Two From La Grange Make All-State Band

The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the selection of the 2026 ATSSB All-State Band. More than 10,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty-two different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands. The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held this past weekend across the state and only 286 of these students were selected for all-state honors.

The ATSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Texas, February 11-14, 2026, and will present a concert beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.

Grady Kocian and Anthony Anzaldua, both members of the La Grange High School Band, were selected as a member of this band. They were chosen for this honor in competitive auditions held this year across the state at region and area levels.

Kocian is a private student of Brian Stewart and plays the Euphonium at school under the direction of Christopher Cooper, who is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1,400-member group of band directors in class 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A high schools in Texas. His other interests at school include varsity golf, UIL Science, UIL Ready Writing, UIL Film and German Club. He is also active in church activities at La Grange Church of Christ. He also enjoys coding, domino/ card/board game, watching movies/shows and spending time with family. His parents are Eric and Karissa Kocian of La Grange.

Anzaldua plays the Bass Clarinet at school under the direction of Christopher Cooper, who is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1,400-member group of band directors in class 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A high schools in Texas. Anthony’s other interests at school includes Leo Club, National Honor Society, UIL Math, Number Sense and Computer Science. He is also active in church activities at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. He enjoys playing video games, video editing and spending time with friends. He is the son of Carl and Veronica Anzaldua of La Grange.