2023 Mark of Excellence Award

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for being selected as a national winner of the 2023 Mark of Excellence Award from the Foundation for Music Education.

This program has been DOMINATED by Texas bands (both the high school and middle school awards) for the last 16 years. We’re only the second non-Texas middle school to be selected as a national winner (or commended winner for that matter) and the first in Class A.  It’s a terrific accomplishment and one we hope the kids are very proud to have achieved. This was one of the most amazing bunch of kids I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Hard-working, resilient through adversity and disappointment, and a joy to stand in front of each day. We’re so proud of their work and thankful for the many mentors and friends who worked with them last year. Full results can be found on their website.

“The 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 and provides valuable feedback for all entrants. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding groups from across the country. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as National Winners, with the second 25% named as Commended Winners. All entrants receive a compilation recording of the winning performances. Winners are recognized in regional and/or national publications and at national and regional conventions. It is hoped the adjudicator critiques and the compilation recordings will prove helpful in improving performances and will spread knowledge of quality literature.”