Victoria ISD’s music programs continue to set a remarkable standard, proudly achieving top honors at the 2025 University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluations held over the last few weeks.
For months, our dedicated students have poured countless hours into mastering a challenging state-mandated musical repertoire, participating in class time rehearsals, after-school rehearsals and sectional practices.
The UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation serves as a pivotal milestone for band, choir and orchestra students across Texas, designed to test both the preparation and adaptability of student musicians. Ensembles are judged not only on a prepared concert performance but also on their ability to sight-read an unknown piece of music in real-time.
Students were evaluated by three concert band judges and three different sight-reading judges. UIL rubric standards are very high, and students are judged on a broad range of criteria, including individual tone quality, tuning, precision, balance and blend, note and rhythmic accuracy, articulation, style and overall musicianship. In the sight reading portion, they are also judged on how well they are able to learn a brand new piece of music in only a few minutes of practice time.
The four middle school and high school orchestras received superior ratings from the UIL judges and 100% of the students passed all UIL evaluations.
In State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) terminology:
8/8 evaluations = Masters Standards (UIL Superior 1st Division ratings).
UIL awards
Cade/Patti Welder Middle School Combined Orchestra - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Howell/STEM Middle School Combined Orchestra - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Victoria East High School Varsity Orchestra - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Victoria West High School Varsity Orchestra - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
The eight middle school bands received either superior or excellent ratings from the UIL judges and 100% of the students passed all UIL evaluations.
In STAAR terminology:
3/16 evaluations = Meets Standards (UIL Excellent 2nd Division ratings).
13/16 evaluations = Masters Standards (UIL Superior 1st Division ratings).
UIL awards
Cade Middle School Concert Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Cade Middle School Symphonic Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Howell Middle School Symphonic Band - 1st Division UIL Sight-Reading plaque.
Howell Middle School Honors Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Patti Welder Middle School Concert Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Patti Welder Middle School Symphonic Band - 1st Division UIL Sight-Reading plaque.
STEM Middle School Concert Band - 1st Division UIL Concert plaque.
STEM Middle School Symphonic Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
The seven middle school and high school choirs received either Superior, Excellent, Average or Below Average ratings from the UIL judges.
79% of the students passed all UIL evaluations.
In STAAR terminology:
1/14 = Did Not Meet Grade Level (UIL Below Average 4th Division ratings).
2/14 Evaluations = Approaches Standards (UIL Average 3rd Division ratings).
5/14 Evaluations = Meets Standards (UIL Excellent 2nd Division ratings).
6/14 Evaluations = Masters Standards (UIL Superior 1st Division ratings).
UIL awards:
Howell Middle School Treble Choir - 1st Division UIL Concert plaque.
STEM Middle School Treble Choir - 1st Division UIL Concert plaque.
Victoria East High School Mixed Choir - 1st Division UIL Concert plaque.
Victoria West High School Treble Choir - 1st Division UIL Concert plaque.
Victoria West High School Mixed Choir - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
The six high school bands received either Superior or Excellent ratings from the UIL judges and 100% of the students passed all UIL evaluations.
In STAAR terminology:
4/12 evaluations = Meets Standards (UIL Excellent 2nd Division ratings).
8/12 evaluations = Masters Standards (UIL Superior 1st Division ratings).
UIL awards:
Victoria East High School Symphonic Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Victoria East High School Wind Ensemble - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Victoria West High School Concert Band - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
Victoria West High School Wind Ensemble - 1st Division UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Sweepstakes trophy.
The outstanding dedication and effort put forth by our students have truly shone through these results. Our middle and high school bands, choirs and orchestras proudly represented their campuses and Victoria ISD with a spirit of pride, passion and excellence.
Congratulations to all of the students, directors, and families who help make this success possible!