Artie Henry Middle School: 2011 Sudler Silver Cup Performance

Artie Henry Middle School BandS

The Artie Henry Middle School Bands present the

2011 Spring Concert and the celebration of

The 2010 Sudler Silver Cup Robert T. Herrings, III Conductor Ryan M. Straten Assistant Conductor

Rachel A. Lynn Assistant Conductor

Hector J. Gil Assistant Conductor

Cynthia A. Lansford Guest Conductor

7:00 PM Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Cedar Park High School Performing Arts Center

Excellence is a habit!

Tonight’s celebration concert is dedicated to the remarkable students who were a part of the Artie Henry Middle School from 2004 to 2011. Your dedication, discipline, hard work and talent helped mold the AHMS band program into a State and Nationally recognized program.

Your invaluable contributions as outstanding musicians and as people of great character and devotion paved the road to excellence!

Tonight, we salute and honor you!

Leander Independent School District P.O. Box 218 Leander, Texas 78646 (512) 434-5000

Board of Trustees Will Streit President Grace Barber Jordan Vice President Russell Bundy Secretary Don Hisle Member Lisa Mallory Member Jim Sneeringer Member Pam Waggoner Member

 Bret A. Champion, Ed.D. Superintendent

4 May 2011 To Students, Parents, and Friends of the Henry MS Honors Band: It is once again with great pride that I welcome you to tonight’s concert and celebration of another outstanding achievement by the HMS Bands – the presentation of the Sudler Cup, awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

The Henry Middle School Band has many talented and hard-working students who are committed to excellence in all their endeavors. Through the results of their hard work, as well as those who have helped pave the way for their success, the John Philip Sousa Foundation has recognized their achievements with this award, presented only to band programs of great distinction over a period of no less than seven years.

The Leander Independent School District is pleased and proud to be represented by the Henry Middle School Honors Band, and especially delighted as they maintain a tradition of artistic excellence established by our many other outstanding fine arts programs. Recognition by the John Philip Sousa Foundation has become a standard of excellence for our programs, as you will see noted in another area of this tonight’s program.

Congratulations to these outstanding young musicians and their current directors, Robert Herrings, Ryan Straten, Rachel Lynn, and Hector Gil, as well as to previous directors who have contributed to the success of the band program and students. In addition, we are grateful for the opportunity to recognize the support of their parents and families, private instructors, and administration at Henry Middle School. Their commitment to excellence and high standards serves as an inspiration both to our fine arts programs and to future students.

Sincerely,

Peter J. Warshaw Fine Arts Director

www.leanderisd.org

Leander Independent School District

Leander Independent School District

204 W. South Street P.O. Box 218 Leander, Texas 78646-0218 (512) 570-0000

Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees

Will Streit President Grace Barber Jordan Vice President Russell Bundy Secretary Don Hisle Member Lisa Mallory Member Jim Sneeringer Member Pamela Waggoner Member

 Bret A. Champion, Ed.D. Superintendent

204 W. South Street P.O. Box 218 Leander, Texas 78646-0218 (512) 570-0000

Will Streit President

June 1, 2011

Grace Barber Jordan Vice President

To the students, parents and directors of the Henry Middle School Band, I want to congratulate the Henry Middle School Band on being selected as a 2010-2011 recipient of the Sudler Silver Cup Award. This achievement, signifying that the band has demonstrated significant high standards of excellence for several years with the same director in place for at least seven years, is quite an accomplishment!

Being recognized as one of only three winners of this coveted award is a testament to your hard work and commitment to a quality program. I commend the students for their dedication to the band program and wish them a wonderful concert!

Respectfully,

Russell Bundy Secretary Don Hisle Member Lisa Mallory Member Jim Sneeringer Member Pamela Waggoner Member



June 1, 2011 To the students, parents and directors of the Henry Middle School Band, Congratulations to the Henry Middle School Band on being selected as Sudler Silver Cup Award recipients for 2010-2011.

