Students from Ranchview High School in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District received national recognition at the National Honors Mark of Excellence competition. Chandani Karow, freshman, and Esther Peng, junior, received outstanding soloist awards at the event. 

Both players earned the national-level distinction for solos performed as part of their orchestra's performance given at the UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest earlier this year. Karow's viola solo was performed while still an eighth-grader as a member of the Barbara Bush Middle School Orchestra, a feeder program to Ranchview.

The award for "Outstanding Soloist" is an individual honor given in the Mark of Excellence competitions sponsored by The Foundation for Musical Excellence. These competitions are open to orchestras and other musical groups from anywhere in the United States. Congratulations to Chandani and Esther on their national recognition!