Several Pearland ISD school bands earn national acclaim for performances

Several Pearland ISD school bands won awards with the Foundation for Music Education program, an organization dedicated to advancing music education across the country.

“We are so proud of our students’ hard work, dedication and teamwork. Having Pearland ISD instrumental music ensembles recognized with this award is a tremendous honor,” PISD Director of Fine Arts Tom Bell said in a press release. “Our young musicians show, day after day, that their commitment to excellence is second to none.”

The Pearland High School Wind Ensemble, directed by Ken Brown, and the Dawson High School Wind Ensemble, directed by Aaron Brown, were national winners in the Foundation of Music Education’s Mark of Excellence/National Wind Band Honors project.

Additionally, the Berry Miller Junior High School Honors Band, directed by Chris Bennett, was a national winner in the New Music Division. The Pearland Junior High West Honors Band, directed by Meredith Bishop, was selected as a commended winner in the same awards program, according to the press release.

The Mark of Excellence project recognizes outstanding performances by middle and high school bands, choirs and orchestras throughout the country. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as “national winners,” and the following 25% are recognized as “commended winners.”

The foundation also has the Citation of Excellence program, which recognizes the achievements of nonvarsity middle and high school bands and orchestras. In this category, the top 25% of entrants are recognized as “citation winners” and the second 25% are named “commended winners.”

For this program, the Berry Miller Junior High Symphonic Band, directed by Blake Lein; the Dawson High School Symphonic Band, directed by Nathan Coronado; and the Pearland High School Symphonic Band, directed by Gino Hernandez, placed in the top 25% of Texas high school nonvarsity bands to receive the 2018 Citation of Excellence, the press release states.