It is an outstanding honor that HMS has been chosen as one of the three top bands in the entire nation. On behalf of all Leander ISD school board members, I want to take this opportunity to commend your dedication and commitment in making this middle school band program one of the finest.

Sincerely,

Bret A. Champion, Ed.D. Superintendent

William Streit Bret A. Champion

www.leanderisd.org

www.leanderisd.org

John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa was born in 1854 in Washington, DC, near the Marine Barracks where his father, Antonio, was a trombonist in the Marine Band. He spent several of his school years enrolled in a private conservatory of music where he studied piano and most of the orchestral instruments. Sousa quickly gained great proficiency on the violin, and at the age of 13, his father enlisted him as an apprentice musician in the Marine Band. Sousa remained in the band until he was 20. Sousa was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1875, but returned when he was offered the leadership of the Marine Band in 1880, becoming the band’s 17th Leader. Sousa is responsible for bringing the United States Marine Band to an unprecedented level of excellence; a standard upheld by every Marine Band Director since. Marine Band concerts began to attract discriminating audiences, and the band’s reputation began to spread widely. Sousa conducted the “President's Own” Marine Band for twelve years and during the terms of five U.S. Presidents.

After retiring as a director, Sousa organized a civilian concert band and his fame and popularity grew to even greater heights. In just his first seven years, the Sousa band gave 3,500 concerts in 400 different cities. For decades, Sousa’s visits were a special event for America’s cities, and they were often met at the train station by an assemblage of high school bands, the Mayor and all manner of dignitaries.

The Sudler Foundation The Sudler Cup awards are made possible through the generosity of Louis and Virginia Sudler and are sponsored by the Sudler Foundation. Louis Sudler was a successful businessman, performing artist and nationally known patron of the Arts. As founder of the Chicago real estate firm, Sudler and Company, his urge for achievement in the business world was equaled only by his intense desire to assist and inspire talented young musicians. Mr. Sudler appeared nationally as a soloist in concert, in oratorios, with symphony orchestras, with concert bands, at functions honoring five United States Presidents and as a recording artist. A baritone, he performed as a member of the Chicago Civic Opera. He was founder and host of the Peabody Award winning television program “Artist’s Showcase,” which ran for 14 years. He was internationally recognized for his leadership of the Orchestral Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and served on the boards of many arts institutions in this country.

Mr. Sudler established scholarships and awards for young talented musicians through the Louis Sudler Foundation and the Sousa Foundation. His wife, Virginia Brown Sudler, also a patron of the arts, served as vice-president of the executive board of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, which is a publicly sponsored educational foundation that sponsors and administers projects contributing to the excellence of bands and band music throughout the world.

During his 39 years as director of the Sousa band, the main commodity Sousa sold was pride in America and American music, while at the same time he championed the cause of Music Education.

John Philip Sousa died on March 6, 1932, at the age of 77.

Perhaps the most significant tribute to Sousa’s influence on American culture, The Stars and Stripes Forever, was designated as the national march of the United States on December 10, 1987. A White House memorandum states the march has become “an integral part of the celebration of American life.”

The Sudler Awards The Sudler Cup .............................................................................................................................................. Outstanding Middle School Band Programs The Sudler Flag ................................................................................................................................................... Outstanding High School Concert Bands The Sudler Shield .............................................................................................................................................Outstanding High School Marching Bands The Sudler Scroll .................................................................................................................................................................. Outstanding Community Bands The Sudler Trophy ............................................................................................................................................... Outstanding University Marching Bands The Sudler Cup award is the highest international honor that a middle school band program can receive. It is awarded only to bands that have maintained a level of the highest quality of musical performance and organizational distinction at the international level over a period of several years. The concert band will have placed itself in situations where there has been opportunity for evaluation by qualified persons or has been rated “superior” at state, regional or national levels of concert activities. The band should have performed at regional, state, national and professional meetings of significance. These can include, but are not limited to, state music conventions, regional or national MENC meetings and state or national band association conventions. The director must have been incumbent in the position for at least seven years, including the current year. A number of students in the band should have participated in district honor or region bands, orchestras or similar groups. The total program must exemplify what is considered a sound viable, music education program for this level of endeavor.

