2024 Citation of Excellence Results and Adjudicators

The Citation of Excellence is a competition for Texas non-varsity high school & middle school bands

2024 Citation of Excellence Winners

Class A

Group Conductor Location
Arbor Creek MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Sarah Ayoub Carrollton, TX
Colleyville MS Symphonic Band Mr. Joey Prescott Colleyville, TX
Grisham MS Symphonic Band Mr. Eduardo Estrada Austin, TX
McAnally MS Symphonic Band Mr. Alan Olmos Aledo, TX
McCracken MS Concert Band Mr. Cesar Mendoza Skokie, IL
West Lake MS Philharmonic Band Mr. Cory Roberts, Mrs. Natalia Albacete Humble, TX

Class AA

Group Conductor Location
Aledo MS Symphonic Winds Mrs. Emily Moore Aledo, TX
Artie Henry MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Katherine Norris Cedar Park, TX
Berry Miller JHS Symphonic Band Ms. Katelyn Seymour Pearland, TX
Canyon Ridge MS Symphonic Band Mr. Tristan Rivera Austin, TX
Canyon Vista MS Select Band Mrs. Rebecca Click Austin, TX
Cedar Valley MS Symphonic Band Mr. Jeff Owen Austin, TX
Cooper JH Symphonic Band Misty Smith, Adam Powell Wylie, TX
Coppell MS East Symphonic Band Mrs. Katherine Rivera, Mr. Steve McGrew Coppell, TX
Danville MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Nichele Gonzales New Braunfels, TX
Joe M. Adams JH Symphonic Band Mrs. Randallyn Holdford Fulshear, TX
Killian MS Symphonic Band Ms. Jenna Lenhard, Mr. Trevor Ousey Lewisville, TX
Krimmel Intermediate School Concert Band Ms. Lilly Arnold, Mr. Kristofer McKee Klein, TX

Class AAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Allen HS Symphonic Band I Mr. Alexander Baczewski Allen, TX
Haltom HS Honors Band Mr. Caleb Santacruz Haltom City, TX
Lowery Freshman Center Wind Ensemble Mr. Joshua Blankenship Allen, TX

Class AAAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Jasper HS Wind Ensemble Mr. Kyle Johnson Plano, TX
Keller HS Symphonic Band Mr. Daniel Bloss Keller, TX
The Woodlands College Park Symphonic Band Mr. Aaron Owens The Woodlands, TX
The Woodlands HS Symphonic Winds Mr. Aaron Stickley The Woodlands, TX
Timber Creek HS Symphonic Band Mr. Daniel Malacon Fort Worth, TX
Vandegrift HS Symphonic Band Mr. Kyle Norris Austin, TX

Orchestra

Group Conductor Location
Westwood HS Philharmonic Orchestra Mrs. Colleen Whatley, Mrs. Brittany Dacy Austin, TX
Jordan HS Sinfonietta Orchestra Mr. Sunny Yam Fulshear, TX
Lowery Freshman Center Chamber Orchestra Mr. Charles Robinson Allen, TX
Westwood HS Philharmonic Orchestra Mrs. Colleen Whatley Austin, TX
Cinco Ranch JH Cambiata Orchestra Mrs. Laura Vu Katy, TX
Ereckson MS Sinfonia I Orchestra Ms. Rachel Boone, Mrs. Joanna DeVoto Allen, TX
Roach MS Symphonic Orchestra Mrs. Chassity Rauscher, Mrs. Sarah Hawley Frisco, TX

Commended Winners

Class A

Group Conductor Location
Carlos F. Truan STEM Academy Concert Band Ms. Alma Arellano Edcouch – Elsa, TX
Coleman JHS Concert Band Mr. Corbin Sullivan Waxahachie, TX
Heritage MS Symphonic Band Ms. Brenda Hinton Colleyville, TX
Smithfield MS Symphonic Band Mr. James Atilano North Richland Hills, TX
Wilkinson MS Beginner Honor Band Ms. Kim Reed, Mr. Jung Mour Frisco, TX

