North Forney High School Percussion Ensemble: 2021 Midwest Clinic Performance Program Book

N O RTH

FO RN E Y

H I G H

SCH OO L

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

When you don't know what to do, do nothing. Get quiet so you can hear the still, small voice — your inner GPS guidin

—

THE FORNEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

present s the

NORTH

HIG H

SCHOOL

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

JIM GIST

D I R E C T O R

JORDAN FERGUSON

P E R C U S S I O N

D I R E C T O R

JENNIFER TURNER

A S S I S TA N T

D I R E C T O R

MA SO N J O COY

A S S I S TA N T

ng you to True North.

— OPRAH

FORNE Y

WINFREY

D I R E C T O R

TH E M I DW E S T C LI N I C I NTER N ATI O N A L BA N D A N D O RC H E S TR A CO N FER EN C E FR I DAY, D EC EM B ER 17T H , 202 1 | 1 1 :3 0A M R O O M W1 9 0 | C H I C AG O, I L L I N O I S

Forney Independent School District 600 S. Bois d’Arc, Forney, TX, 75126 469-762-4100 www.forneyisd.net

To the Attendees of the Midwest Clinic, Forney ISD is proud to be represented by The Pride of Falcon Nation and faculty of North Forney High School. We are grateful for the opportunity given to our students to participate and perform at the 2021 annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference.

Our student musicians work extremely hard as they strive for excellence through many hours of practice and competition. They serve as ambassadors for our district and our community and have the opportunity to model the qualities of character and integrity as leaders.

With the support of our Forney ISD family everywhere, we will continue to achieve at high levels in all our endeavors. The Pride of Falcon Nation brings their best into everything they do. They plan to excel, practice to be the best, and learn what it means to have a winning spirit.

Thank you to our director Jim Gist and assistant Jordan Ferguson for leading, supporting and loving our students every day. Nurtured by great band instructors, their hard work and extra efforts have made this performance possible.

Thank you to our parents for trusting our staff to care for and educate your children. And thank you to our community for your constant support. I encourage you to stand proud when they perform, celebrate them for their hard work, and honor their amazing accomplishment. I wish you all a wonderful conference and performance, and safe travels back to our #ForneyFamily.

Sincerely,

Dr. Justin Terry Forney ISD Superintendent

469-762-4100 469-762-4101 (fax) 600 S. Bois d’Arc Forney, TX 75126 www.forneyisd.net www.forneyfinearts.com w

Dear Attendees of the 75 Annual Midwest Clinic:

November 11, 2021

The Forney Independent School District is both proud and excited that the North Forney High School Percussion ensemble was selected to perform at this year’s Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.

To the Members and Guests of the Midwest Clinic,

th

The invitation to perform at Midwest speaks to the high level of commitment shown by the directors and students at North Forney High School, not only in the ensemble performing for you today, but across the entire band program. A high standard of excellence is sought after each and every day at NFHS. It starts in the beginner classes at Smith and Rhodes Intermediate as well as Brown Middle School which continues throughout every performance group on all campuses.

A special acknowledgement of thanks to the North Forney High School Head Band director, Jim Gist. His hard work and dedication in leading and educating these talented young musicians help make North Forney High School and FISD exceptional. Mr. Gist is an outstanding director who is committed to the development of the “whole student.”

The Forney Independent School District and the Department of Fine Arts is honored by the invitation to perform at the Midwest Clinic. We are pleased to showcase the dedication and excellence of the North Forney percussionists.

Under the direction of Jim Gist, the North Forney Band is a highly revered and enriching program, which enhances the school community. We are especially proud of our students, who continue to demonstrate perseverance and enthusiasm for music. These students exemplify the pursuit of artistic, academic and personal excellence, which are the cornerstones of our fine arts programs in Forney ISD. This performance is a tribute to the talent and expertise of the students and their directors. Their commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration to our current and future students.

