Daniel Castaneda H.M. King High School senior band student, Daniel Castaneda has been selected for the 4-A All-State Band.

He plays the trombone in the H.M. King Honors Band under the direction of Rolando Molina.

Castaneda first qualified for the all-district band in November 2009.

In December he qualified for the all-region band and placed high enough to advance to the all-area competition.

Recently he competed with the top 12 4-A trombone players in South Texas Area G which encompasses the area from Houston to San Antonio and all schools south of that line.

Castaneda was selected as the number one player in Area G; only one player qualified for the coveted allstate band from each of the seven areas in Texas.

The Best of the Best players will perform in concert at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio on Feb. 13, 2010.

Castaneda will be accompanied by his high school band directors Rolando Molina, Porfirio Mendez Jr., and Mae Mendez to the State Convention.

“Our goals can sometimes be far from mind, but never far from our heart,” Castaneda said.

Castaneda also studies trombone with TAMUK professor Dr. Oscar Diaz and is very excited about the possibility of studying music education in his near future.

He is the son of John and Rosalinda Castaneda.