200
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ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
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HOUSTON, TX
FOOTBALL
17 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
39 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
WRESTLING
3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
4 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SWIMMING
2015-2016 PREVIEW
CROSS COUNTRY
/
TRACK & FIELD
10 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
21 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASKETBALL
9 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
16 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SOCCER
1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
18 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASEBALL
23 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
49 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Donald Thoede has instilled a two-
pronged purpose to the STH Music
Department throughout his 16
years as band director, aiming for
a collective effort which impacts
beyond halftime entertainment at
varsity football games.
“We certainly want to expose the
students to as many meaningful
musical experiences as we
can,” Thoede said. “But just as
importantly we want to support the
broad STH community in whatever
capacity we can.”
That translates into those far-
reaching musical talents providing
an essential complement to the
Commencement Exercises, the
National Honor Society Induction
Ceremony, the Thanksgiving and
seasonal Mass celebrations, and
the critical annual advancement
activities of the Auction & Gala,
Round-Up and the Mothers’ Club
Style Show.
The department’s strong
tradition dates to the 1930s and
offers a variety of performance
organizations ranging from band
to jazz band, jazz combo to string
ensemble to the STH Singers led by
director Josh Wilson and featuring
the Eagle Elite.
But the foundation core remains
the Eagle Marching Band,
musicians from STH, Incarnate
Word Academy and Duchesne
Academy of the Sacared Heart
who perform at all home and
select away football games with an
entertaining and enterprising style.
The same group transitions into a
concert band later in the academic
year and is showcased at the
Christmas and Spring Concerts.
Under Thoede’s leadership STH
is routinely recognised throughout
the state and region, winning
TAPPS State four times over a
six year period beginning in 2006
and consistently awarded with
performance ratings of Superior in
concert contests.
The Jazz Band and Jazz Combo
have produced more than 11
years of Superior ratings. The
String Ensemble has earned the
same since its inception while
winning Sweepstakes at 2009 and
2011 TAPPS State and the 2010
Texas Private Music Educators
Association (TPSMEA) Concert
competitions.
In 2015 Seth Dalton ‘16 was
recognized with outstanding
performance medals for the alto
sax and piano as STH earned
significant distinction at three state
competitions ... the TPSMEA
Concert and Sight-Reading contest
at Strake Jesuit, the Houston
Symphonic Band (HSB) Concert
and Sight-Reading at Houston
Christian High School, and the
TPSMEA Solo and Ensemble
Contest on the St. Thomas campus.
The STH Concert Band and
String Ensemble was awarded a
Sweepstakes rating, a combined
score of Superior on both stage
and sight-reading portions.
The Jazz Lab and Dixieland Band
both scored a Superior rating at
HSB, while the Jazz Combo earned
Superior ratings at the TPSMEA
and HSB contests.
The STH Singers are responsible
for all music at the school Masses
as well as performing at annual
campus concerts. The Eagle Elite
comprises the top talents in the
vocal department and are featured
at athletic and charity events
throughout the community.
STH Music is supported by the
gracious efforts of the Music Guild
which spends countless hours
preparing uniforms and fundraising
for travel and state of the art
equipment, including the annual
sale of Homecoming mums.
STH Band Director Donald Thoede