On Saturday, September 24 the North Lamar Drumline and Front Ensemble won first place in their division at the inaugural North Texas Drumline Clinic and Contest in McKinney.  

Individual section awards for the best snare drum section, bass drum section and front ensemble were also awarded. Winners pictured, front row left to right, are Tara George, Hunter Nobles, Kirt Preston, Levi Graham, Maddie Drake, Evelyn Chavez, Bonnie McIlyar, Ty Driggers and Gaby Risinger.  Pictured in the back row are Diego Rosas, Cullen Jones, Trever Bestul, Grayson Smith, Laci LeFlore, Zach Wilkerson, Kreagan Scott, Molly Denman and Stetson Henderson.  Not pictured is Emily McIIyar.  Matt Neal is director of the North Lamar Drumline and Front Ensemble.

North Lamar High School Band, directed by Randy Jones, has been selected by the National Wind Band Honors Project as a National Winner.

The Mark of Excellence consists of the National Wind Band Honors, the National Orchestra Honors, National Choral Honors, and National Jazz Honors.  It is a competition, entered by recording, in which the top quarter is selected as National Winners, and the second quarter receive Commended Honors.  This year 161 of the finest musical ensembles in the nation entered the competition.  The project has now received entries from thirty two states!

North Lamar’s Outstanding Soloists in the performance of “Strange Humors” are Laynee Fulgham (English horn), Madison Oney and Victoria White (alto saxophone), Evelyn Chavez (djembre), and Scott Terry and Matt Gordon (trombone). 

Recognized in their performance of “Symphonic Metamorphosis” are Arianne Brown (oboe), Lacy White (piccolo), Dakota Kilcrease (bassoon), Donna Colquitt (flute), Taylor Woods (clarinet), Brittany Money (timpani), Laynee Fulgham (English horn), and Davis White (French horn).

The band adjudicators for the project were: John Whitwell, Director Emeritus of Bands, Michigan State University, Steve Peterson, Director of Bands at Ithaca College, and Frank Wickes, retired Director of Bands at Louisiana State University.

As Class AAA National Winner, the North Lamar Band will receive recorded and written comments and suggestions from the adjudicators, and their performance will be featured on a compilation CD of winning performances that is sent to all entrants of the project. The only other Class AAA National Winner was North Forney HS Band from Forney, Texas.

The National Wind Band Honors Project Managing Director Rick Yancey said, “The North Lamar Band is a fine example for bands everywhere, and a credit to your district.  Congratulations to all involved!”

Representing the North Lamar Panther Marching Band, Drum Majors, Drum Line and Dance Line and displaying trophies are, front row left to right, Essence Corpus (Dance Line Lieutenant), Devin Lasenbby (Trumpet Squad Leader), and Vanesa Vargas (Dance Line Lieutenant); middle row, Trever Bestul (Percussion), Laci LeFlore (Percussion), and Mary O’Connor (Band President); back row, Dakota Kilcrease (Band Vice President), Tyler Stone (Drum Major), Elaine French (Drum Major) and CarolAnne Cosgrove (Drum Major).

NLHS Band Earns Top Ratings at Four State Marching Contest

On Saturday, October 1^st, the North Lamar High School Marching Band, Dance Line, Drum Majors and Drum Line were awarded Superior ratings by all judges for their performances at the Four States Marching Contest.   The contest was held at Tiger Stadium in Grimm Park in Texarkana. 

The Marching Band, Drum Line and Drum Majors were selected as Most Outstanding for the entire competition. 

The North Lamar Marching Band brought home another marching contest this season.  On Saturday, October 8^th,  the North Lamar High School Marching Band competed at the Little Elm “Classic on the Lake” marching band contest with over 25 other bands.  In class 3A, they won Outstanding Drum Majors (CarolAnne Cosgrove, Elaine French, and Tyler Stone), Outstanding Percussion, Outstanding Winds, Outstanding General Effect, and Outstanding Marching.  They were also awarded Best in Class for 3A. 

“Our students were really excited about this because the defending state champions in class 3A were there (Argyle HS), and we beat them,” said associate band director Jason R. Smith.  They would have qualified to march in finals (best 10 bands regardless of class compete) that evening, but the competition was cancelled due to inclement weather.  The finals trophies were awarded based on scores from the preliminary competition, and the NLHS Band was awarded second place overall.   Rowlett High School was awarded first place. 

“They have worked so hard this year, and we could not be more proud for all of them,” said Randy Jones Head Director.  The band will finish its marching competition season on Tuesday, October 18, in Mt. Pleasant at the UIL regional marching contest at 1:00 p.m.

December 5th in Mt. Pleasant for placement in the Region 4 All Region Freshman Honor Band. On Saturday,

NLHS Band Wins ATSSB State 3A Honor

NLHS Announces State Solo and Ensemble Band

The North Lamar High School Symphonic and Concert Bands competed at the Invitational Northeast Texas Concert and Sight-Reading Festival in Mt. Pleasant on April 4, and earned all Superior ratings for their performances. The bands then competed in the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest on April 11th in Mt. Pleasant and again earned Superior Ratings for Concert and Sight-Reading. This qualified them for the UIL Sweepstakes Award for earning Superior ratings in Marching, Concert and Sight Reading. The bands are under the direction of Randy Jones and Jason R. Smith.