Congratulations to the MNHS Bands!

Both bands performed in competition at the Lone Star Showcase of Music at Naaman Forest HS in Garland this past Friday, May 15th.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Josh Kurzweil, received "Superior" ratings from all 3 judges.  Outstanding performers in the Symphonic Band, as selected by the judges, were Valkerie Burkart (9) on horn and the flute section, Lauren Hogan (10), Kasi Koppa (12), Katie Waller (9), Amy Boylan (9), and Chasiti Hill (9).

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Alan Harkey, received "Superior" ratings from all 3 judges as well.  Outstanding performers, selected by the judges, include Terence Hicks (12) on alto sax and Nikki Cassidy (12), Mia Ward (12), and Ellyn Lobato (12) on piccolos.  The Wind Ensemble was also named Outstanding in Class 4A.

Furthermore, the MNHS Wind Ensemble was also selected as best band for the entire contest!  This is the first time that our band was ever awarded this distinguished honor.

Join us for 2 evenings of great music from the McKinney North High School award-winning band! Bring the whole family! Concerts are performed in the MNHS Auditorium and admission is free.
On Thursday, May 14^th, you will be entertained by the McKinney North High School band’s spring concert. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
 
On Thursday, May 21st, the McKinney North High School Percussion Ensemble will present its annual concert beginning at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
 
In addition, on Friday, May 15^th, you can watch the bands perform at the Festival Concert at  Naaman Forest High School (5:50 p.m. MNHS Orchestra, 6:30 p.m. MNHS Symphonic Band, 7:10 p.m. MNHS Wind Ensemble).

Please come be our guests to catch this award-winning band in their final performances of the year!

The MNHS Band performed their contest program for a Choice Music Festival at the Murchison Fine Arts Hall on the University of North Texas Campus in Denton.  The band earned "Superior" ratings from all 3 judges were the best in class 4A!  We were also runner-up for Outstanding Band of the Day.  Congrats to these hard-working band students!

Catch us in our final performances of the year:

Spring Band Concert - Thursday, May 14th 7:00pm @ MNHS Auditorium
Festival Concert - Friday, May 15th @ Naaman Forest HS (5:50pm MNHS Orchestra, 6:30pm MNHS Symphonic Band, 7:10pm MNHS Wind Ensemble)
Percussion Ensemble Concert - Thursday, May 21st 7:00pm @ MNHS Auditorium

McKinney North Band Receives Superior Ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest

[April 23, 2008, McKinney, Texas] The McKinney North Wind Ensemble is once again proud to boast a "Sweepstakes Award" at the Region 25 UIL Band Concert and Sightreading Contest, which was held April 23rd in Wylie.  The MNHS Wind Ensemble, directed by Alan Harkey, Josh Kurzweil and Mike Myers, earned a Division 1 (superior) rating in both concert and sightreading.

The "Sweepstakes Award" is earned by combining Division 1/Superior Concert and Sightreading results with the Division I/Superior ratings from UIL Marching Band - which took place earlier this past October.  This will make the 6th consecutive "Sweepstake Award" for the MNHS Band!

Congratulations to these hard-working musicians, their private lesson teachers, and their relentless directors who have encouraged them to practice and perform at such a high level.

The North Texas Jazz Festival is coming up on April 16th thru the 20th. The day concerts are free and attending any of the shows would help to satisfy one of the requirements for the Music Scholar Award. Click on the link below for more information:

 

http://www.jazz.unt.edu/ntjazzfest/

The proposed changes to the Band Booster Constitution were presented at the Booster meeting last night, March 25.  These changes will be voted on at the April Booster meeting on April 14th.   If you have any questions please contact a Booster Board Member.

Please review the attachment with the proposed changes in RED.  Your opportunity to vote on these changes will be April 14th at the Booster meeting.

Please join us this Friday evening, March 6^th, for our annual MISD Jazz Festival at McKinney Boyd High School!  Admission is free!
 
This concert features jazz bands from across our district and our guest, the Strata Big Band.  Feel free to bring food, family, friends, and neighbors!
 
We look forward to seeing you at our evening of jazz!
 
6:30 PM - Faubion Middle School Jazz Band
7:00 PM - Dowell Middle School Jazz Band
7:30 PM - McKinney High School Jazz Band
8:00 PM - McKinney North High School Jazz Band
8:30 PM - McKinney Boyd High School Jazz Band
9:00 PM - Strata Big Band - guest artist
·        professional jazz band led my McKinney's own, John Wasson  &
         top jazz musicians from the DFW area

 

[February 21, 2009] McKinney North Winterguard earned a 2nd place trophy at the Centennial High School Contest on Friday February 20^th. The next day they performed in Austin at the Wingerguard International (WGI) Austin Regionals.
 
McKinney North Winterguard placed 2^nd in preliminaries and advanced to the finals. They ranked 12th place overall in finals performance, with 2 judges ranking them 6th in the categories of movement and equipment.
 
Congratulations on the award-winning performance by these hard-working band members under the direction of Guard Instructor Charles "Chuckie" McClean.  We are so proud of their performances.
 
Be sure to catch them at their next set of performances:
March 13th at Birdville High School (10:45 pm)

March 14/15 - WGI Dallas Power Regional at South Grand Prairie High School (11:12 am prelims)

 

[February 14, 2009, Austin, Texas] Congratulations to the following McKinney North students who performed at the Texas Music Educators Association conference in San Antonio February 11 - 14. They were part of an amazing performance with the 4A All-State Symphonic Band!
 
Trey Perkins (bass clarinet) – 1^st chair
Nikki Cassidy (flute) – 7^th chair
Zach Bitting (trumpet) – 16^th chair
Samantha Crump (E flat Clarinet) – 1^st chair
 

These students advanced through several rounds of auditions in order to get to the All-State level.  Less than 1% of musicians advance to the All-State Band. 

 

Spencer Taylor
September 28, 1991 - August 13, 2007

We wanted to remind you that February 20th is the
deadline for scholarship applications through the McKinney Education
Foundation.  This will also include the Spencer Taylor Memorial
Scholarship's which will be given out to 2 McKinney North band students at
the band banquet.

I realize this is a different process than in the past, but because the
endowment for this fund was set up though the MEF then there are certain
procedures that we need to follow, the deadline for applications being one
of them.

All information for completing the applications can be obtained by going to
the McKinney Education Foundation website.
http://www.mmeeff.com/

In an effort to possibly help with the essay part of the application
process, I am including in this email what we wrote when raising funds for
the endowment.  I know sometimes it's hard to come up with what to write and
to know exactly what scholarship granters are looking for when you are asked
to write an essay.  The writing below is partially what our vision is for
the scholarships.  I hope it helps in some way.

"Spencer Taylor was 15 years old when he passed away from metastasized
Synovial Cell Sarcoma on August 13, 2007. But, this is not how he wants you
to remember him. Anyone who knew Spencer, even from a distance, was
influenced by his approach to life. His outlook was very simple and
straightforward: enjoy each day and make the most of what you are given.

His outlook was contagious and lives on in his friends, many of which are
still in the band today. The McKinney North High School Band will present a
scholarship to the band student that follows this approach to life -- 
Spencer's way. As Spencer's parents, we would like to make Spencer's example
and his memory a tradition. Our goal is to create a growing endowment that
will always fund an annual Spencer Taylor Memorial Scholarship. Spencer made
so many friends and influenced so many people during his short life. We want
him to be able to continue to do so through this scholarship."

Thanks for your time and good luck!

Rhonda and Gary Taylor
http://www.spencerswebpage.com/