Class AA

Group Conductor Location
Argyle MS Symphonic Band Ms. Alyssa Kunkel Argyle, TX
Danielson MS Blue Band Mrs. Lauren Piccione Leander, TX
Dieterich MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Angelyn Seppeler Midlothian, TX
Ennis JH Symphonic Band Mr. Joshua Davis Ennis, TX
Keller MS Symphonic Band Mr. Richard Alvarado Keller, TX
Kennemer MS Symphonic 2 Mr. Cesar Montelongo, Mr. Ethan Henshaw, Ms. Sarah Chang Dallas, TX
North Belton MS Symphonic Band Ms. Kaitlyn Pineiro Temple, TX
North Shore MS Symphonic Band Mr. Jorge Gutierrez Houston, TX
Rogers MS Concert Band 1 Mrs. Katie Ferris Prosper, TX
Spillane MS Symphonic Band Mr. Cole Smith Cypress, TX
Warren MS Wind Symphony Mrs. Shannon Autry Arlington, TX
Wester MS Symphonic Band Ms. Alexandra Lyons Frisco, TX

Class AAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Barbers Hill HS Symphonic Band Mr. Andrew Kier Mont Belvieu, TX
Colleyville Heritage HS Symphonic Band Ms. Karson Beer Colleyville, TX
Glenda Dawson HS Concert Band Mr. Dominique McCray Pearland, TX
Whitehouse HS Symphonic Winds Mr. Wade Russell Whitehouse, TX

Class AAAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Dripping Springs HS Symphonic Band Mr. Brian Mayer Dripping Springs, TX
Elkins HS Symphonic Band Mr. William Phi Houston, TX
Permian HS Concert 1 Band Mr. Trey Burns Odessa, TX
Prosper HS Symphonic Band Mr. Aaron Dugger, Mr. Aaron Renzenbrink, Ms. Sarah Jahnke, Mr. Shane Snyder Prosper, TX
Rock Hill HS Symphonic Band Mr. John Riley Kirwan, Ms. Madison Hughes Frisco, TX
Seven Lakes HS Symphonic Winds Mr. Kyle Witty Katy, TX
Williams HS Wind Ensemble Mr. Eric Petrinowitsch Plano, TX

Orchestra

Group Conductor Location
Round Rock HS Philharmonic Full Orchestra Mr. Caleb Carter, Ms. Cathy Benford Round Rock, TX
Cypress Ranch HS Symphony Orchestra Mrs. Elizabeth Ledford Cypress, TX
Seven Lakes HS Lyrica Orchestra Mr. Sean Carlton, Mr. Sean Kime Katy, TX
Anthony MS Symphony Orchestra Mr. Caleb Churchman, Ms. Joanna Schess Cypress, TX
Sartartia MS Camerata Orchestra Mr. Guillermo Teniente, Mrs. Heather Davis Sugar Land, TX

2024 Citation of Excellence Band Adjudicator

Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis is the Director of Orchestral Studies and the Bob and Judy Charles Professor of Conducting in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he conducts the University Symphony Orchestra and oversees the entire orchestra program. He is also Music Director and Conductor of the Midland-Odessa (TX) Symphony Orchestra.

At CU-Boulder Mr. Lewis also leads the graduate program in orchestral conducting including both the masters and doctoral level. His former students are currently enjoying success as conductors with professional orchestras and opera companies, university and public school ensembles, and youth orchestras.

Prior to his appointment at Colorado, Lewis served on the faculties of Texas Tech University, The Ohio State University, The University of Michigan, and Abilene Christian University. He is equally at home with professional, university, and youth ensembles. He is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Boulder Philharmonic and has appeared with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival, Boulder Ballet, Midland Ballet Theater, Ballet Lubbock, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, the New Symphony Orchestra (Sofia, Bulgaria), and the Western Plains Opera Theater. His work with summer music festivals has also been noteworthy including the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Pine Mountain Music Festival (opera and symphonic) and Rocky Ridge Music Center.

As a strong advocate of music education, Mr. Lewis has presented many in-service workshops for public school educators, as well as numerous presentations at state and regional music education association conferences. In addition, he has conducted All-State Orchestras and Bands in many states along with the ASTA National Honor Orchestra and the Honor Orchestra of America. In 2010 Mr. Lewis became the founding Artistic Director of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras and also served as conductor of the Symphony Orchestra until 2016.

