Parkland Matador three Choirs achieved an impressive array of Eight awards at the Anaheim WorldStride Heritage Choir Competition 2026 held at the end of May. These included the Choral Sweepstakes Award, the Adjudicator Award, and the Outstanding Choir Award. The Matador Tenor/Bass, Mixed, and Treble Choirs each secured first place, along with the Gold Sweepstakes. Not only did the choir attain every available award—totaling eight awards—but they also exemplified exemplary conduct, making El Paso proud. And also, they attribute their success to excellent teamwork, dedication, and perseverance.
Special gratitude is extended to Mrs. Salgado for her steadfast support, the distinguished pianist Dr. Meza, and the best chaperone Mr. Candia.
The WorldStrides Heritage Festivals are national music competitions and educational events for student choir, band, and orchestra ensembles. The 2026 spring season ran from March through late May 2026, featuring major events across popular North American destinations.
Parkland High School's Matador Three Choirs competed against top choirs from across North America. All three groups—the Matador Mixed Choir, Treble Choir, and Tenor/Bass Choir—earned Sweepstakes awards for the entire season.
Our PHS choir was awarded an additional Outstanding Choir award, recognizing it as the top-scoring choir.
The PHS Choir received the Adjudicators Award for not only achieving a sweepstakes but also for having an average score of above 95, which is the highest score awarded for a variety of musicality, tone quality, and a wide range of literature and repertoire.
Yumirelle Ibarra also received the Maestro Award for her solo performance, showcasing extraordinary musical skill and sensitivity as well.
