 The Summit Wind Symphony was selected as a National Winner in the 2019 Mark of Excellence contest - placing Summit in the top twenty-five percent of all bands in the nation.
The Mark of Excellence project seeks to recognize and award outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras. Three Mansfield ISD band were chosen as National Winners including Summit and Lake Ridge High Schools along with T.A. Howard Middle School. The winners will be recognized in publications and at regional and national conventions. All of the groups will receive trophies, comments from the adjudicators and a compilation recording of the National Winners. This year, 320 musical ensembles from 38 states entered the competition.
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 On Saturday, Jan. 12, eight Summit Band students were chosen to attend the Texas Music Educators' (TMEA) conference next month and to perform in the All-State bands.
Despite competing against some of the largest and most highly regarded programs in north Texas, Summit Band came away with the most All-State musicians in our District, Region and Area. "We’re very proud of how all 25 Area students represented Summit at today’s auditions, said Head Band Director Chris Kanicki. "Huge congratulations to our All-State musicians!" The TMEA sponsors the Texas All-State audition process to promote students' dedication to their musical knowledge and skill and to encourage TMEA member directors to support their students in this development. Beginning each fall, more than 70,000 high school students across the state audition in their TMEA Region. Individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. A select group of musicians advances to compete against musicians from other Regions in their TMEA Area. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in one of 15 Texas All-State Bands, Orchestras, and Choirs. These All-State ensembles will rehearse for three days February 13 - 15, directed by nationally recognized conductors, and perform on Saturday, Feb. 16, the closing day of the annual TMEA Convention. Congratulations to the Summit High School Marching Band for advancing to 6A Area B Finals! The band competed against 29 other programs on Saturday, October 27 and placed 9th overall. The 6A Area B contest is considered one of the most competitive in the state. Directors Chris Kanicki, Cristobal Garcia and Dr. Shawn Hart worked overtime to help students complete 'The Black Rose' show despite canceled rehearsals, football performances and contests due to this fall's rainy weather. "I'm incredibly proud of our students making Area finals. This is an amazing achievement," Mr. Kanicki said. Three Mansfield ISD band ensembles won the 2018 Mark of Excellence from The Foundation for Music Education for their outstanding performances.
The Mark of Excellence is a national competition in which bands from all over the country submit their best recording from the spring. The music is then judged and ranked by nationally renowned adjudicators. The top 25 percent of entrees are selected as National Winners. The second quarter receive Commended Honors. Congratulations to the following MISD ensembles and band directors:
This year, 279 musical ensembles from 38 states entered the competition. Learn more about the Mark of Excellence Project here. The Summit Marching Band placed 6th at Area competition in Little Elm on Saturday, October 28. The preliminary competition included 24 bands including perennial State Marching Band competitors Wakeland, Centennial and Southwest.
There were four spots available to go to state this year in Region 5 Area B. The finals results were: Wakeland HS Prosper HS Lone Star HS Southwest HS Centennial Summit HS Liberty HS Lake Ridge HS Heritage HS McKinney North HS See complete results here. The Fort Worth Star Telegram created a video which included the Summit Marching Band for its story about Area competitions.  Summit Band’s Wind Symphony received the top honor in The Foundation for Music Education’s 2017 contest. The Wind Symphony is a National Winner representing the top 25-percent of outstanding bands from across the country.
In the foundation’s Class AAAAA division, Summit’s Wind Symphony was one of seven symphonic bands chosen for the National Winner recognition along with Mansfield’s Lake Ridge High School Wind Symphony. TA Howard Middle School’s Honor Band is a National Winner in the Class AA division. Mansfield Timberview High school received Commended Winner representing the second 25-percent of all bands. A total of 278 band from 38 states entered recordings in the 2017 competition. The Mark of Excellence project recognizes and awards outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras from across the country. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as National Winners, with the second 25% named as Commended Winners. The Foundation for Music Education is dedicated to the support and advancement of music education through scholarships and other worthwhile projects. More information here.  Summit Wind Symphony - Director, Christopher Kanicki The Summit High School Wind Symphony and TA Howard Honor bands recently received one of the most prestigious honors afforded to musicians and music educators. Both schools have been invited to perform at the 2017 Midwest Clinic in Chicago - the largest instrumental music education conference in the world. This marks the first time a Mansfield ISD band has been selected to be featured at the legendary conference which bills itself as showcasing the ‘finest performances from around the globe’ since 1946. “We're incredibly proud of all the students’ hard work, and thankful for all the amazing private lesson teachers, clinicians, parents, administrators and band directors, past and present, who have made this possible,” said Summit Director of Bands Christopher Kanicki. To be considered for the Midwest Clinic, bands undergo a vigorous application process which includes: submitting both an audio and video recording of the bands performing, presenting past programs and accomplishments, and receiving evaluations from well-known music educators who have worked with or judged the bands’ programs in the past. The applications are then evaluated by some of the foremost music educators in the world. Only a handful of groups is chosen each year from around the United States and 30 participating countries. “This is a huge accomplishment for our students, band staff and lesson teachers who have worked so hard to earn this privilege,” said TA Howard Band Director Nathaniel Neugent. “I am beyond proud of our administration, parents, district and community for supporting us in this endeavor 100-percent.”
Along with their performances, the students and instructors from both the Summit High School and TA Howard bands will have the opportunity to attend other concerts and clinics to learn the latest techniques and trends in music education from the best in the industry. The Midwest Clinic draws more than 17,000 attendees from around the world. The clinic will be held December 20-23. |
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