Plano ISD Music Department

Summer Band & Orchestra Camp
2013 Summer Band and Orchestra Camp dates have been set! Mark your calendars for June 17-21, 2013 for Orchestra Camp at Plano East SHS and week 1 Band Camp for Beginner/Intermediate players at Jasper HS. Week 2 Band Camp for Intermediate/Advanced players will run June 24-28, 2013 at Jasper HS. Registration is $85/week and will run March 25th through May 31st. Keep playing in a fun and energetic camp environment!

Supplemental Music Lesson Program
This link provides details for students, parents and prospective music contractors regarding the Plano ISD program to provide individual private instruction for vocal and instrumental students in the district secondary music programs.

TMEA Invited Choirs Announced - The Texas Music Educators Association has announced the 2014 Invited Choirs. We are pleased to congratulate the Treble Choir from Vines High School! This talented groups of female singers is under the able direction of Mr. Christopher Ahrens at Vines. The choir will present a 25 minute performance for the TMEA membership during the association's annual Clinic/Convention to be held February 13-15, 2014 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. This choir joins a long line of more than 30 groups that have performed for TMEA audiences since 1990. They are only the second ensemble from Plano's unique 9-10 campuses to receive this illustrius invitation. Congratulations to Mr. Ahrens and his students for this recognition of excellence in music making!

Plano East Marching Band Recieves Sousa Award - The Plano East Panther Marching Band has been named the recipient of the 2013 Sudler Shield Award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The announcement was made during the Foundation's annual meeting held in conjunction with the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. The Sudler Shield Award recognizes "excellence in musical performance, marching execution, choreography, and show design" among high school and youth bands across the globe. Formal presentation of the award will be made at the PESH Band Spring Concert by Mr. W. Dale Warren from the University of Arkansas and Chair of Sudler Shield Committee.

Four Programs Earn "Mark of Excellence" - The Foundation for Music Education has announced their 2012 Mark of Excellence winners and the list includes four Plano ISD music ensembles. The Plano East Wind Ensemble, Evelio Villarreal - director, is a National Winner in the 5A Wind Band category and the Plano East String Orchestra, Betsy Thomas - director, is a National Winner in the HS String Orchestra group. Commended Winners in their respective catagories include the Women's Choir from Jasper High School, directed by Judy Putney, and the Shepton HS Full Orchestra, directed by Josh Thompson and Ellie Murphy. These groups were judged via submitted performance recordings by experts in their respective fields and placed in the top 25% or 50% of the entries. Congratulations to all connected with these outstanding ensembles.

Upcoming Performances
District Academic Competitions and Fine Arts Performance Calendar

“Why Music?”
Visit these sites for information and research regarding the benefits of a musically and arts-rich education for students:

State and National Honors

Individual students, ensembles and campus music departments across the district have been recognized by state and national organizations for their dedication to quality and consistently outstanding performance. District music programs have a national reputation of excellence. Plano has been named among the “Best Communities for Music Education” by the NAMM® Foundation since 2000. Below is a historical record of the success of these programs:

2013 - 2015

TMEA Invited Middle School Choir: Vines High School Treble Choir

2012 - 2013

73 All-State Musicians
TMEA Invited Middle School Choir: Rice Middle School Treble Choir
TMEA Invited Middle School Choir: Robinson Middle School Treble Choir
American Choral Directors Association Conference Performance: Plano Senior High School A Cappella Choir
John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield Award: Plano East Marching Band

2011 - 2012

76 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School Honor Full Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra
ACDA MS/JH Confrerence Invited Choir: Rice Middle School Tenor/Bass Choir

2010 - 2011

72 All-State Musicians
TMEA Invited High School Choir: Shepton High School Mixed Choir
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Grammy® Signature School Gold Award: Plano West Senior High School

2009 – 2010

77 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Organization of American Kodály Educators Conference Performance: Plano Children’s Chorale

2008-2009

62 All-State Musicians
TMEA Invited High School Choir: Plano Senior High School A-Cappella Women’s Choir
TMEA High School Honor Full Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra
TMEA Middle School Honor String Orchestra: Robinson Middle School Chamber Orchestra
TMEA High School Honor String Orchestra: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra

2007-2008

66 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
TMEA Middle School String Honor Orchestra: Rice Middle School Orchestra
Grammy® Signature School Gold Award: Plano Senior High School

2006-2007

68 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School Full Honor Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra
TMEA Middle School Full Honor Orchestra: Haggard Middle School Full Orchestra
TMEA Invited Elementary Choir: Plano Children’s Chorale
American Choral Directors Association Conference Performance: Plano Senior High School A Cappella Women’s Choir
National Wind Band Honors Award: Plano SHS Wind Ensemble
National Wind Band Honors Award: Rice MS Wind Ensemble

2005-2006

45 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra

2004-2005

40 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
National School Board Association Conference Performance: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival: Plano Senior High School Jazz Ensemble
Grammy® Signature School Gold Award: Plano Senior High School

2003-2004

50 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
TMEA Invited High School Choir: Plano West Senior High School A Cappella Women’s Choir
TMEA Invited Middle School Choir: Robinson Middle School Tenor/Bass Choir
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic performance: Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra

2002-2003

43 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
TMEA Invited Middle School Choir:: Wilson Middle School Tenor/Bass Choir
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic performance: Plano West Senior High School Symphony Orchestra
National School Board Association Conference Performance: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra

2001-2002

41 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano West Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic performance: Plano East Senior High School Wind Ensemble

2000-2001

39 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra

1999-2000

40 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
TMEA Invited High School Choir: Plano Senior High School A Cappella Choir
International Association of Jazz Educators Conference Performance: Plano East Senior High School Sound Invention

1998-1999

36 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano East Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic performance: Plano Senior High School Symphony Strings

1997-1998

28 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Music Educators National Conference Performance: Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra

1996-1997

29 All-State Musicians
International Association of Jazz Educators Conference Performance: Plano East Senior High School Sound Invention

1995-1996

21 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School Honor Choir: Plano Senior High School A Cappella Choir

1994-1995

19 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
Southwest Division American Choral Directors Association Conference Performance: Plano Senior High School A Cappella Choir

1993-1994

22 All-State Musicians
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic performance: Plano Senior High School Symphony Orchestra

1992-1993

21 All-State Musicians
TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra: Plano Senior High School Chamber Orchestra
International Association of Jazz Educators Conference Performance: Plano East Senior High School Sound Invention
American Choral Directors Association Conference Performance: Plano East Senior High School Sound Invention

1991-1992

22 All-State Musicians
TMEA Invited High School Choir: Plano East Senior High School Sound Invention

1990-1991

24 All-State Musicians
TMEA Middle School Honor Band: Haggard Middle School Symphonic Band