Mr. Lewis is also a strong proponent of new music. He has been instrumental in the development and production of contemporary music festivals and his interest in new music has led him to collaborations with composers such as Dan Kellogg, Carter Pann, George Crumb, William Bolcom, John Harbison, Chen Yi, Michael Daugherty, Stephen Paulus, and many others.

Gary Lewis is a Yamaha Master Educator.

Donald Schleicher

Donald Schleicher ’77 MMus is Artist-in-Residence and Director of Orchestras at the Bienen School of Music, where he conducts the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra.

He previously served for 26 years as Director of Orchestras at the University of Illinois, where he was awarded the title of Daniel J. Perrino Professor Emeritus, School of Music, College of Fine and Applied Arts. Other previous positions include Resident Conductor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Music Director and Conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director and Principal Opera Conductor for the Pine Mountain Music Festival. At the outset of his career, he spent seven years as a high school band director in Williamsville, New York, and two years as Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In addition, he served as both Associate Director of Bands and Associate Director of Orchestras at the University of Michigan.

Schleicher has conducted the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, the Daegu (South Korea) Symphony Orchestra, the Incheon (South Korea) Philharmonic, the Gwangju Symphony (South Korea), the Guiyang (China) Symphony, the Orquesta Filarmonica de la UNAM of Mexico City, the South Dakota Symphony, and the orchestras of Bridgeport, Tallahassee, and Lansing. He has appeared as a guest conductor at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and served as a cover conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

He is frequently invited to lead performances or provide conducting master classes at many of the country’s major music schools such as the Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Baylor University, University of Minnesota, Ithaca College, Ohio State University, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. As an enthusiastic advocate of public school music education, Mr. Schleicher has conducted All-State orchestras, festivals, and youth orchestras in nearly every state of the United States.

As a conducting teacher, Mr. Schleicher regularly appears as conducting clinician and is currently engaged as a lead teacher for the International Conducting Workshop and Festival as well as the Conducting Master Class and Workshop Series. Many of his former conducting students have gone on to hold prestigious conducting positions with orchestras and opera companies across the globe.

 

2024 Citation of Excellence Orchestra Adjudicator

Brett Richardson

Brett A. Richardson serves as the Director of Bands (Associate Professor) and Baenziger Professor of Music at the Texas Lutheran University School of Music. Prior to his appointment at TLU, Dr. Richardson served on the music faculties of the University of the Incarnate Word, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Clear Creek and Lewisville Independent School Districts in Texas. At UIW, he was awarded the 2019 Provost’s Legacy in Teaching Award. Dr. Richardson is also the Conductor and Artistic Director of the San Antonio Harmonie Ensemble, a professional, community chamber winds group that performed an invited showcase concert for the 2022 TMEA Convention and was named National Winner in the 2023 American Prize competition for community bands/wind ensembles.

Known for his versatility and energy as a music educator and conductor, Dr. Richardson has conducted numerous junior high and high school All-Region/All-City Honor Bands across the U.S., in addition to serving as a guest conductor at the Midwest Clinic and Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Conference. In past years, he has collaborated with members of the San Antonio Philharmonic, San Antonio Brass Band, Heart of Texas Concert Band, Austin Symphonic Band, Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble, Orchestra of the Incarnate Word, and the 2017 Battle of Flowers Celebration Mass Band comprised of nearly 5,000 San Antonio area high school students during the city’s annual Fiesta Celebration.

Dr. Richardson has been an invited presenter to thirteen different state music conferences and the Midwest Clinic (three times) and has multiple publications to his credit including co-authorship of the textbook Conducting Enrichment through Sentia Publications, and chapters in GIA’s Teaching Music through Performance in Band series and Program Notes: A Comprehensive Guide to Band Directing compiled by Dr. John Denis. His professional affiliations include TMEA, TBA, CBDNA, and elected membership into Phi Beta Mu International Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity. Dr. Richardson holds degrees in wind conducting and music education from Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, and the world-renowned Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.