Band or being named "Outstanding Soloist" at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest.

The goal for many students who enter this band program is to leave their mark with their picture on "The Wall."

This desire among students to work hard to achieve, in addition to a supportive community, is what has driven the Coppell music program to develop a reputation of excellence among music educators throughout the country.

And Coppell continues its tradition of excellence this year topping its own record for number of All-Staters with 16 students making the 2012 Texas All-State Band.

Having 16 All-Staters also may be the most of any band, orchestra or choir program in the state, said CHS head band director Scott Mason.

"The most we have ever had before was 15 in 2004," Mason said. "I am not positive about the numbers from around the state, but in our Area we had the highest with 16 and the second highest was The Woodlands with four."

The state is divided into seven areas and Coppell is part of an area that includes schools from north Houston, Austin, Waco and the Dallas area. About 60,000 of the state's 250,000 high school band students tried out for the 250-member All-State Band.

Coppell students making the All-State Band are: Brandy Sun, flute; Harini Suresh, oboe; Nina Jang, Jason Fang, bassoon; Lauren Walter, Benson Huang, B-flat clarinet; Madeline Zill, alto clarinet; Aidan McGraw, bass clarinet; Jonathan Bolton, trumpet; Chris Lugo, French horn; and Parker Mason, Mark LeGros, tuba.

Second-time winners of an All-State placement include: Cinnie Lin, E-flat clarinet; Sean Nelson, baritone saxophone; and Brandon White, trumpet. Senior Landon Grissett, bass clarinet, earned his third All-State chair.

Mason said he was very excited to hear his school had 16 All-Staters this year and was humbled to be teaching so many great students.

He attributes the success in Coppell to the emphasis that is placed on individual performance.

"We are not really trying to get the most seats in the All-Region Band or the most students to Area or even to State. We are providing a way for our students to become greater musicians through working on extremely difficult music and competition with other students," Mason said.

In December, 124 CHS students earned a spot in the Region 20 North Zone All-Region Band while 46 students qualified for area competition, where members of the All-State Band are selected. Area tryouts were held Jan. 7 in Waco.

Mason, who has seen more than 200 CHS students make All-State Band during his 21 years at Coppell, said the philosophy of his band program is different from other schools.

"I believe what is important is to teach a student how to enjoy performing on their instrument and to give them the skills to perform at a high level through many opportunities of individual performances.

"Some schools place most of their time into the marching part of the year and many schools place most of their time on the concert part of the year," Mason said, adding that there is nothing wrong with these other philosophies, but it is just different in Coppell.

Mason said he emphasizes the All-State tryouts because he knows that the All-State experience can be a life-changing one for students.

"The Texas All-State Band is considered by most directors as the best All-State Band in the nation.  Students work for three days with other extremely talented students and world-class conductors," he said.

Landon Grissett, who has made All-State for the third time, said the best part of making All-State for him is being surrounded by great musicians and band directors. "It is also great to know that you are among the top musicians in the state of Texas," he said.

Grissett, who practiced one to two hours every day in preparing for the tryouts, said he plans to pursue music in college in conjunction with the pursuit of a music business degree.

Senior Brandon White, and now two-time All-Stater, agrees that the All-State experience is amazing. "Hands down it is one of the most outstanding events of high school," he said.

While he is not planning on majoring in music in college, he hopes to continue to grow as a player as he pursues a business degree, most likely at Baylor University.

For senior Parker Mason, making All-State for the first time means he finally achieved a goal he had set for himself when he was a freshman.

"The best part about making All-State is achieving the goal I set four years ago and improving throughout my efforts to accomplish this goal," Parker Mason said. "Even if I hadn't made it I would still feel proud of what I have done, but it's nice to achieve something that reflects my efforts."

Parker, who plans to attend Abilene Christian University, has not decided if he will pursue music in college.

Next stop for the All-Staters will be attending Texas Music Educators Association All-State clinic and concert Feb. 8-11 in San Antonio where they audition one last time for band and chair placement.

**(CONTINUED FROM ABOVE) CHS All-Staters, back left, are: Mark LeGros, Parker Mason, Chris Lugo, Brandon White, Jonathan Bolton, Sean Nelson, Landon Grissett and Aidan McGraw. Front left: Nina Jang, Jason Fang, Madeline Zill, Benson Huang, Lauren Walter, Cinnie Lin, Harini Suresh and Brandy Sun.