The Colleyville Middle School Honors Band staked its claim as one of the very best bands in the state over the summer by winning second place at the Texas Music Educators Association State honor band competition.
It was the culmination of a year’s worth of achievement and recognition for the CMS Honors Band, which earned its spot in the state contest by finishing first at the region and then area levels. The State competition was held July 21 and CMS was named First Runner Up.
The band of 60 mostly seventh- and eighth-graders was the varsity-level band at CMS throughout the 2021-22 school year.
“They all have a really good relationship with each other,” said CMS Director of Bands Lauren Jones, who leads the school’s band program along with Assistant Director Joseph Prescott. “They genuinely love music and love playing their instruments. It can get intense at times when you are working to be the best at something, but they never stopped working toward it.”
The TMEA awards are given based on recordings of three songs that each band played in the spring. At each competition, the band directors waited for hours in the same room as judges listened to each school’s recording. CMS submitted the following songs for the competition:
- Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor, arranged by Aubrey Winter
- Preclude, Siciliano, and Rondo by Malcom Arnold, arranged by John Paynter
- Concord by Clare Grundman
Jones, who has been Director of Bands at CMS for seven years and was Assistant Director for four years, said the entire school community is supportive of the program, especially Principal David Arencibia.
“The parents and the community are a really big part of it, and we have the best and most supportive Principal and administrative staff,” Jones said. “Everyone here works well together. It’s just a really fun environment.”
CMS also won First Runner Up at the state level four years ago – the school’s best finish since winning first place in 1994.
“This honor does not happen by accident, but is possible because of community support, administrative support, outstanding teaching, and – most of all – amazing kids who work hard,” said Dr. Paul Sikes, Director of Fine Arts for GCISD. “Ms. Jones and Mr. Prescott have developed a culture of excellence in the Colleyville Middle School Band and it has paid off with another outstanding honor for the program. The whole community is proud of them."