Sudler Cup Recipients

1985 Mr. Don Black Morehead Junior High Ms. Patricia Garren Ashville Junior High Ms. Barbara Prentice Gunn Junior High Mr. David Reul Oconomowoc Junior High

El Paso, Texas Ashville, N. Carolina

Arlington, Texas Oconomowoc, WS

1986 Mr. W. Edward Davis Adamson Junior High Mr. Frank Howe Southwestern Junior High

Rex, Georgia Lakeland, Florida

1987 Mr. Ron Biffle Morrow Junior High

Morrow, Georgia

1988 Ms. Georgene Davis Scottsbluff Junior High

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

1989 Ms. Marion West Mr. Ben Walker

Richardson, Texas Odessa, Texas

Richardson North Jr. High David Crokett Junior High

1990 Ms. Cheryl Floyd Murchison Middle School

Austin, Texas

1991 Mr. Richard Sanger Thoreau Intermediate School Vienna, Virginia Ms. Ty Ann Payne Westwood Junior High Dallas, Texas 1992 Mr. Wade McDonald McAdams Middle School Ms. Carol Walther Wm. Adams Junior High

Dickinson, Texas Alice, Texas

1993 Mr. Boniface Leon Highlands Intermediate School Pearl City, Hawaii Mr. Bobby Brown Hodges Bend Middle School Houston, Texas 1994 Mr. Benjamin Daves DeSoto West Middle School Mr. Michael Tucker Pittman Middle School

DeSoto, Texas

1995 Mr. Jim Phillips Prarie Middle School Ms. Noreen Linneman Herndon Middle School

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hueytown, Alabama

Herndon, Virginia

1996 No winners 1997 Ms. Cindy Bulloch Nimitz Jr. High School Ms. Linda Gammon Robinson Middle School Mr. John Michael Benzer The Colony Middle School

1998 Mr. John Michael Benzer Griffin Middle School 1999 Mr. Gregory Dick Space Center Middle Mr. J.D. Anderson Longfellow Middle School

The Colony, Texas Houston, Texas Falls Church, Virginia

2000 Mr. David Woodard Irmo Middle School

Irmo, S Carolina

2001 Ms. Diane Gorzycki Bailey Middle School Mr. Daniel L Kosko Frost Middle School Mr. Louis C. Bean Lake Braddock Middle

Austin, Texas Fairfax, Virginia Burke, Virginia

2002 Ms. Bethann Adams First Colony Middle School

Sugarland, Texas

2003 Ms. Marcia Zofutto Coyle Middle School Ms. Betty Bierschenk-Pierce Grisham Middle School

Rowlett, Texas Austin, Texas

2004 Ms. Cynthia Lansford Mr. Ruben Garcia

N. Richmond, Texas Houston, Texas

North Ridge Middle School Holub Middle School

2005 Ms. Jean Green L. J. Alemann Middle School Ms. Kyle Marie Steffens Cooper Middle School

Lafayette, Louisiana McLean, Virginia

2006 Mr. Chip De Stefano McCracken Middle School

Skokie, Illinois

2007 Mr. Manuel C. San Luis Cedar Park Middle School

Cedar Park, Texas

2008 Mr. Gregory Countryman Fort Settlement Middle School Sugar Land, Texas 2010 Mr. Robert Herrings, III Artie Henry Middle School Ms. Jackie Fullerton Forbes Middle School Mr. Donald McCandless Space Center Middle School

Cedar Park, Texas Georgetown, Texas Houston, Texas

Odessa, Texas Fairfax, Virginia The Colony, Texas

Cynthia A. Lansford, Sudler Cup Recipient, Guest Conductor Cindy Lansford is a 1976 graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She also earned a Master's degree in Educational Administration from East Texas State University.

