Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Jonah Raychev, ninth-grade student at Central Heights ISD and a violin student in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, placed second in Texas at the Texas Music Educators Association All State Orchestra audition.
“The Texas Music Educators Association All State Orchestra audition and placement process is a highly competitive and prestigious event for student musicians in Texas,” said Alba Madrid, director of the Music Prep program. “After a rigorous audition process, only the top performers were selected for placement in the All State Orchestra.”
Jonah is the son of Drs. Jennifer Dalmas and Evgeni Raychev, both string faculty members at SFA. Jonah was among the approximate 450 high school violinists who auditioned across Texas, from which 112 violinists are accepted for All-State and are put into three orchestras. The top 40 violins, including Jonah, are placed in the top orchestra – the All State Symphony.
The All-State Symphony will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Center in San Antonio. Jonah will re-audition for seat placement in January, but will play in the 1st violin section. The orchestra will perform “Till Eulenspeigel” by Richard Strauss, among other works.
Jonah, 14, has studied virtually with Dr. Gary Kosloski for the past three years in addition to working with his parents. He started playing the violin at 5. Jonah is concertmaster of the Pineywoods Youth Orchestra, an ensemble that is part of the SFA Music Preparatory Division. He will also be the concertmaster of the All-Region High School orchestra this year, as well. In addition to violin, Jonah loves to play chess and occasionally competes in area tournaments.
For more information about the Music Preparatory Division, call (936) 468-1291. The Music Prep House is located at 3028 Raguet St. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Madrid can also be contacted at: madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu. Parents can also find program information on Facebook and Instagram.