Fort Bend ISD (September 26, 2024) – A record-breaking 15 FBISD musical ensembles earned national recognition in the 2024 Mark of Excellence project, a program by The Foundation for Music Education that celebrates outstanding performances by school bands, choirs and orchestras.
The project consists of the National Wind Band Honors, the National Orchestra Honors, National Choral Honors, National Jazz Honors, and the National Percussion Ensemble Honors. This year, 580+ secondary school musical ensembles in the nation entered the competition.
The top 25% of entrants were named National Winners, and the next 25% received Commended status.
Receiving National Choral Honors are:
- First Colony Middle School Bobcat Select Tenor Bass Choir and First Colony Middle School Select Treble Choir (Commended Winners) directed by Tommy Trinh and Joshua Sarmiento
Receiving National Orchestra Honors are:
- Clements High School Chamber Strings (National Winners) directed by Neal Springer and Sally Kirk
- Fort Settlement Middle School Chamber Orchestra (National Winners) directed by Angela Peugnet and Roger Vasquez
- Sartartia Middle School Honors Orchestra (National Winners) directed by Heather Davis and Guillermo Teniente
- Dulles High School Honors String Orchestra (Commended Winners) directed by Michael Isadore
- Elkins High School Chamber Orchestra (Commended Winners) directed by Joe Garcia
Receiving National Percussion Honors are:
- Elkins High School Percussion Ensemble (National Winners) directed by Christopher Dial
Receiving National Wind Band Honors are:
- Elkins High School Wind Ensemble (National Winners) directed by Joseph Chen
- Fort Settlement Middle School Honors Band (Commended Winners) directed by Theresa Baragas and Tiffany Ye
- Hodges Bend Middle School Honors Band (Commended Winners) directed by Aaron Goldfarb
- Dulles High School Honors Band (Commended Winners) directed by Arnel Dayrit
- Kempner High School Wind Ensemble (Commended Winners) directed by Paul Brodt
*In the New Music Division, both the Hodges Bend Middle School Wind Ensemble and the Kempner High School Wind Ensemble were named Commended Winners.
The Citation of Excellence project recognizes and awards outstanding achievement in performance by non-varsity high school and middle school bands and orchestras.
Receiving a Citation of Excellence are:
- Elkins High School Symphonic Band (Commended Winners) directed by William Phi
- Sartartia Middle School Camerata Orchestra (Commended Winners) directed by Guillermo Teniente and Heather Davis
