Strike a chord

Months of grueling practice culminated last week at the annual Pigskin Jubilee. Students had spent much of the hot summer months toiling in fields and parking lots practicing for the big day.

Each had made sacrifices big and small to be there for the event, but such is the life of a student musician. Everyone does their part for the group.

Two months ago, The Monitor and Festiva put out several calls for outstanding high school musicians who do this and more for their respective groups. A stack of nominations came in and was whittled down to six students who excel in one of these categories: vocal performance (male and female), percussion, brass, woodwind and mariachi. (Editor’s note: No nominations for our string category were received.)

Please join us in recognizing their efforts.

Name: Roberto Garza, 17

Category: Male vocal

Years singing: 7

School/Classification: Edinburg North High School, senior

Nominated by: His choir director, Linda A. Hernandez

Roberto Garza had never met him and still doesn’t know his name, but what the man said after a choir concert years ago changed the 17-year-old’s life.

Before the concert, Garza, then in the seventh grade, had been worried about singing his first solo to the big crowd of parents and friends. He ended up singing his designated portion of Lonestar’s country power ballad “Amazed” without trouble.

As everyone dissipated, a man approached Garza, congratulating him on a job well done.

“He said I did a really good job. It really had an impact on me,” he said. “I decided to continue to pursue it.”

The stranger’s kind words encouraged him to not only continue singing but go beyond the call of choir duty.

Garza, who is also a member of the school’s mariachi group, is now president of the ENHS choir and has been a member of the school’s top choir for four years. He has also auditioned for the Texas All-State Choir every year since he was a freshman –in order to do so, high school students must pass three levels of tough competition. He will audition for Pre-Area choir in late November and hopes to make it to state this year. He wants to “end (high school) with a bang.” His dedication prompted his director Linda Hernandez to nominate him for outstanding male vocalist.

“I am confident that Roberto will succeed in everything he does,” she wrote in her nomination. “He has always shown great initiative and diligence in my classroom and has exceptional leadership qualities that I am certain will add to any organization in the future.”

Music is much more than a hobby for Garza. He hopes to make it his livelihood; he plans to study music education in college.

“When I was smaller, I didn’t think of being a teacher but now … I want to help others find that interest in music,” he said.

Name: Avery Luengo, 17

Category: Mariachi

Instrument: Guitar and vocals

Years playing with Mariachi Los Coyotes: 3

School/Classification: La Joya High School, senior

Nominated by: His mariachi director, Emilio Cantu

The ladies who work in La Joya High School’s cafeteria are among Avery Luengo’s biggest fans, and he has many these days.

A certain level of celebrity has accompanied the 17-year-old’s role as a singer for the school’s Mariachi Los Coyotes, but he’s enjoyed it, especially since he never saw it coming.

He actually started singing in a last-ditch effort to salvage the group’s performance after one of their lead singers was deemed ineligible to participate. It was four days before they were set to take the stage. Luengo decided they’d worked too hard for him not to step up to the challenge. He learned all the vocal parts to the Javier Solis song in four days. When he took the stage, he wowed the crowd – and himself.

“That made me realize I could sing,” he said. “I guess that was a realization moment for everyone.”

Before last year, Luengo was predominantly a guitar player, and it was his love of strumming that guided him to the musically diverse world of mariachi. Just a few years ago, he listened to mainly rock and rap.

“I ended up liking the style and technique (of mariachi music), how the music was able to go slow and then super fast. It's amazing how you can do so many things,” he said. “Now I love it.”

His latent affinity for mariachi music came to the surprise of many – his friends included.

“Some of them said ‘I didn’t even know you could speak Spanish,’” he remembers.

A few months ago, he got stopped in the hall often after he appeared in The Monitor, donning his full traditional mariachi uniform in a center spread photo. It accompanied a story about the grand opening of a new Wal-Mart store in Peñitas, where Mariachi Los Coyotes had performed.

“It obviously makes you more popular, being the guy who sings,” he said. “I go into the cafeteria and the ladies are asking me ‘Mijito, you're the one who sings mariachi, right?’”

He might often be the center of attention, but Luengo’s mariachi director Emilio Cantu said in his nomination letter that the teen is as selfless as they come.

“He is a student of high character who always puts his fellow peers first before himself,” he wrote.

Name: Trey Martinez, 16

Category: Percussion

Instrument: Drums

Years playing: 8 years

School/Classification: McAllen High School, sophomore

Nominated by: His father, Roy Martinez

Pick a song, any song, and Trey Martinez will freestyle a beat.

When Martinez is stressed, his parents and siblings know they can find him in his room, sitting at his drum set with his earphones plugged in. The 16-year-old can play by ear and often challenges himself by picking random radio songs and finding a cool, complimentary beat.

 It’s a skill that he’s been developing for more than eight years, when he first started taking drum lessons from a man at his church. Those around him soon noticed that he had a special ability; shortly after beginning lessons, he soon surpassed his teacher’s abilities. He was referred to a new and more experienced tutor.

Now Martinez, who would like to minor in music when he goes to college, admits he can’t imagine life without music and band. In fact, the aspiring Eagle Scout says he’s pretty sure he wouldn’t be the student and teen he is today.

