The Melissa High School and East Cardinal Middle School Bands all earned top honors at the UIL Region 25 Concert and Sight-Reading Contests, held on March 26-27 for ECMS and March 31 for MHS.
The East Cardinal Middle School bands (Varsity A, Varsity B, Non-Varsity, and Sub Non-Varsity) all earned straight 1s, the highest rating an ensemble can receive, from all six judges on both stage performance and sightreading. Because of this, all the ECMS bands received Sweepstakes Honor.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that the Middle School Band program has achieved Sweepstakes recognition, reflecting the hard work and dedication of its students and the leadership of band directors Sasha Blankenship, Bailey Hicks, and Chris McHenry.
It's a long process, but it's worth it in the end to see the results,” said seventh grader Levita Bertyl Nimal. “Melissa has one of the best bands, and I'm proud because we earned Sweepstakes with all seven groups!”
Eighth grader William Ivy added, “It was a great experience to learn new music and have fun in the process. Melissa is great and I'm happy that we can perform music really well!”
East Cardinal Middle School Band Director and Varsity A group Conductor Sasha Blankenship congratulated the success of the ECMS students, “I could not be more proud, honored, and blessed to work alongside such amazing students and staff every day in our band program. Their success at our UIL contests shows how hard our students work and how much progress they have made this year. They continue to amaze us!”
"It has been rewarding to watch the growth of the Melissa Band program over the years,” said ECMS Band Director and Varsity B group conductor Bailey Hicks. “This year's success at UIL highlights the depth of our bands at all levels. We are very proud of all of our students and look forward to a bright future!"
The Melissa High School bands (Varsity, Non-Varsity, and Sub Non-Varsity) also all earned straight 1s from their 6 judges for their stage performance and sightreading. The MHS ensembles all came home with the Sweepstakes Honors as well. These results showcase the continued alignment and progression between the middle school and high school programs, as students carry their skills forward and perform at a high level in a more advanced setting.
“It was super cool to see how all our long hours finally paid off,” shared senior Addie Thomas. “We were able to step on stage and just show off what we knew we could do!”
"We are extraordinarily proud of the Melissa Band students,” Melissa Director of Bands Kevin McNulty said, expressing his pride in the students. “Achieving sweepstakes awards for seven bands is a significant accomplishment and testament to the students’ dedication and the program’s strength. The future of the Melissa Band is exceptionally bright."
Melissa ISD Director of Fine Arts, Jerry Whorton also expressed his pride in the Melissa Band program students and staff saying, “Our band program’s success is a direct reflection of the relentless work, commitment, and pride of our students and directors. To be the only district in our region with this level of participation while earning straight Division I ratings is a testament to a culture built on excellence and shared purpose.”
The Melissa Band Program’s commitment to excellence and tradition remains stronger than ever, and this latest achievement reinforces its place among the best music programs in the region. Great job to these talented musicians and their directors!