FRISCO, Texas — Fourteen secondary musical programs across Frisco Independent School District earned national honors in this year's Mark of Excellence and Citation of Excellence awards, district officials announced September 21. Hosted through The Foundation for Music Education, the competitive awards recognize outstanding performance among participating secondary campus instrumental ensembles through nationwide adjudication.
Under the project guidelines, ensemble directors submitted recorded spring performances that were assessed alongside entries from numerous campus music programs nationwide. A panel of collegiate conductors evaluated each performance submission, providing written critiques and spoken assessments. Groups placing within the top 25 percent nationwide earned designation as National Winners, alongside groups receiving Commended status.
Among high school concert bands in the Class AAAAA division, National Winner status went to the Liberty High School Wind Ensemble under director Ana Hinojosa Santi, the Lone Star High School Wind Symphony directed by Mark Poole—which also secured recognition in the New Music Division—and the Wakeland High School Wind Symphony under Rylon Guidry. In middle school concert categories, the Griffin Middle School Wind Symphony captured Class A National Winner honors under director Carolyn Cansler, while the Fowler Middle School Legacy Orchestra earned National Winner distinction in orchestra honors under director Victoria Lien.
