Flagler Boasting Four of State’s Best / Band Director Honors at MHS

Flagler County, FL – Flagler Schools is proud to announce the outstanding achievements of four student musicians who represented the district at the prestigious Florida All-State Band performances this past Saturday. Selected through a highly competitive audition process in September, these students earned the distinct honor of performing alongside the top student musicians from across Florida.

The district congratulates the 2026 Flagler County All-State Band Students:

Emily Rhee (Indian Trails Middle School) – Middle School All-State Clarinet

Joshua Palacious (Indian Trails Middle School) – Middle School All-State Trombone

Oliver Esquival-Novek (Flagler Palm Coast High School) – High School All-State Alto Saxophone

George Biedenbach (Matanzas High School) – High School All-State Trombone

In addition to student success, Ryan Schulz, Band Director at Matanzas High School, was formally recognized for his leadership at Saturday’s concert. Mr. Schulz served as the coordinator for the High School Honors Band, a role that required coordinating with more than 100 schools across Florida to assemble an ensemble of approximately 120 students.

Upcoming Event: Flagler Schools invites the community to the annual Flagler All-County Band Concert.

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Time: 11:30 AM

Location: Matanzas High School Pirate Theater

The district is honored to welcome two distinguished guest clinicians for this event: Bernie Hendricks, President-Elect of the Florida Music Education Association, and Amy Wacksman, a renowned music educator from Orange County. These experts will conduct student ensembles and provide professional development for Flagler County band directors throughout the weekend.