Twelve CFISD Ensembles Earn Prestigious National Honors from The Foundation for Music Education
Music education in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD continues to hit a high note, as 12 student ensembles have been nationally recognized with 2025 Mark of Excellence and Citation of Excellence awards by The Foundation for Music Education. The national recognition highlights CFISD’s growing reputation for musical excellence and celebrates the hard work, passion, and perseverance of young musicians across the district.
From orchestras and choirs to symphonic winds and chamber groups, award-winning ensembles from Sprague, Spillane, Anthony, Smith, and Hamilton Middle Schools, as well as Cy-Fair and Bridgeland High Schools, have proven that CFISD is home to some of the top-performing school music programs in the country.
About the Awards: National Recognition for Musical Mastery
The Mark of Excellence project is a prestigious national competition designed to recognize outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, orchestras, and choirs. Each year, ensembles from across the United States submit recordings for a blind adjudication process conducted by highly respected collegiate-level judges. The top 25% of groups receive National Winner honors, while the next 25% are designated as Commended Winners.
The Citation of Excellence award specifically honors non-varsity ensembles, highlighting rising programs and emerging talent within school districts. Together, both awards offer valuable educational feedback and affirm the strength of school music programs at every level.
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CFISD's 2025 Award-Winning Ensembles
Among CFISD’s honorees, Spillane Middle School’s Symphonic Winds and Bridgeland High School’s Varsity Treble Choir earned coveted Mark of Excellence National Winner status — placing them in the top quartile of entries nationwide.
“I am incredibly proud of our students for being selected as a national winner in the Mark of Excellence contest,” said John Barton, Spillane band director. “To have earned this honor three times in the past four years is a remarkable achievement that speaks to the consistency, dedication and passion of our young musicians.”
Bridgeland Choir Director Chris Fiorini echoed the sentiment: “We are truly in awe of the work our students do daily. The grit, tenacity and dedication they show to mastering their craft is unparalleled.”
Also honored as Mark of Excellence Commended Winners:
- Bridgeland High School Chorale
- Bridgeland High School Varsity Tenor Bass Choir
- Smith Middle School Symphonic Winds
- Cy-Fair High School Chamber Orchestra
- Anthony Middle School Chamber Orchestra
- Sprague Middle School Chamber Orchestra
“Congratulations to last year’s Smith varsity band for being named a commended winner in the Mark of Excellence project,” said Stephen Van Hooser, Smith band director. “This accomplishment reflects their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence.”
Anthony Orchestra Director Joanna Schess shared similar praise for her students: “Their constant drive to get a little bit better each day truly paid off. My deepest gratitude goes to our assistant director, Caleb Churchman, for his tireless work with our cellos and basses.”
The Spillane Middle School symphonic winds band was named a 2025 Sprague Middle School’s orchestra program also made a splash with its second-year chamber ensemble.
“In just the second year since Sprague opened, these students have already set a high standard of excellence for future orchestra students,” said Danielle Darrigo, Sprague orchestra director.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Middle School’s Symphonic Winds earned New Music Division Commended honors — a designation for schools entering newly published literature.
Rising Talent: Citation of Excellence Honors for Non-Varsity Groups
At the non-varsity level, Smith Middle School’s Symphonic Orchestra was named a Citation of Excellence National Winner — a major milestone for a program led by first-year director Samantha Rodriguez.
“I’m thrilled by the 2025 Citation of Excellence results after just one semester of teaching,” Rodriguez said. “I’m so proud of last year’s group for always being motivated to tackle musical challenges.”
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Spillane Middle School’s Symphonic Band and Anthony Middle School’s Symphony Orchestra earned Citation of Excellence Commended honors, reflecting their ability to shine even outside of the varsity spotlight.
“Symphony orchestra really pushed the limit on what a non-varsity group can sound like,” said Caleb Churchman, Anthony orchestra director. “Their extremely hard work and determination absolutely paid off and I could not be more proud.”
A District-Wide Commitment to the Arts
The awards shine a light on CFISD’s ongoing investment in arts education — a core component of the district’s mission to provide a well-rounded academic experience. Whether students are preparing for professional music careers or simply finding joy in self-expression, the program's success is made possible by talented educators, committed administrators, supportive families, and an encouraging community.
As Kyle Stahl, Hamilton band director, put it: “This achievement is a testament to the excellence and dedication demonstrated by our students on a daily basis. Go Tigers!”
The Anthony Middle School symphony orchestra was named a 2025 Learn More
The Foundation for Music Education is a non-profit organization committed to the advancement and support of music education through recognition, resources, and advocacy. More about the Mark of Excellence and Citation of Excellence projects is available at foundationformusiceducation.org.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