It is important to acknowledge the team of people who have contributed to the success of this outstanding percussion program. I gratefully recognize the support of these students’ parents and other family members, their private instructors, the incredibly supportive administrative team at North Forney High School, the Fine Arts and Central Administration Staff, and one of the strongest advocates for fine arts programs in Forney ISD, Superintendent, Dr. Justin Terry. Forney ISD believes in the value of fine arts education for all students. This philosophy, put into action through the supportive policies and financial support of the district, creates an atmosphere in FISD that fosters opportunities for our students and teachers to develop their musical talents.

We are extremely proud of the achievements of the Pride of Falcon Nation, the students and their directors, and for this acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication. In addition, we are grateful for the opportunity to recognize the support of our band parents and families, private instructors, and the campus administration at North Forney High School.

The students in the North Forney High School and their director have worked extremely hard to prepare for today’s performance. The administration, staff and teachers of Forney ISD are very proud of these students for their continuing success.

We wish our students and our directors all the best for a successful convention and performance.

Thank you for providing our students with this extraordinary opportunity to learn and perform at such a prestigious event.

Sincerely,

Thank you for attending today’s concert and for your support of these wonderful and talented students. I know you will enjoy what you hear! I wish each of you a great conference experience this week at Midwest.

In the Spirit of the Arts,

Mario Luna Mario Luna Director of Fine Arts

Jenae M. Glanton Forney ISD Fine Arts Coordinator

JIM GIST D I R E C T O R

Jim Gist is currently in his thirteenth year as a director at North Forney High School where he has served as Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor. Currently the head band director at North Forney High School, he is thankful for the partnership of his assistant percussion director, Mr. Jordan Ferguson. Originally from Longville, Louisiana, Mr. Gist earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northwestern State University. He also earned a Master of Percussion Performance degree from Texas A&M University Commerce where he studied with Dr. Brian Zator and earned the Outstanding Graduate Student award for the Department of Music. Prior to joining the North Forney team in 2009 when the school opened, Mr. Gist has served as Percussion Instructor at North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas, Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, and Midway High School in Waco, Texas. He has also served as Drumline Instructor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and Adjunct Professor of Percussion at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.

The North Forney Percussion groups consistently earn top honors at both concert and marching competitions. In 2019 the North Forney Indoor Percussion Ensemble advanced to the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, for the first time and earned the title of silver medalist for the world concert percussion division. The NFHS percussion ensemble was selected as a 2020 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble winner in addition to being invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference that same year.

Jim and his wife, Dr. Megan Gist, live in Rockwall, Texas, with their son, Jake, who is also a percussionist. They enjoy traveling in their RV and exploring the great outdoors.

JORDAN FERGUSON P E R C U S S I O N

D I R E C T O R

Jordan Ferguson is serving his first year as an assistant band director and percussion director for North Forney High School. Prior to joining the North Forney Band program full-time, he worked as the private lesson teacher. He is excited to continue working with Mr. Jim Gist and the NF Percussion group at a much deeper level. He is a 2017 graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he studied business and music and was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. In 2014, he earned second place at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Collegiate Solo Keyboard Competition.

In the past Mr. Ferguson has worked with groups across the North Texas area including Garland ISD, Wylie ISD, Rockwall ISD, and Mesquite ISD, teaching a range of percussion classes and lessons. Outside of teaching, he owns and operates his software company, Omnis Management, LLC, which specializes in the development of an online music teaching management application for freelance private lesson teachers and music studio businesses.

Jordan lives in Garland with his two dogs, Lady and Nyla. He enjoys woodworking and hanging out with his family.

JENNIFER TURNER A S S I S T A N T

D I R E C T O R

Jennifer Turner has received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR. She is currently in her 13th year of teaching and 4th as Assistant Director of Bands at North Forney High School. Prior to coming to Forney ISD, she served as Head Middle School Director for Mineola Middle School and the Head Director at Sulphur Springs Middle School.

MA SO N JO COY A S S I S T A N T

D I R E C T O R

Mason Jocoy is currently in his first year as a director at North Forney High School as well as his first year in teaching. Mr. Jocoy currently teaches the Concert Band class at North Forney. Additionally, he assists with the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band classes.

