Symphony of Success: 2025-26 TPSMEA Accolades and Honors
April 16, 2026
The Episcopal School of Dallas is celebrating another extraordinary fine arts season, with students achieving remarkable success at the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) and Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) competitions throughout the 2025-2026 school year. From choral ensembles to orchestra and band, ESD students showcased their talent and dedication on stage across the state.
Raising Their Voices in Harmony
The choral season began with a strong showing from our younger vocalists. Five students earned spots in the TPSMEA Middle School Honor Choir, setting a high bar for the year. Tommy D. ’31, Shepherd D. ’30, Ben D. 30, Clinton R. ’30, and Ty T. ’31 brought energy and excellence to every performance this year, representing the school with passion and poise.
The momentum continued into the Upper School, where our vocalists displayed incredible range. Five students were named to the All-Region Treble Choir. Cate Canon ’27, Sophia Dawson ’26, Sloan Everett ’27, Jordan Johnson ’27, and Marloh Madison ’27 all had stellar performances that reflected the strength of ESD’s vocal program and the supportive community behind it.
Choruses of praise continue as four others earned chairs in the All-Region Mixed Choir. Krisha Bhatnagar ’28, Thuy An Dao ’26, Evellyn Hargrave ’26, and Gianluca Sabella ’26 brought their voices together to create something great.
Special recognition is due to Evellyn Hargrave ’26, whose exceptional talent led her to the TPSMEA All-State Choir, representing the pinnacle of choral achievement in the state.
Band Plays Loud and Proud
The instrumental programs saw equally impressive results, spanning from the foundational Middle School years to the advanced Upper School levels. In the Band program, Anakha A. ’30 represented ESD in the Middle School Honor Band and the Band Solo and Ensemble Contest, where she was joined by Sam C. ’31, Samuel K. ’31, and Simone T. ’31.
Our Upper Schoolers had a season to remember in the Region Band and the Solo and Ensemble contests. The high school Region Band featured Parker Capp ’28, Shridhar Gowrishankar ’28, Rahul Gundluru ’26, and Rohit Gundluru ’26. Capp and Gowrishankar’s exceptional performances earned them spots in the All-State Band, an honor that speaks to their commitment and musical growth.
In solo and ensemble contests, ESD musicians showed their versatility and focus. At the regional Band Solo and Ensemble Contest, standout performers included Parker Capp ’28, Shridhar Gowrishankar ’28, Cade Gray ’28, Rahul Gundluru ’26, Rohit Gundluru ’26, and Michael Peralta ‘26. Several students went on to the state contest—Shridhar Gowrishankar ’28 and Rohit Gundluru ’26 represented ESD with pride at the State Band Solo and Ensemble Contest.
Strings of Success in Orchestra
The Orchestra program reached new heights this year, making it a memorable year for ESD’s students. This year, we had two standout Middle School students representing the ESD orchestra. James H. ’33, our youngest generation of string talent, performed as a member of the All-Region Orchestra. Alongside him, William D. ’33 joined the Orchestra Solo and Ensemble concert.
A talented group of ESD orchestra students, Leo Chang ’28, Rawaan Khan ’28, and Alan Kim ’28, added depth and heart to each performance at the All-Region Orchestra.
Headlined by a "triple crown" performance, Elaine Yao ’28 earned places in the TMEA All-Region Orchestra, TMEA All-State Orchestra, and the TPSMEA All-State Orchestra — a remarkable achievement that highlights her artistry and dedication.
A Season to Remember
As the final notes of the season ring out, the ESD community celebrates not only the accolades but also the dedication, teamwork, and joy that defined a truly exceptional fine arts year. As we celebrate these awards, we also celebrate the courage it takes to step onto a stage and the collaborative spirit that makes our ensembles so special. Congratulations to all our musicians on a stellar season!
