Education

For student musicians, an award can carry the memory of an entire school year: the difficult passage finally mastered, the rehearsals that brought an ensemble together and the performance that made it all count. This fall, that work is earning national attention for bands, choirs and orchestras across Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

Twenty ensembles at 11 campuses earned recognition in the Foundation for Music Education’s 2026 awards, including eight Mark of Excellence National Winners, four Mark of Excellence Commended Winners, four Citation of Excellence National Winners and four Citation of Excellence Commended Winners. The honors reach from middle school music rooms to high school stages, with first-time achievements for two programs and multiple awards for several campuses.

The awards program collects recordings from around the country and provides participating ensembles with performance feedback. The top quarter of entrants receive national recognition, and the next quarter receive commended recognition. Mark of Excellence recognizes high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras; Citation of Excellence recognizes non-varsity ensembles.

A Year of Work Earns National Recognition

• Cypress Creek High School Wind Ensemble Band
• Smith Middle School Symphonic Winds Band
• Sprague Middle School Symphonic Winds Band
• Bridgeland High School Chorale Choir
• Cypress Falls High School Varsity Women’s Choir
• Sprague Middle School Bel Canto Choir
• Smith Middle School Chamber Orchestra
• Sprague Middle School Chamber Orchestra

“This national recognition is a tremendous honor for the Cypress Creek High School Wind Ensemble and a reflection of the dedication, artistry and perseverance of our students,” said Kevin Wood, Cypress Creek’s head band director. “Every rehearsal, performance and challenge throughout the year represents countless hours of hard work and a shared commitment to excellence.”

Cypress Falls earned recognition for both of its varsity choirs, with the women’s ensemble receiving national honors and the men’s ensemble receiving commended honors.

“They reflect the countless hours of rehearsal, commitment, trust and pride these students bring to our program every day,” Cypress Falls choir director Matthew Perez said of the awards.

Mark of Excellence Commended Winners

• Jersey Village High School Wind Ensemble Band
• Arnold Middle School Symphonic Winds Band
• Rowe Middle School Symphonic Winds Band
• Cypress Falls High School Varsity Men’s Choir

For Rowe Middle School, the recognition adds a new milestone to the band program’s history: its first award in the competition. Band director Mark Donahue credited the work of the 2025–26 Symphonic Winds students in preparing the recognized performance.

Jersey Village band director Suzanne Scott also emphasized the students’ work over an entire school year, describing the recognition as an acknowledgment of their musicianship and daily effort.

Citation of Excellence Recognizes Non-Varsity Groups

The following ensembles were named Citation of Excellence National Winners:

• Bridgeland High School Symphonic Winds Band
• Spillane Middle School Symphonic Band
• Sprague Middle School Symphonic Band
• Anthony Middle School Symphony Orchestra

Anthony’s orchestra became the first in its program to receive national winner recognition. “They showed true dedication through hard work and made Anthony history as the first orchestra in our program to be named National Winners!” said orchestra director Caleb Churchman.

The following ensembles received Citation of Excellence Commended Winner honors:

• Bridgeland High School Symphonic Band
• Cypress Woods High School Symphonic Winds Band
• Arnold Middle School Symphonic Band
• Sprague Middle School Symphonic Orchestra

The Citation awards also put a spotlight on the depth of these music programs. Bridgeland earned honors for both its Symphonic Winds and Symphonic bands, and Arnold received awards for two ensembles. Sprague’s recognition reached across all three disciplines: band, choir and orchestra.

Cypress Woods band director Gabrielle Bielz highlighted how the Symphonic Winds students encouraged one another during the spring season. Arnold band director Ceci Hernandez credited both of her school’s honored ensembles for their dedication and musical achievement.

Together, the results recognize students at different stages of their musical education, including the non-varsity groups developing the next level of their sound. More campus news is available through Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.

By Johnny Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Johnny Krenek has been connected to community news since childhood, growing up alongside the family business his parents founded—Krenek Printing. Today, he serves as Vice President and lead developer for My Neighborhood News, where he drives the digital experience and supports the team across a variety of technical and operational roles. He is passionate about building tools that help connect neighbors and strengthen communities.

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