Mr. Jocoy is a native of Forney, Texas where he attended Forney High School. He went on to earn his Bachelor degree in Music Education in 2020 from Texas A&M University Commerce where he studied under Dr. Jeff Baker. While at A&M Commerce, he had the opportunity to perform under the direction of Mr. Allan Goodwin in the University Symphonic Band. He also had the opportunity to perform with the University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Phillip Clements. While with the wind ensemble, he had the privilege of performing at the 2018 TMEA Convention and Clinic in San Antonio. Mr. Jocoy was a part of the Pride Marching Band for 5 years on campus where he served as an undergraduate intern his final year with the Pride. Mr. Jocoy also had the opportunity to march with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2018 production where he was a member of the euphonium section.

Mason and his wife Samantha Jocoy, who is also a band director, live in Rockwall, Texas with their cat Benjamin. They enjoy traveling and most of all, love to spend time with their family and friends.

NORTH FORNEY PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE (pictured from left to right)

ELIJA H M C K N I G HT, JAR R E T T G EI S , B R EN D EN H U NTR E S S , JAM E S CO R D OVA , D I VDAR S H S I N G H , J O LEE BAR N E S , TO MA S E S PI N OZ A , AL AYN A G R I FFITH , G AV YN R I D D ELL , S TEFA N Y FU N K , C H R I S TI A N M O RG A N , A LE X A C A R LO S , RYAN CO LD I RO N , DAWS O N W ELC H , TR I S TAN K APAD IA , M IA C L AR IZI O, N I G ER G AM B LE , VALO RY J US TI C E , J O R DAN S U TC LI FFE , R AC H EL TR AI N O R , EM I LY W ELL S , K AR EN MARTI N , R AU L MARTI N , A S H LE Y B E Z A C A S TI LLO

THE PROGRAM

NAPALM BA S K E T................................... CY M I E S S LE R C. Alan Publications (2020) Grade 5 | 6:15

D I S G U I S E D .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C L I F W A L K E R Tapspace (2020) Grade 2 | 4:20

THE FEELING OF C O M I N G H O M E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V I C TO R L A B OZ Z E T TA I I I Victor LaBozzetta III (2017) Grade 4 | 6:00

A E T H E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FR A N C I S CO PE R E Z Tapspace (2018) Grade 3 | 5:15

Y U R I K A G O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K U S A K AWA / F U J I I / Z AT O R Tapspace (2015) Grade 3 | 4:45

L I M I N A L I T Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAV E H A L L Manuscript Grade 6 | 6:45

C A R O L O F T H E B E L L S ( L E O N T O V YC H ) . . . . . . . E R I C R AT H Tapspace (2019) Grade 1 | 2:45

T H E E N D O F D AY S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M U S S O R G S K Y, R E M I N G T O N , M A H L E R /G I S T Manuscript Grade 6 | 7:45

True North is the internal compass that guides you successfully through life. ― B I L L G EO R G E , T R U E N O RT H : D I S C OV E R YO U R AU T H E N T I C L E A D E R S H I P

NA PA LM BA S K E T.......................................................... CY M I E S S LE R .

Napalm is an incendiary bomb, or a weapon designed to start slow fires, releasing more energy over a longer period of time. Cy Miessler wrote Napalm Basket to showcase bombastic and high-energy percussive voicings. It’s explosive in volume, while also characterizing tasteful and creative rhythms, colors, and split patterns. Miessler's motivation behind writing this was to create a piece that was "long, ridiculous, and loud," like the attributes of napalm.

D I S G U I S E D ...........................................................................................................C L I F W A L K E R In Clif Walker’s piece Disguised, things are definitely not what they seem! In this medium-easy percussion ensemble, players manipulate their own instruments in order to create new and interesting sounds. For example, the marimba players use mutes over the bars to “disguise’’ the sound of the marimba, and the vibraphones are sometimes played with finger cymbals rather than mallets.

Walker also creatively disguises the meter of the piece by tricking the listener into thinking the downbeats are upbeats.

TH E FE E LI N G O F CO M I N G H O M E...............................V I C TO R L A B OZ Z E T TA The Feeling of Coming Home is a percussion octet (also written as a sextet) written in the summer of 2017. The piece can be described as the harmonic equivalent of dipping one’s fingers into cans of paint and smearing all of the colors onto an empty easel. By setting this color palette with a metric grid that slowly becomes transparent over several repetitions of an eight-bar melody, the piece intends to match the feeling one may find upon a long-awaited return to the place they call home. Premiered at PASIC 2017 by the Eastman Percussion Ensemble.

