The Vandegrift wind ensemble recording at the Round Top Festival on May 4 was so good that the band was named 6A state champion by the Texas Music Educators Association.

By KRISTEN HILL, Contributor

The Vandegrift wind ensemble was recently named the 2018 Texas Music Educators Association 6A State Champion in concert band. This is one of the top honors a band can receive in the entire country, and it is the first time in Leander ISD history that a 6A Band has been named state honor band.

Director Mike Howard shared with the band family via email, “On a personal note, I’m in complete shock and excitement that our band community has received this unbelievably prestigious honor. I, honestly, can’t put into words how proud I am of the students and staff for this accomplishment.”

The 2018 wind ensemble’s recording of “Hands Across the Sea”, “Masks and Machines”, and “Pines of Rome” was measured against the top 16 concert bands in the state of Texas. This was after the recordings navigated through a region and area round of competition.

Then on July 26, after a 10-hour TMEA State Finals Honor Band Listening Session, Vandegrift was named the 2018-2019 TMEA 6A State Honor Band.

Recordings used for the submission came from two performances: the UIL Concert Contest on April 18 at the Leander High School PAC,and the Round Top Festival Hill on May 4.  

Vandegrift wind ensemble has placed in the top three bands in recent honor band contests. In 2016, Vandegrift placed second in 5A, and in 2014, Vandegrift placed third in 4A. The honor band distinction is awarded once every two years, similar to the state marching band contest process.  

The honor band will perform at the Texas Music Educator’s Convention on February 15, 2019. The Vandegrift wind ensemble will perform on the Friday evening of TMEA for an audience of over 5,000 people. This is the headlining concert for the entire TMEA state convention.