HOUSTON – Oct. 11, 2016 – Six Spring ISD music ensembles, including four from Spring High School and two from Dueitt Middle School, have been awarded either National Winner or Commended Winner status in the 2016 Mark of Excellence recorded music contest sponsored by the Foundation for Music Education.

Representing the district among this year’s Mark of Excellence National Winners are three Spring ISD ensembles: Spring High School Wind Ensemble, Gabe Musella, conductor; Spring High School Women’s Chorale, David Landgrebe and Chelsea Berner, conductors; and Dueitt Middle School Percussion Ensemble, Tamara Williams, conductor. Three additional groups have been named Commended Winners in the competition: Spring High School Chamber Choir, David Landgrebe, conductor; Spring High School Percussion Ensemble, JD Guzman, conductor; and Dueitt Middle School Symphonic Band, Christopher Gonzales and Michael Warny, conductors.

Landgrebe and Musella both made special note of the fact that Spring High School is the only school to have both its band and choir listed as National Winners. Musella also highlighted the strong showing at the middle school level.

“None of these accolades would be possible without the outstanding work and dedication of our middle school directors at Bailey, Dueitt and Twin Creeks,” Musella said. “The students, parents and staff … are committed to continuing the legacy that has made our performing arts program one of the finest of its kind in the United States.”

The Mark of Excellence competition, first held in 2008, invites groups to submit unedited live performance recordings to be judged by a panel of university-level professional music educators from across the country. The top quarter of competing schools are ultimately named as National Winners, while the second quarter are awarded Commended Winner status. Winning ensembles for 2016 were selected from 236 entries submitted by middle school and high school groups in 36 states. Each participating group will receive comments and critical feedback from the judges, along with a compilation recording containing the performances of this year’s National Winners.

“The Spring ISD ensembles are wonderful examples of musical achievement, and are a credit to your school district,” said Dick Clardy, Mark of Excellence Executive Director, in announcing the winners. “Congratulations to the directors and to all involved.”

The competition is overseen by the Foundation for Music Education, a national nonprofit volunteer organization that works to support music education through student scholarships and educator training programs.