Home NORTH LAMAR ISD North Lamar earns distinction as TMEA 4A State Honor Band

North Lamar earns distinction as TMEA 4A State Honor Band

by MyParisTexas
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The North Lamar High School band has a storied record of success and this summer has been no let up.

The NLHS Symphonic Band, under the direction of Head Band Director Randy Jones, competed and earned the distinction as Texas Music Educators Association 4A State Honor Band.  This is the highest award given out for concert bands by TMEA and comes with it the invitation to perform in San Antonio at the TMEA convention in February.

“We will be performing Friday, February 15, in the beautiful Lila Cockrell Theater in the late afternoon,” said Jones.  “The auditorium seats just over 2000 and for these concerts it is always standing room only.  The 2A, 4A and 6A state honor bands will begin performing after lunch and most people just come and sit through them all.  These are the best bands in the state and everyone wants to hear them.”

The Symphonic Band submitted three pieces through recordings in the spring of 2018.  These recordings were judged and advanced through the region level, area level, and then at the state level at the Texas Band Masters Association Summer Convention in July.

“We were in a tie with Lebanon Trail High School out of Frisco after the judging at state, and the rules say the judges have to listen to the schools that are tied again and rank them,” said NLHS Associate Band Director Jason R. Smith.  “On the second listening, Lebanon Trail was ranked by the five judges 1,1,2,2,2 and we were 1,1,1,2,2. One judge made the difference. It was that close!”

This marks the second time in school history that North Lamar has been selected by TMEA as the State Honor Band.  The other time the was in 2011.

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