The McKinney North High School Honors Band performs under the direction of Gary Williams during the 2020–2021 school year. The band received Commended Winner recognition in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Honors Project.

McKinney, Texas – This fall, the Foundation for Music Education has recognized three McKinney ISD high school musical ensembles in its National Mark of Excellence and Citation of Excellence competitions, adding to the ever-expanding legacy of award-winning McKinney ISD Fine Arts education:

• McKinney North High School Honors Band—Commended Winner, Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project
• McKinney Boyd High School Honors Consortium Orchestra—Commended Winner, Mark of Excellence National Orchestra Honors Project
• McKinney High School Philharmonic Orchestra—Winner, Citation of Excellence String Orchestra

The Foundation for Music Education is a prestigious national organization that recognizes and awards outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras at the national level with the Mark of Excellence program and among Texas high school non-varsity bands through its Citation of Excellence program.

The McKinney Boyd High School Honors Consortium Orchestra performs under then conductor Shelly New during the 2020–2021 school year. The orchestra received Commended Winner recognition in the Mark of Excellence National Orchestra Honors Project.

Two-hundred thirty-six high school and middle school musical ensembles entered the Mark of Excellence project this year, and 65 entered the Citation of Excellence.

“Receiving a Mark of Excellence award from the Foundation for Music Education is an acknowledgement of outstanding musical achievement,” said Dr. Dan White, MISD Director of Fine Arts. “McKinney ISD has a long tradition of receiving both National and Commended recognition as well as Citation of Excellence commendations. We are extremely proud of the ensembles from North, Boyd and MHS for this tremendous accomplishment.”

The McKinney High School Philharmonic Orchestra performs under the direction of Kathleen Crabtree during the 2020–2021 school year. The orchestra earned Commended Winner recognition in the Citation of Excellence String Orchestra Project.

The Mark of Excellence competition features five categories: National Wind Band Honors, National Choral Honors, National Orchestra Honors, National Jazz Honors and National Percussion Ensemble Honors. Honors awarded in the Citation of Excellence fall under the two categories of bands and string orchestras. Groups enter the competitions by submitting recorded performances that are adjudicated by nationally renowned university directors.

Over the past 14 years, the project has received entries from 38 states. All groups receive recorded and written comments from the adjudicators, and a compilation recording of the National Winners.

Foundation Managing Director Rick Yancey said, “Despite the many COVID restrictions, so many musical ensembles still made amazing musical performances. These directors and their communities should be very proud of their outstanding accomplishments!”

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