“I would be with a whole group of people if I didn't play,” he said. “Everyone in the band are good kids on the right path. They have a good head on their shoulders.”

He’s made All-Valley band for the past two years and has helped McAllen High School’s band earn a 1 rating (the highest honor) at UIL competition and at the annual Pigskin competition.

His father, Roy Martinez, who nominated him for Festiva’s Outstanding Percussionist, remains among his biggest supporters.

“We started him in piano at (4 years old) and he learned to read music before he learned to read words,” he said. “… we are very proud of Trey for his accomplishments.”

Name: Stephany Lorber, 16

Category: Female Vocalist - Alto

Years in choir: 7

School/Classification: Rivera High School, junior

Nominated by: Her director, Kyle Zeuch

It’s 10 p.m. on a Saturday night, and Stephany Lorber is just getting home. She’s excited because she just accepted a job at IHOP.

Now she just has to figure out how she’s going to juggle work, school and a full-time job in the school’s choir.

“I’ll make it work out,” the 16-year-old says.

She always has. Lorber came to public school with a passion for art when she was in the 5^th grade. When it came time to choose electives, she wanted to go into art but her counselor suggested she give choir a chance. She had never tried singing before. Her best friend encouraged her to take the plunge. She did and in a very big way.

Shortly after joining she competed for a spot in a special children’s choir sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association. The choirs perform all over the country.

To compete, she made a cassette tape recording of herself singing a solo. She was chosen as a 6^th and 7^th grader and sang in Los Angeles and St. Louis. She didn’t make it during her last year in middle school. The disappointment nearly broke her singing spirit.

“It really got to me because it was the first thing I didn't make,” she said. “There was all this drama. I was really depressed.”

But Lorber, who is also a member of Rivera High School’s two after school choir ensembles, didn’t stay down long. In high school she was first alternate for the state’s top choir her freshman year and last year was second chair – one step from being in the state choir’s top spot for her section. She plans to compete again this year. It takes several hours of dedication and practice to prepare, but she said it’s been worth it each time.

"When I went to sing with the All-State Choir, it was my first time with one of the best choirs in Texas. It opened my eyes s a musician,” said Lorber, who hopes to study vocal performance in college. “I was in tears during in the concert (because) it was just so beautiful.”

Her choir director, Kyle Zeuch, said Lorber’s hard work makes her a stand out student.

“From a director’s point of view, Stephany is a very dedicated young woman with a lot of talent,” he said.

Name: Di Wu, 17

Category: Woodwind

Instrument: Flute and she’s also a drum major

Years playing: 7 years

School/Classification: McAllen Memorial High School, senior

Nominated by: Her director, Eric Donaldson

Di Wu left her heart on the marching field.

From her podium at the head of the McAllen Memorial High School marching band, she knows she made a great sacrifice to be up there. She gave up her beloved flute and won’t be marching alongside her comrades this season. Instead, she’ll be playing an arguably larger role by leading them.

It was an odd adjustment, she admits, but a worthy one. Plus, she’ll get her chance to play again at the end of marching season. The temporary absence from playing the instrument on the field is further made better at the annual Pigskin Competition, when bands from all over the region compete. Last week, her school got a 1, the best possible rating. Before this year’s competition, Wu summed up the feeling of on field competition.

“You’re standing there, there’s a long pause for suspense and then they say (your results),” she said. “It’s just nice to know that all our hard work has come through and our tan lines weren't for nothing.”

For Wu, who played violin shortly before getting into band in the 6^th grade, band is about the experience, from sweaty days practicing in the heat to the inside jokes she shares with other members.

“You work so long with these people and in the end it's like a family.”

Wu’s band director Eric Donaldson said the 17-year-old’s efforts in and out of the band hall make her a worthy leader for that family.

“Her accomplishments both academically and musically have been many …  Ms. Wu is of the highest moral character; her dedication to the Memorial band program is without equal,” he said.

Name: Rafa Torres, 17

Category: Brass

Instrument: Tuba

Years playing: 7

School/classification: Gladys Porter High School, senior

Nominated by: His director, Juan Sosa

Rafa Torres has a shirt baring the Church’s Chicken logo. He has another with the red roof synonymous with Pizza Hut. His most important uniform has no fast food logos, and he wears it proudly.

Torres has been in band, and worn the subsequent outfit, for about seven years. He started playing tuba in the 6^th grade. Since then, his music has taken him as far as New York City, where he played with the International Honors Wind Symphony. He has also had much success in statewide competitions; he was the first chair tuba musician in the area between San Antonio and Brownsville. His achievements have not come easy.

He has two jobs at the aforementioned fast food chains and works up to 25 hours per week. Torres said it’s a bit of a struggle to balance two jobs and his dedication to band, but says communication is the best management method.

“I can get my days off in time and not give my manager a hard time and also not miss any important and competitions and auditions,” he said.

Aside from his band accomplishments, he was also part of the All-Region Orchestra as a freshman and junior. The experience was eye- and ear-opening for the Brownsville student. It was the first time he’d ever heard live violins and other strings.

“It’s such a soothing sound,” he said.

Torres hopes to major in music education.