UIL Music Competition:

– All High School Marching Bands consistently receive first-division (Superior) ratings at fall Region UIL Marching Contests as well as advance to the finals round of competition at area-level marching contests. In 2015-16, the McKinney HS and McKinney North Bands advanced to the UIL 5A State Marching Contest. In 2016-17, the McKinney Boyd and McKinney HS Bands placed 6th & 7th, respectively, at the UIL 6A Area-Level Marching Contest, with the top 5 bands from the area advancing to state.

– All Middle and High School Concert Bands, Choirs and Orchestras consistently receive first-division (Superior) ratings at spring UIL Concert & Sight Reading Evaluations.

UIL One Act Play Competition:

– All Middle and High School Theatre programs participate annually in UIL OAP contests. MISD OAP troupes receive numerous awards each year, including All-Star Cast winners, Best Actress awards, Outstanding Crew members, Outstanding Technicians and Honorable Mentions. A number of MISD High School OAP performances have advanced to Bi-District, Area, Regional and State contests. 

TMEA All-Region Band, Choir, Orchestra:

– All Middle and High School Bands, Choirs and Orchestras have a large number of students selected each year to perform in TMEA All-Region Bands, Choirs and Orchestras. Many of the high school music students advance to pre-area and area-level auditions, and are selected to perform in All-State music ensembles. In 2016-17, MISD set a school record by having 27 students selected as Texas All-State Musicians.

TMEA Invitational Performances:

– MISD is proud to have had a number of bands, choirs and orchestras invited to perform at the annual TMEA Convention, which is held each February in San Antonio, Texas. MISD ensemble performances at TMEA include the Evan’s Middle School Varsity Girl’s Chorus, 2009; the Boyd High School A cappella Choir, 2010; the Eddins Elementary Honor Choir, 2011, 2015 & 2019; the Faubion Middle School Full Orchestra, 2015; and the Cockrill Middle School Honor’s Band, 2020, who was selected as the 2019-20 TMEA CCC Honors Band

Foundation of Music Education “Mark of Excellence” Awards:

– The FME Mark of Excellence project seeks 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. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding groups from across the county. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as National Winners, with the second 25% named as Commended Winners. The “Citation of Excellence” award utilizes the same format, but is specifically for Non-Varsity Bands and Orchestras. MISD MS & HS Bands, Choirs and Orchestras consistently receive National and Commended honors anc “Citations of Excellence”.

Texas VASE Art Competition:

• MISD MS & HS Art programs have consistently had strong participation from all campuses in the Texas Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE). Results from recent VASE contests are:

– 2021: High School – 128 student participants at the Region VASE Contest; 94 students received “Superior” ratings; 5 students advanced to the state contest; all 5 students received Gold Medals at State and 1 received a Gold Seal Award. Middle School – 125 student participants at the Region Jr. VASE Contest; 101 students received “Superior ratings and 4 students received Platinum Medals, which is the highest award given at the Jr. VASE contest.

– 2020: High School – 220 student participants at the Region VASE Contest; 160 students received “Superior” ratings; 15 students advanced to the state contest; 14 of the 15 students received Gold Medals at State and 3 received Gold Seal Awards. Middle School – 185 student participants at the Region Jr. VASE Contest; 134 students received “Superior ratings and 9 students received Platinum Medals.

Texas Youth Art Month Competition:

– The month of March is designated as National Youth Art Month and the state of Texas has been a leading participant in annual YAM celebrations. Each year, districts across the state submit artwork created by students in Pre-K through 12th grade to be considered for exhibition in the YAM State Capitol Artwork Exhibit in Austin. Only 100 pieces of art are selected for this show. In 2021, MISD had two pieces of art selected for display. In 2020, three pieces were selected for display, with one of the three being selected for display in the Governor’s Business Office for one year.

More Successes:

– District-wide participation in fine arts by Middle and High School students averages between 73-75%.

– MISD has been recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” each year since 2017.

– High School Band awards include Superior Division ratings at Peak Music Festival, Alamo Showcase of Music, Big “D” Classic, South Coast Music Festival. Numerous scholarship winners.

– High School Theatre awards include numerous awards at the Texas State Thespian Festival, DSM High School Music Theatre Awards, and the International Thespian Festival.

– McKinney Boyd High School Orchestra performed at the world famous Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, December 2014.

– Faubion Middle School Band was runner-up in the TMEA CC Honor Band Competition, and performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, December 2012.

– Faubion Middle School Full Orchestra performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, December 2016.

– Cockrill Middle School Honors Band performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, December 2016. The band also won a National Merit Support Music Award from the NAMM Foundation (2016) and the Sudler Cup Award (2017).

– Dowell Middle School art students took part in the International Art Exchange Program with 35 students from the Children’s Art School in Kumertau, Russia (2017).

– McKinney ISD Elementary Select Choirs participate in the annual city-wide “Choral Celebration,” a two-night event featuring the top fifth-grade singers across the district

– Elementary Art students participate in a rotating art exhibit every fall, with top pieces chosen to hang in the halls at the MISD District Central Office. Students also celebrate Youth Art Month with an art contest, followed by an art show featuring the top art pieces in the district. The art is on display at the MISD District Central Office in the spring.

Community Involvement:

All the MISD school arts programs give back to their communities by participating in charity events and volunteering their time in our community. Many groups host food and clothing donations and give of their time with tutoring, mentoring and community service projects.