Spring HS student named best flautist in Texas, 4 years in a row

SPRING, TX (KTRK) -- Victor Villalobos is the top flautist in the storied Spring High School band. And he's been named one of the best in Texas all four years of high school.

"I love playing my instrument," Villalobos says. "So to get to go do something on the state level with a lot of other great musicians is always a lot of fun."

Sixty-four thousand students started the audition process last fall and 1,750 qualified for all-state ensembles. We're told only eight of those have made the cut each of their high school years. Villalobos is one of them.

"For me, I just want to be the best at what I do. I just don't like to do anything halfway. I figure if I'm going to play flute, I'm going to play it to the best of my ability," he said.

"A lot of kids with his talent could just be self-serving, but he's very giving," explains his band director Gabe Musella. "He's very helpful to his fellow students in the program. He's very helpful to the staff. We kid around that he's band director number five."

Musella says Victor's academic achievements are just as impressive as his musical ones. He's valedictorian of his class.

"Any time I have a young student that says I think I'm going to give up playing a horn because I want to concentrate on my academics, I have a whole list of kids that I can say hey you can do both and you can be great at both. Victor is living proof of that."

Victor says the discipline he learned practicing flute for two hours a day since seventh grade helped get him there.

"It helps me at work. It helps me during my schoolwork when I have to study or sit down and do something I might not like very well. What I've learned here is I have to tough it out."

Spring High's three all-state band students will head to San Antonio Wednesday morning for the all-state band conference. Victor has been as high as sixth chair. This year, he's gunning for first.