That’s one ‘Heck’ of a job, you could say…

Jake Heck, band director for both Shiner St. Paul AND Sacred Heart Catholic Schools, was recently named the recipient of the 2022-23 Fine Arts Director of the Year Award at the summer TAPPS convention.

TAPPS, or the Texas Association for private and a Parochial Schools, is basically the UIL for the parochial and private school kids, at which both Shiner and Hallettsville are well known rivals, each ranked among the tops in Texas, perennially, in their respective competitions.

With state championships frequently on the line, the final contest in whatever event there happens to be often comes down to those who are neighbors, all here in Lavaca County, with one coming home the victor and the other knowing defeats bitter flavor.

To drive that point home, Heck not only picked up some personal accolades at the summer TAPPS convention, but he also brought back both Hallettsville’s state championship band trophy along with the one that the Shiner Cardinal Band got for taking third at those same state finals.

Last year, it should be noted, Sacred Heart took second to last (at the state tournament, of course). In just his second year with those kiddos as their leader of the band, they took the whole enchilada this year.

Leaders at both schools sent out some major congratulations, as well as heaps of thanks for all he’s done to help the two schools’ respective band students along. They truly do sound amazing!