AETHER............................................ FRANCISCO PEREZ According to Sir Isaac Newton, the “aether” was a medium which permeated all of space, which enabled all light and energy to traverse through it. In his piece for percussion ensemble, Aether, Francisco Perez attempts to encapsulate this concept through the use of bright and shimmering instruments like crotales, glockenspiel, vibraphones, triangle, and chimes. Although the piece is meant to portray the nebulous aspects of the universe, there is a deep underlying group present in the piece, largely due to the ad lib. djembe part. Aether was commissioned by William Register and the Ashley Ridge High School Percussion Ensemble.

Y U R I K A G O ( K U S A K A W A ) .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F U J I I / Z A T O R Yurikago (Cradle) is a Japanese folk song by composer Shinsaku Kusakawa. In her description of the piece, arranger Rika Fujii states, "It is a song my mother used to sing to me as a child." Although the original song was written in 4/4, this piece is treated in 3/4 to convey a swinging cradle and lullabye feeling.

Originally arranged by Fujii as a duet for marimba and sanukite (keyboard instrument made out of sanukite stones found in the Kagawa Prefecture of Japan) for her and her mother, Brian Zator expanded the duo arrangement to a quartet using two marimbas and two vibraphones. This would be an effective intermediate level piece for a program wanting to highlight the warmth and tenderness attainable by mallet keyboard quartets.

L I M I N A L I T Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAV E H A L L This past summer [2019], I spent nearly two weeks on Martha’s Vineyard in a rental house with my wife’s extended family, with a nice TV we never turned on and mercifully unreliable cell service and internet connection. My sister-in-law Katie (who I have always looked up to for her humor, creativity, and quiet clairvoyance), lives inland on the island and we were there for her wedding. I spent most of each day outside reading books, going on strolls, or playing with our children. At night we would come together as a family and eat a meal made from a beautiful mélange of food grown on Island. I have known for a while that all I really need (beyond basic food and shelter) is time, beauty, and love, and all three were available in abundance on the Island.

The trip was right on time as I had become ambivalent about my role as an academic and expectations (both internal and external) to adhere to stale paradigms. I am certainly thankful for the opportunities and security of my position and am aware of the extreme privilege I fell into by way of my race, gender, upbringing, and dumb luck and am doing my best not to scuttle the opportunities that so many others are not afforded. I considered this retreat to be a hard reset for my mind and soul.

Some of the most profound things I read on the porch outside our rental house included Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind, a rigorous and personal account of groundbreaking research in neurochemistry and guided psychedelic therapy (to treat addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, and to help the terminally ill navigate the end of life). I became enamored with the concept of deliberate ego dissolution and removing myself from the art I hoped to create. Jenny Oddell’s How to Do Nothing compelled me to connect more deeply with other people and our natural world. I let go the last shred of interest I had in having a reputation or a categorizable job title after reading Austin Kleon’s Keep Going. His marching orders to “forget the noun, do the verb” reminded me that Players gotta play and Artists gotta art. We should make things and share them with our friends.

I am a shameless fanboy of pianist Brad Mehldau and have been particularly fond of his duo collaborations with both mandolinist Chris Thile and drummer Mark Guiliana, so I set out to expand the spirit of these duos to a larger ensemble. Recent residencies at Nebraska with Snarky Puppy, Stefon Harris, Andy Akiho, and the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra also infiltrated my subconscious as I sketched out the work. I also hoped to capture an aural cross-section of the diversity, virtuosity, artistry, creativity, and collaborative spirit of

PROGR AM NOTES my students both past and present. All of this is a tall order for a six- to seven-minute piece of coherent music, but eventually Liminality emerged, its creation only possible at this time with these exact artists. We hope the result transcends ourselves as well as the dogmatic and ultimately ineffective borders that are hastily thrown up between particular musical genres and idioms.