During her 30 years of teaching, Ms. Lansford taught at both the middle school and high school levels. Bands under Ms. Lansford’s direction enjoyed much success at contests and festivals, and they consistently received recognition at the state level. Ms. Lansford was named “Teacher of the Year” at Carpenter Middle School in the Plano Independent School District and at North Ridge Middle School in Birdville Independent School District. She served on the Texas U. I. L. Prescribed Music List selection committee, and she has served her regions in leadership positions.

In 2004, Ms. Lansford and the North Ridge Band were awarded the prestigious Sudler Cup award presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to outstanding middle school bands.

In December 2005, the North Ridge Honors Band performed at the Fifty-Ninth Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 2008, Ms. Lansford received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Ms. Lansford retired from public school teaching in 2007; she is currently doing freelance work as a band consultant and clinician, a mentor to young teachers, an adjudicator for contests and festivals, and a teacher at various summer band camps throughout the south and the midwest. She is a member of Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Currently, Ms. Lansford resides in Keller with her husband, Gary Whitman, professor of clarinet at Texas Christian University and bass clarinetist with the Fort Worth Symphony, and their basset hound, Greta.

About the Artie Henry Middle School BAnd The band program at Artie Henry Middle School serves more than 330 students, with seventh and eighth graders enrolled in one of three performing bands, and sixth grade beginning band classes in a homogeneous setting.

Since the school opened in 2002, Henry bands have been consistent UIL Sweepstakes winners, and have been well represented at Solo and Ensemble contest, Region Band and Region Orchestra auditions.

Under the current direction of Robert Herrings, Ryan Straten, Rachel Lynn, Hector Gil, and previous directors Cara Vernon and Steven Hopkins, the Henry bands have earned numerous honors and awards at festivals on the state and national levels. In 2008, the band program received an invitation to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington, and in 2009 was named the Texas Class CCC State Honor Band. Most recently, the band performed at the prestigious 2010 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. The HMS Band program has also been a National Wind Band Honors Class AA National winner in both 2009 and 2010.

To improve their individual skills and musicianship, all students in the HMS Band Program attend weekly section rehearsals, and many students take advantage of the opportunity for private lessons through the LISD Private Lesson Program. In addition to their involvement in band activities, HMS band students are also active in other activities, including National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, Leadership, Yearbook/Journalism, Athletics, Art, Cheerleading, Dance Team, Theatre and many more.

Through the dedicated work of many individuals, the program has built a tradition of success that has flourished within the school and in the community.

Private Lesson Staff Flute: Ann Kjerulf-Knein, Le Anne Morales

Trumpet: Gilbert Elorreaga, Dr. Kyle Koronka

Oboe: Lisa Edwards

Trombone: Jared Adams, R. Ben Osborne

Bassoon: Julia Windle

Euphonium/Tuba: Jared Adams, Brian Butz

Clarinet: Julie Linder, Chris Whittemore

Percussion: Jessica Garrow, Dave Reyes

Saxophone: Kevin Gibbs, Robert Perkins French Horn: Christopher Pickens, Barbi Van Horn

Program Henry Middle School Concert Band Rachel Lynn, Conductor Serengeti Dreams................................................................................Robert W. Smith Highlights From The Star Wars Saga.....................John Williams, arr. Paul Cook

Henry Middle School Symphonic Band Ryan Straten, Conductor Blue Ridge Saga............................................................................ James Swearingen Crunch Time................................................................................... James Swearingen Rites of Tamburo..................................................................................Robert W. Smith

Henry Middle School Honors Band Robert Herrings, III, Conductor Folk Dances...................................................................................Dmitri Shostakovich Benediction.............................................................................................. John Stevens New Mexico March........................................................................ John Philip Sousa Cynthia Lansford, Guest Conductor Presentation of the Sudler Silver Cup............................................ Cynthia Lansford

John Philip Sousa Foundation Michael Jackson: Through The Years.................... arranged by Michael Brown

