This past summer, Bobcat Band member, Paden Mick, participated in the 2021 Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest. Too qualify for this opportunity, Paden performed, from memory, a Class One solo, the most difficult of UIL solos, and earned a superior rating for his performance in the region contest. Paden’s performance at the State level competition earned him another superior rating in front of a more difficult university level adjudicator. He also selected as an OUTSTANDING PERFORMER for the 2021 competition. Of the thousands of participants across the state, 1A-6A, only 2%-3% of the solo performances earned the distinguished honor of being recognized as an OUTSTANDING PERFORMER. Dr. Brad Kent, UIL State Director of Music stated, “This achievement is truly a mark of musical excellence!”