Senior Angel Estrada has been selected as a 2018 United States Army All-American on October 18. The award was presented to Estrada at AHS.

Estrada, along with 125 of the most talented group of senior high school marching band members, will be playing during the halftime show at the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl presented by the American Family Insurance in San Antonio, Texas.

In order to be selected as an All-American, a musician must be able to excel both in music and academics.
They also have to be “young people of character,” according to deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing Mark S. Davis.

“While I was on vacation with my family I received an email of acceptance into the USAAAMC in the middle of the night,” Estrada said. “I couldn’t have been more excited to know that I would have the opportunity to work with many other musicians, from around the country that enjoy music as much as I do.”

The process of selection began in January of this year.

Estrada, who is also the piccolo section leader, was nominated by his band director and then had to record an introductory video explaining his personal accomplishments in music.

“The toughest part was getting my musical resume together because I didn’t do the best job at recording my activities and accomplishments over the years,” Estrada said. “But I managed to finally get everything I could remember onto paper.”

He also had to submit a video of him playing a piece on his piccolo.
Although the U.S. Army did not ask for any specific audition piece, Estrada decided to play an excerpt from last year’s AHS marching band show.

“I was a bit nervous because I had to play these new excerpts for piccolo and they were difficult to play,” Estrada said. “But I was able to learn and get them down eventually.”

Estrada was honored in front of army representatives, classmates, school administration and local media outlets.
However, initially, he was not fully confident his abilities to receive the recognition due to the other talented competition.

“The U.S. Army asked me to submit a recording of myself marching and playing and I was very confident with this portion because I was able to show off my marching technique,” said Estrada.
The event itself has been around for 18 years.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl has been the nation’s most elite high school all-star event, for both marching band members and football players. It is the most watched high school sporting event.

Millions every year tune in and up crowds up to 40,000 people attend per year.

Estrada hopes to continue music after high school. He has planned much of his music career out already.
“I plan to study music in college and hopefully have a career in playing the flute professionally,” Estrada said. “I have a passion for music and I want it to stick with me for the rest of my l