Reception immediately following in the foyer

2010-2011 Honors Band Flute Mallory Gabbard 1 Kate Hardin Julie Joo 1, 2 Jessica Jones 1 Rachael Laffoon Vincent Lee 1, 3 Cameron McCandlis Debora Palmiere 1, 2 Bassoon Jordan Murley Ruby Park Chloe Powers Courtney Quibodeaux 1 Clarinet Kristine Chen 1, 2 Benjamin Hargrave 1 Chandana Kamaraj 1, 2 Yechan Kim 1, 2 Jae Min Lee 1, 2 Victoria Lynn 1, 2, 3, 4 Vinayika Papineni Haley Yu

Bass Clarinet Matthew Funk 1 Helena Haddox 1, 2, 4 Alto Saxophone Coy Reid 1 Rebecca Reinehr 1, 2 Tenor Saxophone Connor Fryar 1, 2 Kevin Quibodeaux 1, 2 Baritone Saxophone Jonathan Charpentier 1 Trumpet Justin Chavez Luke Hoeft 1, 2, 3, 4 Dylan LaVelle 1, 2 Michael Loa William Lohan Benton Sharp 1, 2

French Horn Hannah Balcezak 1 Zachary Barbosa 1 Natalie Bryson Caroline Christian 1, 2 Morgan Petrinec Zachary Richards 1, 2, 3 Trombone Luke Berringer 1, 2 Alexandre Cate Aeron Horne 1, 2 Akash Kwatra 1, 2 Ryan Murray 1, 2, 3, 4 Harsh Singh 1, 2 Euphonium Jaxon Brock 1 Cole Chism John Trevino 1

Tuba Jason Ayala 1, 2 Diego Chavez 1, 2 John Renfroe Percussion DJ Atkinson 1 Injae Cho 1, 2 Shota Ehrlich Christopher Erwin Emily Holland Parker McCune 1 Brendan Morales Katrina Pardee Kendall Weigand 1, 2, 3 1 – Denotes District Band 2 – Denotes Region Band 3 – Denotes Region Orchestra 4 – Denotes First Chair

2010-2011 Symphonic Band Flute Janna Barcenas Haley Christoff Ashtyn Cullen Chandler Ellis Allie Fernandez Hae Song Lee Anu Satheeshkumar Lia Schexnayder Kathryn Tibbens Shruti Veeramachineni Robin Weise Sydney Young Rubi Vera Oboe Adithya Balaji Bassoon Isabel Deike Clarinet Brooke Anaya Avery Bennett

Cassie Blevins Catherine Brown Ethan Copeland Daniel Han Matthew Joshua Jim Lim Mallory Moya Daniel Mercado Savana Walter Bass Clarinet Jacob Cherry Emily Luker Tyler Traudt Alto Saxophone Chase Newton Morgan Robinson Christian Wiley Thomas Wintenburg Tenor Saxophone Christian Dominguez

Trumpet Eric Barnes Isaac Derton Jeremy Geist Grant Ollman Tommy Pham Bryan Ramirez Sam Randall Austin Scott Ryan Waldman French Horn Grant Haseloff Trombone Alonzo Arevalo Nicholas Kuehl Jacob Pryor Keely Torsak-Bryson Daniel Yeager Euphonium Johann Agron Ethan Eastwood Kendall Grier

Tuba Nicholas Longoria Tyson Youngblood Percussion Kylie Burch Aneesh Desai Bryce Doll Laura Homiller Grant Huber Kevan Pirayandeh John Schexnayder Alexis Schwarting Braden Spencer Jimmy Stephens

2010-2011 Concert Band Flute Holly Adamson Rebecca Aronson Miranda Flores Michelle Kim Stacie Kreager Naomi Polete Jack West Clarinet Wesley Banda Carley Fredin Anna Glazkova Christine Kim Bryan Palmer Kersten Tipping Alto Saxophone Jay Garcia Jessica Hanley Landen Miller

Tenor Saxophone Alex Kadair Baritone Saxophone Logan Rutherford Trumpet Jacob Coker Roberto Ferreira Justin Mazenko Phillip Mendoza Christian Presley Jacob Stockstill Andrew Welch French Horn Adele Simms

