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Four DISD Campuses Honored with Five National Music Awards
Denton ISD has four bands and one orchestra recognized with National Awards from The Foundation for Music Education for Crownover MS, Denton HS, Guyer HS, and McMath MS
The Foundation for Music Education sponsors the annual Mark of Excellence to recognize and award outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs, and orchestras. The project gathers entries from throughout the United States and provides valuable feedback for all entrants. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding groups from across the country. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as “National Winners”, with the second 25% named as “Commended Winners”. In 2018, almost 300 entries were submitted from 38 states. All entrants receive a compilation recording of the winning performances. Winners are recognized in regional and national publications and at national and regional conventions.
The 2018 National Wind Band Honors Project named ten 6A high school wind bands as “National Winners”. Nine of the ten National Winners were from Texas, including Denton ISD’s own Guyer HS Wind Ensemble. The Guyer Wind Ensemble is conducted by Director of Bands, Amy Woody, with assistance from Director of Percussion, Dr. Ellis Hampton, and Associate Director of Bands, Oscar Ban. 17 middle schools were named “Commended Winners”, 16 of those being from Texas, including Denton ISD’s Crownover MS Wind Ensemble. The Crownover Wind Ensemble is conducted by Director of Bands, Christin Bunch, with assistance from Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Kyle Mullins.
The 2018 National Jazz Honors Project named two high school jazz ensembles as “National Winners”. One of those is Denton ISD’s own Denton HS Lab Band 1, directed by Jesse Woolery. 2 middle school jazz ensembles were named “Commended Winners”. One of those is Denton ISD’s own McMath MS Tiger Jazz Band, directed by Travis Harris. Two Denton HS Lab Band 1 students were named as "Outstanding Soloists": Eric Crenshaw, alto saxophone and Gabriel Aponte, bass. One McMath Tiger Jazz student was named an "Outstanding Soloist", Travis Harris, Jr., trombone.
The 2018 National Orchestra Honors Project named six high school string orchestras as "Commended Winners". All of the orchestras honored are from Texas, including Denton ISDs own Guyer HS Rhapsody Orchestra, conducted by Director of Orchestras, Michelle Brians Hanlon, with assistance from Associate Director of Orchestras, Jeremy Atkins.
Congratulations to the students, directors, and private lesson teachers in the Crownover MS, Denton HS, Guyer HS, and McMath MS programs. This is an outstanding accomplishment that recognizes the excellence in music education happening on your campus and in our district. We are extremely proud of you!