It is true that I did sit at a desk and a piano for months looking at blank manuscript paper and scratching my head, and eventually at a computer attempting to translate all of the above into decipherable musical notation, but it truly feels like my students wrote this piece. It has reaffirmed to me that healing and transcendent experiences of beauty are available when given enough time and love. ~ Dave Hall CAROL OF THE BELLS ( L E O N T O V YC H ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E R I C R AT H Carol of the Bells, originally written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych, is one of the most famous pieces of holiday music in existence and was consequently the most famous piece he composed. This particular arrangement by Eric Rath juxtaposes other Christmas carols like God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen and features some modern-day influences like an optional bass guitar and some pop music chord progressions. This is the perfect compliment to any holiday themed concert where the percussion section can take center stage!

This arrangement of Carol of the Bells was premiered on December 13, 2016, by the Canyon High School Percussion Ensemble in Canyon, Texas.

T H E E N D O F D AY S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J I M G I S T The End of Days reflects on the tumultuous events surrounding the end times as told in the Book of Revelation. The number seven is significant in the music as it is in Revelation including the pulse of much of the program being in seven and the seventh seal being broken as heard in a subtle bass drum roll. The armies marching into the Battle of Armageddon, Victorious scenes of redemption, and the final judgement as described in Revelation can all be heard and felt through the musical imagery. The program begins with Mussorgsky’s mysterious Night on Bald Mountain and seamlessly transitions to Remington’s Prelude to Paradise. The final victory is portrayed by Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Movement 5 (Resurrection).

THE 2019/2020 NORTH FORNEY HIG H SCHOOL MIDWEST SUBMIT TING ENSEMBLE MOLLY ANGEL

VALORY JUSTICE

CORENA SCOTT

MELANIE BAKER

TRISTAN KAPADIA

JORDAN SUTCLIFFE

THOMAS BOBBITT

LORRAINE MACHARIA

NICHOLAS VINTON

MIA CLARIZIO

MADISON MAY

DAWSON WELCH

RYAN COLDIRON

QUAN NGO

EMILY WELLS

STAFANY FUNK

DYLAN PHILLIPS

DYLAN WELLS

JUSTUS HILLMAN

ADAM PORTERIE

ELITA YEMANE

DOMINIC ROSAS

ABOUT

FORNEY ISD The Forney Independent School District is located approximately 25 miles east of Dallas, Texas in Kaufman County, which is currently the 3rd fastest growing county in the nation.

This innovative school district is one of the fastest growing school districts in Texas, currently serving over 14,300 students, and adding about 1500 students each year. Currently, there are 18 campuses and support facilities, which includes 2 high schools, 3 middle schools, 3 intermediate schools, 8 elementary schools, and a learning academy center. Future schools are already set to open over the next several years, including The OC: Opportunity Central.

In partnership with parents and the community, Forney ISD shall create and sustain an environment to maximize the potential of each learner. Their vision is “inspiring students through innovative education.”

Our district operates by our core value of “relationships first,” and that we are more than a district, more than a community, we are a #ForneyFamily.

ABOUT

NORTH FORNEY HIG H SCHOOL North Forney High School is a public, comprehensive high school located in Forney, TX. North Forney High School is the second comprehensive high school in Forney ISD, currently serving a population of over 2,300 students.

North Forney High School opened in August of 2009 and graduated its first senior class in the spring of 2013.

Students not only pursue superior academic achievement but also engage in music, drama, journalism, athletics, arts, career, and technical pathways, and other fields that match their personal strengths and interests.

ABOUT THE

N O RTH FO RN E Y H I G H SCH OO L PE RCUSS I O N The North Forney High School percussion program serves more than 65 students in grades 6-12 at Rhodes Intermediate School, Smith Intermediate School, Jackson Middle School, Brown Middle School, and North Forney High School.

Seventh and eighth graders perform in one of two concert bands at each of the middle schools while beginners are served in homogenous instrument groupings. The directors employ a team-teaching approach to serve the students at all five campuses.