Trombone Gilbert Fridel Isaiah James Taylor Thomas Euphonium Cade Insall Crayson Potts Tuba Megan Mehlow Percussion Corbin Gonzales Sebastian Hartley Bryan Lee Ian Mullins Lane Wolf

2010-2011 Beginning Band Flute Anissa Chan

Montana Clark-Wyatt Natalie Cooke Nathan Cruise

Samantha D'Aunno Kristin Fentress Paula Ferreira Morgan Griffith Adriana Gutierrez John Hearn

Jimin Hwang Ye Kim Seth Mc Avoy Peyton Pump

Deirdre Smith Kyle Waldrum Alexi Watson Annaleisa Wilson-Barron Joshua Yerkes

Oboe

Bassoon

Rachel Campagna Cassie Christian Carolina Colon-Martinez Autumn Durand Nicholas Ko Hyungjoo Lee McKenna Schutty

Clarinet

Aliyah Anderson Emily Aronson Cody Chang Matthew Dozier Joanna Galaviz Audrey Gibson Sungmin Ha Jillian Harrington Casey Jackson Seejin Kim Malka Lasky Jessica Minne

Justin Fish Jason Hale Elizabeth Murray Hunter Shoemake Joel Siew

Sara Roman Shelby Smith Erin Stephens Aziel Suarez Kaylin Tam Matthew Tan Kyndal White Kenzell Williams Jason Wintenburg Brandon Zubko Skyla Zych

Saxophone Tuan Dinh Jeffrey Dougherty Curtis Harrison Jill Hatch Patrick Lemanczyk Josilyn Ochoa

Trumpet

Omar Barajas Cameron Boucher Caleb Copeland Jorge De Lafuente-Mele Nishal Desai Jackson Gay John Hemann Austin Hensley

French horn

Cooper Fryar Kelly Hamilton Andrea Limon Alejandro Moreno Katie Olsen Monica Orona Holly Phalan Katherine Rossmiller Brandon Taboada

Benjamin Randall Anthony Reinehr Neal Sutaria Kayla Walker Cierra Winters Zachary Winward

David Jefts Stuart Kuehn Jacob Mastronardi Adrian Oviedo Ryan Richards Avery Sabe Sigurjon Stefansson

Trombone Joshua Bucio Mason Clark James Deere Claire Entrekin

Garrett Harlan David Jones Bailey Kyler Sarah Robertson

Euphonium

Tuba

Michael Boeta Brett Carter Nicholas Garrard Daniel Hawthorn Dalton Kinder Charles Lormand Noah Moore Brandon Rawls Lindsey Rollwitz

Percussion

Corrin Alanis Brandy Ayala Lauren Brown Benjamin Gostkowski Eric Grimaldo Adam Jagen

Israel Blevins Mason Buettner Berkeley Checketts Daija Davis Gerod Dunn Lazim Huq Antonio Peterson Nicholas Scholz Ernesto Tapia

Zarek Longoria Fredy Lopez-Durante Andres Rojas Evan Smith Noah Urbanovsky Christian Vu

Conductors Robert T. Herrings, III

Robert Tyrome Herrings is entering his eighth year of teaching and has been teaching at Henry Middle School in Leander ISD since 2004. Prior to coming to Leander ISD, he was the Director of Bands at Rockdale Junior High in Rockdale, Texas.

In 2003, Mr. Herrings received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he studied under Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Dr. Kevin Sedatole and Barry Hopper. While in college, Mr. Herrings was a member of the Baylor University performing wind bands, as well as a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.

