Exciting news from a newly formed student brass quintet!

Recently, Pinnacle Brass was selected via a nationwide audition to compete in the 11th annual Coltman Chamber Music Competition! The Coltman Chamber Music Competition consists of 10 performing chamber ensembles in the Senior Mixed instrumental division. The Senior Mixed instrumental division showcases some of the best percussion, woodwind, and brass chamber ensembles across the nation. The competition will take place on March 2nd and 3rd at the University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music.

The Pinnacle Brass quintet was founded in 2023 with a mission to showcase the excellence of brass playing, and bring exciting, captivating performances to audiences around the nation. Members of Pinnacle Brass include Jesse Chavez and Aubyn Nall (trumpet), Seth Meason (french horn), Spencer Owens (trombone), and Lucas Martinez (tuba).

Sincere congratulations to these hard-working students!

Five West Texas A&M University students recently presented research at a national honors conference.

The students, all members of WT’s McNair Scholars program, presented research in disciplines ranging from animal science to digital communication and media at the Ronald E. McNair 38th Annual Celebration and 14th Research Symposium at North Carolina A&T State University.

McNair Scholars from across the country presented their research and attended a graduate school fair during the conference, held Jan. 27 to 29 to commemorate the anniversary of the Challenger tragedy in which McNair and six other astronauts perished in 1986.

“Students were not only able to present their research in a professional setting but were also able to come full circle and see where Dr. Ronald E. McNair, our namesake, began his journey in higher education that led to his research in space exploration with NASA,” said Victoria Salas, director of WT’s McNair Scholars program.