In 2019 the North Forney Indoor Percussion Ensemble advanced to the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, for the first time and earned the title of silver medalist for the world concert percussion division. The NFHS percussion ensemble was selected as a 2020 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble winner in addition to being invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference that same year. The group also has 3 consecutive North Texas Colorguard Association championships and is the current title holder in the concert world class. Percussion students participate in weekly sectional rehearsals in addition to their regular band commitments, and most students have participated in the private lesson program. Many NFHS percussion students are involved in other school activities including National Honor Society, athletics, and drill team.

The Forney ISD percussion directors and fine arts director work collaboratively to host the North Texas Drumline competition each fall and the North Texas Percussion Ensemble competition each spring.

THAN K YOU TO OU R FI S D BOARD O F TRUSTE E S G R E G P H A R R I S | P R E S I D E NT

BECK Y DOBBS

CHAD JOHNSON | VICE PRESIDENT

BA R BA R A J O G R E E N

P O S I T I O N # 5

POSITION #3

CHRISTOPHER ANDREWS | SECRETARY

S COT T R E G A N

POSITION #2

POSITION #7

POSITION #6

POSITION #1

H A N N A BATE M A N POSITION #4

FO RN E Y I S D AD M I N I STR ATI O N D R . J U S TI N TE R RY

RICK GEER

D R . J U DY W E B B E R

JOHN CHASE

SUPERINTENDENT

CHIEF OF LEARNING SERVICES

CHIEF OF HUMAN SERVICES

CHIEF OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

KIM MORISAK

C H I E F O F I N F O R M AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N

FO RN E Y I S D FI N E ARTS M A R I O LU N A

DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS

J E N A E G L A NTO N

F I N E A R T S C O O R D I N AT O R

N O RTH FO RN E Y H I G H SCH OO L MICHAEL JUNG P R I N C I PA L

K AY L A C H I L D R E S S

A S S I S TA N T P R I N C I PA L O F F I N E A R T S

N O RTH FO RN E Y H I G H SCH OO L FAM I LY O F D I REC TO RS JIM GIST

DIRECTOR OF BANDS

J O R DA N F E R G U S O N

PERCUSSION DIRECTOR

J O N ATH A N H I NTO N S TE P H A N I E C A S TO R

BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND

JENNIFER TURNER

CO R E Y G R AV E S TI N A SA L A

M A S O N J O COY

MEGAN GARZA

A S S I S TA N T B A N D D I R E C T O R

A S S I S TA N T B A N D D I R E C T O R

JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND

S M I T H I N T E R M E D I AT E S C H O O L B A N D

Q U I NTAV I A D E S H AY

R H O D E S I N T E R M E D I AT E S C H O O L B A N D

I would like to start off by thanking my amazing wife Megan and my son Jake for their unwavering support and love. All of the directors are grateful for the support, grace, and understanding of our families, especially with the amount of time we invest to grow our band program. Your love and support is the foundation we need in order to pour so much into our students.

SPECIAL THANKS

Our current and former band parents are the best! From all of the transportation to early morning and late night events to financial support to chaperone and volunteer assistance on this trip and throughout the year, we could not be here today without your sacrifice and support.

Thank you to Riley Warren and the Forney High School percussion group for allowing us to borrow some instruments for our performance. We have a solid partnership with our cross-town high school, and we are grateful for the ways in which we support one another.

Our North Forney and Forney ISD administration have been incredibly supportive since our opening in 2009.

A very special thank goes to our fantastic principal, Mr. Michael Jung. He is the most supportive principal anyone could ask for, and his leadership inspires students and teachers alike. We would also like to thank our superintendent, Dr. Justin Terry, and his leadership team as well as our Fine Arts Director, Mr. Mario Luna, and our Fine Arts Coordinator, Ms. Jenae Glanton.

Thank you to Cady Photography and Kurt Boxdorfer for supplying the photos for the program. Mr. Boxdorfer is one of our Pride of Falcon Nation band parents, and he consistently shows up to every event capturing the essence of our band program through his photographic art.

We are grateful for Dr. Francisco Perez and Dr. Brian Zator for sharing their expertise and wisdom as clinicians of our group. Your feedback has helped us grow as musicians. Thank you for investing in us.

Thank you to Robin Wilson of The Songbird Group who designed this beautiful printed program. We are thankful for your keen eye and attention to detail.