Robstown student wows in Texas UIL competition with French horn

Olivia Garrett
Corpus Christi Caller Times

Every year, high school students from across the state compete in the UIL Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest, with the best soloists earning an "Outstanding Performer" award.

In the history of Robstown High School, only five students have earned that designation. French horn player Sonya Tobias, who just completed her freshman year, is the youngest of the school's "Outstanding Performers."

"Since I was little, I've always enjoyed playing and listening to music," Sonya said.

Robstown ISD student Sonya Tobias earned an Outstanding Performer designation at the UIL Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest in May 2022.

When she was about 7, Sonya expressed an interested in music and her parents bought her a piano from an estate sale. She tried to teach herself how to play it.

"She came up to me and she said, 'This piano you bought is not in tune,'" said Sonya's father, Gilbert Tobias. "I said, 'How do you know that?' And she said, 'YouTube.' ... I said, 'You're only 7 years old and you're very bright when it comes to music.'"

During an open house in fifth grade for students interested in joining the school band, she tried out percussion, as well as the trombone. Then Robstown ISD band director Miguel Cabrera suggested the French horn, and Sonya joined the school band in sixth grade.

The instrument is a special one for Cabrera, who earned the Outstanding Performer designation as a Robstown student in 1999. The French horn is his specialty, and he has a master's degree in French horn performance from the University of Texas.

"I noticed she had a certain gift for the instrument," Cabrera said. "I could tell from the way she formed her lips and formed notes. So I spoke to her father and I said, 'Hey, Mr. Tobias, I want to work with Sonya one on one.'"

Tobias remembers the conversation, and is grateful.

"There's coaches and teachers out there that see talent from an individual and try to help them blossom, and her instructor has done that with my daughter," Tobias said. "We're very grateful Robstown ISD has band directors that take the time to show our students and make sure they develop into what they can be."

Sonya said she enjoys the instrument.

"The French horn gives me challenges I can work towards and overcome," Sonya said.

She was playing college-level music in eighth grade, Cabrera said, and has always been hard-working and eager to play.

"I've made it no secret to her and her family that it gives me a lot of satisfaction to impart my horn expertise here in my hometown," he said.

At the UIL competition, Sonya played Mozart's Concerto No. 3.

"There are students form all over Texas that play for the same judge," Cabrera said. "You've got to really make yourself stand out in your ability and your performance, and playing from memory is what really makes students the most nervous."

Sonya said that when she walked in to play, she was shaking.

"But when I was walking out, I felt pretty good about what I'd done," Sonya said.

This week, Robstown ISD Superintendent Jose Moreno presented Sonya with a gold medal.

Robstown ISD student Sonya Tobias earned an outstanding performer designation at Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest. She was presented with a medal June 20, 2022, at Robstown ISD.

Sonya plans to continue playing music through high school, and is also thinking about studying music in college.

She practices often, setting aside time to play.

"She sets very high expectations for herself, and she tries to do the best that she can when she performs," Tobias said.

Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com. You can support local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times

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