February 5, 2026

Hughson High School Noeli Gomez Orozco, Leah Ballard and Ross Middle School Abrielle Martinez were among the players and scholarship recipients at the Stanislaus County Music Festival, held by the County Music Association at the end of January, with public performances on Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31.

The festival began at 7 p.m. on Friday with the high school and junior high school Honor Choir. This was Hughson’s first year sending students for the Honor Choir. Participation was by audition only. Students learned “Dona Nobis Pacem” and submitted their recorded auditions. Two students from Hughson High School were accepted: Leah Ballard and Ava Reynolds. Ballard and Reynolds learned five pieces in Portuguese, Italian and English, leading up to the festival.

According to Music Teacher Katye Maki, the three worked together as often as they could. Before the performances, the Honor Choir rehearsed with CSU Stanislaus Choral Conductor Dr. Daniel R. Afonso. “It was a beautiful concert,” Maki said. “Learning a new language is no small feat; they had never done that before; everyone who attended had never heard their voice alone, unaccompanied, really proud of them for being brave and doing that.”

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, the high school and junior high school Honor Orchestras performed, and the festival concluded Saturday evening with the high school and junior high school Honor Bands performing at 7 p.m.

Honor Band members likewise auditioned for their place in a live audition on December 2 at Pitman High School. Noeli Gomez Orozco and Leah Ballard were accepted from Hughson High School. Six students were accepted from Ross Middle School: eighth graders Abrielle Martinez, second chair tuba; Sophia Garcia, second chair oboe; Kayle Sanchez, third chair flute; Helena Lemperle Amador, sixth chair alto sax; seventh grader Stephanie Rivera, first chair euphonium; and sixth grader Kendra Jimenez, eleventh chair clarinet.

Ross Middle School Band Teacher Mitchell Beck noted the remarkable achievement of Kendra Jimenez being accepted as a sixth grader to the Honor Band, the only student in the county to do so this year. “Auditioning for an honor group is a frightening prospect for anyone. It requires a lot of bravery to audition,” he said. “All students worked very hard outside of school to prepare their music. The concert really was terrific.”

Maki noted that for Gomez Orozco, each time she has auditioned, her ranking improved. Dr. Brittany Trotter singled out Gomez Orozco directly to praise her for her growth.

The high school Honor Band performed six pieces under the direction of Dr. Phil Vallejo, who is originally from this area and returned for the event. Students learned six songs in a wide variety of genres independently, participated in reading rehearsals on January 20, hosted by Hughson High School in the newly remodeled Ella Webb Theater, regular rehearsals at Modesto Junior College on January 29 and 30 and public performances together at Modesto Junior College Auditorium, where the festival was held.

The concert included a world premiere of a Spanish march arranged by Vallejo, based on a tune his grandfather composed for piano and accordion. Throughout the song, different sections stood to performed and by the finish, the entire Honor Band was on its feet. Vallejo’s father was in the audience, hearing the piece for the first time.

“It’s a unifying message that we’re all humans on this earth,” Maki said, “and we make music together. It was really inspiring.”

Following their participation, Ballard, Gomez Orozco, and Martinez were honored for their outstanding musicianship and received scholarships towards Silver Lake Band Camp.

“As a music teacher,” Maki said, “I’m very proud of these individuals and all the extra effort they put in above and beyond their regular day and activities. I feel very proud and want to keep encouraging more and more kids to do it in the coming years.”

Hughson High School and Ross Middle School music students are now hard at work preparing for Show Nite, to be held February 27 at Hughson High School. The public is invited to attend this important music department fundraiser. Tickets are available online and at the door: $15 general admission, $10 student, senior, and military admission. Children under five are free.