COM music majors make all-state: By Mark Fleming Writer, Marketing & Public Affairs 713-295-1824

(Texas City, Texas) — Austin Kelton and Daniel Watson, both music majors at
College of the Mainland, were selected through audition to perform with the
Texas Community College Band Directors All-State Jazz Ensemble this month.
Kelton and Watson are both trombone players. “I am really happy for them” said
Sparky Koerner, professor of fine arts. “They both put in lots of practice on the
audition music and it has paid off.”
They are both graduates of Texas City High School, Austin in 2017 and Daniel in
2015, and products of its find band program. They both enrolled this semester as
music majors at COM and that made them eligible to audition for the TCCBDA
All-State group.
They will perform in San Antonio at the Texas Music Educators Conference this
month. Music will be sent to them so that they can prepare for rehearsals that will
take place there prior to the concert. They will get the opportunity to rehearse
and perform under Alan Baylock, director of the One O’Clock Lab Band at the
University of North Texas.
“That will be exciting for them, considering Alan directs one of the best university
jazz bands in the country.” said Koerner, a graduate of the University of North
Texas.
This continues a tradition at College of the Mainland. Over the many years
Professor Koerner has been teaching at COM 28 students have performed in All-
State and All-Star jazz groups. Both Kelton and Watson perform with the COM
Jazz Ensemble

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