EL PASO, TX – The spotlight shone brightly on Parkland High School as the Ysleta ISD Board of Trustees officially recognized three exceptional Matadors for a record-breaking musical achievement.
Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre, members of the Board of Trustees, and Parkland Principal Mr. Salgado gathered to honor Yumirelle A. Ibarra, Zachery I. Frescas, and Julius A. Soto for their selection to the 2026 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Choir.
A Record-Breaking Year
This year marks a historic milestone for the Parkland High School Choir program. Under the expert guidance of Director Mrs. Eun-Mee Garza, these three students navigated a grueling audition process to secure their spots in the most prestigious ensembles in the state.
To understand the magnitude of this achievement, consider the statistics:
Total Auditioning Students: Over 70,000
Students Selected: 1,875
The "Elite" Percentage: Only the top 2.6% of musicians in Texas earn the title of "All-State."
"To reach the All-State level is the highest honor a Texas music student can achieve," said Mrs. Garza. "Yumirelle, Zachery, and Julius have shown incredible discipline and artistry through every level of competition."
The Road to San Antonio
The journey to the All-State stage is a marathon of talent and nerves. Our students competed through multiple rounds of rigorous auditions:
District & Region: Competing against local talent within TMEA Region 22.
Area: Advancing to face the best vocalists from eight different TMEA Regions.
All-State: Earning a seat in the final ensembles.
On February 14, 2026, our Matadors traveled to the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio. There, they performed as part of the All-State Tenor/Bass and All-State Treble Choirs, representing Parkland High School in front of thousands of educators and music lovers from across the country.
Meet Our All-State Honorees
Student | Choir Ensemble |
Zachery I. Frescas | All-State Tenor/Bass Choir |
Julius A. Soto | All-State Tenor/Bass Choir |
Yumirelle A. Ibarra | All-State Treble Choir |
Congratulations to our talented students and Mrs. Garza for putting Parkland High School on the map as a center for musical excellence!