At Henry Middle School, Mr. Herrings teaches the Honors Band, assists with the Symphonic and Concert bands, and teaches beginning flute and trumpet. Since beginning his career in music education, Mr. Herrings’ bands have achieved consistent UIL Sweepstakes ratings, as well as unanimous first division ratings, Best In Class and Overall Outstanding Band honors at festivals around the state. In 2009, the Henry Middle School Honors Band was selected to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington, and the Henry Middle School Band program was named the 2009-2010 Texas Class CCC Honor Band. In 2009 and 2010, the program at Henry earned distinction as a National Wind Band Honors Class AA winner. Most recently, the Henry Middle School Band program was selected to perform at the 2010 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Tonight, the HMS Band program will be honored with the prestigious John Philip Sousa Sudler Siver Cup Award.

Mr. Herrings is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. He is also a mentor to new-to-profession teachers at Henry Middle School. In July, at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Mr. Herrings will be honored as the 2010-2011 Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year.

Mr. Herrings enjoys motivating young musicians to reach their highest level of performance by sharing his extreme love and passion for music with them on a daily basis. He feels honored, privileged and extremely blessed to have had many great mentors, band directors and close friends who have influenced his career thus far.

Above all, his students have been his greatest inspiration!

Rachel Lynn

Rachel Lynn is in her first year of teaching at Henry Middle School. Ms. Lynn conducts the Concert Band, and she teaches beginning clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon. Before she joined the staff at Henry Middle School, Ms. Lynn was a private clarinet teacher in Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD for two years.

In 2008, Ms. Lynn earned a Bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. While at Northwestern, she performed in the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Mallory Thompson. Ms. Lynn has studied clarinet under Mary Schani, Leslie Grimm, Russell Dagon, Steve Cohen, and Lawrie Bloom, and attributes not only her playing, but also her teaching to those fine teachers.

She was a finalist in the University of Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium Young Artists Concerto Competition and the Austin Civic Orchestra Pearl Armster Competition. She currently plays in the Cedar Park Winds, a local community band, and she still enjoys teaching private clarinet lessons and coaching young chamber music groups.

Ms. Lynn’s professional memberships include the Texas Music Educator’s Association and Texas Bandmaster’s Association.

Ms. Lynn credits all of the successes in her life to her loving and supportive family, dear friends across the world and former teachers.

Ryan M. Straten

Ryan M. Straten is in his third year of teaching and first year at Henry Middle School. Mr. Straten is the conductor of the Symphonic Band, assists with the Honors and Concert Bands and also teaches the beginning horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba classes.

Mr. Straten earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Texas State University in 2005. At Texas State, he studied under John Stansberry, Rod Schueller and Jack Laumer, and he performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Bobcat Marching Band and Trumpet Ensemble. He was also an active member and officer in the Kappa Kappa Psi music fraternity.

In 2007, Mr. Straten returned to Texas State to pursue dual Master’s Degrees in Music Education and Educational Leadership. During that time, he served as a graduate assistant to the undergraduate instrumental methods classes, and he co-directed the Texas State University Concert Band. Upon the completion of his Master’s Degree in Music Education, Mr. Straten was elected a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society.

Mr. Straten is an active member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association and the Texas Bandmaster’s Association.

Mr. Straten feels very honored to be working with such an exceptional team at Henry Middle School. He attributes all of his success to his loving and supportive family and friends, his students, and his mentor, Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt.

Hector Gil

Hector Gil joined the staff at Vista Ridge High School and Henry Middle School as the Director of Percussion in the fall of 2008. He is in his eighth year of teaching and has previously served as a percussion instructor at Texas Christian University, Texas A&M International University, Surround Sound Percussion, Arlington Martin High School, Leander High School, Cedar Park High School, Georgetown High School, and Laredo United High School.

Mr. Gil received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2001. During his time at TAMU-C, he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Steel Drum Band, and the drum line. He was also a member of the Percussion Ensemble that won the prestigious Percussive Arts Society “Call for Tapes” award in 2000, performed a showcase concert at PASIC, and was a member of the TAMU-C drum line that received second place at PASIC. His performance experience includes, the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps 1997-1998, the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, North East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the Laredo Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Gil composes and arranges for numerous drum lines and serves as a clinician for several high schools throughout Texas.

His professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the TAMU-C Alumni Association. He is also an endorsed artist of Innovative Percussion Inc. Mr. Gil loves to spend as much time as possible with the love of his life, his daughter Elena.

Acknowledgements Henry Middle School Administration Dr. David Ellis, Principal Steve Britton, Assistant Principal Lauren Gleason, Assistant Principal Katie Weeks, Assistant Principal Ginger Carter, Administrative Assistant Michelle Kitchens, Registrar Leander ISD Administration

Leander ISD Board of Trustees Will Streit, President Grace Barber Jordan, Vice President Russell Bundy, Secretary Elizabeth Frey Aaron Johnson Don Hisle Jim Sneeringer Pamela Waggoner

Dr. Bret A. Champion, Superintendent Monta Akin, Assistant Superintendent, Instruction Karie Lynn McSpadden, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Ellen Skoviera, Assistant Superintendent, Business Operations Dick Ellis, Director of School and Community Relations Peter Warshaw, Fine Arts Director

Special Thanks To the Honors Band of 2010-2011: Thank you for a wonderful school year. I will never forget each and every one of you. This has been the most special year of my life. Your patience and hard work make me love this job more and more each day. You are all unique and extremely gifted. I am truly blessed to teach you daily, and I admire you more than you will ever know. I am proud to be your teacher.

To all AHMS Band Alumni: Thank you for all your hard work while at Artie Henry Middle School. You have established our program as one of the best in Texas and the nation. Each of you paved the way for the success we celebrate tonight. Thank you for your dedication.

To all the great past and present band parents: Thank you for all the support over the years! Your sacrifices, whether it be the amount of countless hours you have volunteered, fundraisers, our busy calendar of events, getting your students to and from sectionals, rehearsals and private lessons, or just sending a note of appreciation reveal a strong belief in the value of music education you have for your children. Your support in every aspect of our musical endeavors will never be forgotten.

To the Henry Middle School administration, faculty and staff: Thank you for your continued support of our students and all the Fine Arts programs at HMS. We are truly blessed to work with such loving, caring and warm individuals daily.

To My Mom, Grandmother and Grandfather: Words will never be able to express how much I love each one of you. Thank you so much for believing in me and standing behind my dreams. Each of you have taught me love, patience and kindness. You all are a special gift that God has given to me.

To Ryan, Rachel and Hector: Thank you for all your sacrifices for the kids and our program. You are a blessing to the kids and to me. I could never do this without each of you. Thank you!

To Cara Vernon: Thank you for your legacy at Henry MS. I will never forget the summer we spent creating a new vision for the band program at HMS. What we built together will never be forgotten. You are invaluable and are missed dearly. I love you so much! Thank you for the memories!

To the HMS Private Teaching Staff: Thank you for your continued dedication to the kids in our program.

You each provide fabulous instruction to our young musicians. You are at the core of our curriculum and the backbone of our success.

To Cindy Lansford: Thank you for all your help and guidance over the years. I am overjoyed that you are here to share this special time with us this evening. You inspire me. The love and passion you have shared with our program will never be forgotten. I love you!

To Sheila Olenich: Thank you for the countless hours you put into the Fine Arts programs in LISD. You will never know how much you are appreciated and the difference you make in the lives of each and every student in LISD. You’re an angel!

To the Vista Ridge HS Band Staff and Boosters: Thank you for your continued support and help over the years.

To all of my mentors: David Ellis, Peter Warshaw, Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Kevin Sedatole, Barry Hopper, Frances Hudson, Betty Pierce, John Curtin, Paul Crockett, Jack Green, Susan Young, Robin Wilson, Matthew McInturf, Mary Ellen Cavitt, Rebecca Allen, Manuel San Luis, Amy Allison, Bryan Christian, Kyle Ruschhaupt, Andrew Straight, Hector Gil, Tracey Redus, David Barnes, Jessica Gonzales, Carter Matschek, Jenna Yee and Mark Gurgel. What each of you has taught me is invaluable and I thank you each from the bottom of my heart.