Thomas Pickett, a senior member of the New Braunfels High School Choir, has been recognized with the Outstanding Soloist Award at the UIL Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest (TSSEC) held this past May.

The Outstanding Soloist Award represents the attainment of superior musicianship at the state level. To be eligible, students must first earn a Gold Medal at TSSEC, after which judges identify a small group of performances to honor with this distinction.

“This was a very unexpected award, and i’m honored to be the recipient of it,” Pickett said. “I am also very proud to represent NBHS choir at the state level.”

The award is given to roughly the top one to two percent of participants across Texas. The last time an NBHS Choir student received this honor was in 2016, according to NBISD Director of Fine Arts Dr. Marty Lenard.

“To earn this distinction, Thomas displayed exceptional vocal technique, musical sensitivity, and interpretive artistry. His performance demonstrated advanced skills in tone quality, pitch accuracy, diction, phrasing, and expression, paired with the confidence and poise needed to communicate music at a professional level,” said NBHS Choir Director Mario Contreras. “These qualities reflect not only his natural talent, but also his discipline, resilience, and ability to rise to the occasion under pressure.”

In addition to this achievement, Pickett earned a spot in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Choir as a junior. He performed with the All-State Tenor-Bass Choir earlier this year in San Antonio. This was Pickett’s first time to perform as a member of a TMEA All-State organization, one of the highest honors a Texas high school musician can achieve.

“As his choir director, I could not be more proud of his achievement. This honor is a testament to Thomas’s musicianship and leadership as a vocalist, and it places him among the very best young performers in the state of Texas,” Contreras added. “More importantly, it reflects the hard work, dedication, and heart he has poured into his music throughout his high school career.”