2017 Citation of Excellence Results and Adjudicator
The Citation of Excellence is a competition for Texas non varsity high school & middle school bands
Citation Winners
Results Listed in Alphabetical Order
Class AAAAAA
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hebron HS Symphonic Band | JP Wilson | Carrollton, TX |
| Keller HS Symphonic Band | Ryan Heath | Keller, TX |
| Pearland HS Symphonic Band | Beau Hunter | Pearland, TX |
| Round Rock HS Wind Symphony | John Peterson | Round Rock, TX |
| Vandegrift HS Symphonic Winds | Stephanie Grote | Austin, TX |
Class AAAAA
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aledo HS Symphonic Band | Jake Albin | Aledo, TX |
| Poteet HS Symphonic Band | Tish Downs | Mesquite, TX |
| Wylie East HS Wind Ensemble | Jason Duck | Wylie, TX |
Class AA
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aledo MS Symphonic Winds | Simon Bosch | Aledo, TX |
| Canyon Ridge MS Symphonic Band | Carter Matschek | Austin, TX |
| Cedar Valley MS Symphonic Band | Pete Alvarado | Austin, TX |
| Cooper JH Symphonic Band | Misty Smith, Adam Powell | Wylie, TX |
| Henry MS Symphonic Band | Rachel Johnstone | Cedar Park, TX |
| Stiles MS Symphonic Band | Jenna Yee | Leander, TX |
| Walsh MS Symphonic Band | Travis Barney, Jennifer Bergeron, Chris Fauries | Round Rock, TX |
Class A
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bayside Symphonic Winds | Mark Walls | League City, TX |
Commended Winners
Results Listed in Alphabetical Order
Class AAAAAA
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Allen HS Symphonic 1 Band | Joel May | Allen, TX |
| Keller Central Symphonic Band | Kai Rudnick | Keller, TX |
| Wylie HS Wind Ensemble | Mark Schroeder | Wylie, TX |
Class AAAAA
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| North Lamar Concert Band | Jason R. Smith | Paris, TX |
| Rouse Wind Ensemble | Ryan Johnstone | Leander, TX |
Class AA
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Berry Miller JH Symphonic Band | Heather Massey | Pearland, TX |
| Brandenburg MS Symphonic Band | John Vanhook | Garland, TX |
| Cedar Park MS Concert Band One | David Barnes | Cedar Park, TX |
| Friendswood JH Honors Band | Jason Abbott | Friendswood, TX |
| Kennemer MS Symphonic II Band | Kenneth Thompson | Duncanville, TX |
| Killian MS Wind Ensemble | Claire Pittman | Lewisville, TX |
| Nolan Ryan JH Symphonic Band 2 | Wayne Steinke | Pearland, TX |
Class A
| Group | Conductor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friendswood JH Concert Band | Thomas Landfried | Friendswood, TX |
| Wallace MS Symphonic Band | Jason D. Brown | Kyle, TX |
Special thanks to adjudicator Gary Speck, University of Miami, Ohio
Gary A. Speck
Miami University
A native Texan, Gary A. Speck was appointed to the faculty of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1988, where he serves as Director of Bands and Professor of Music. Mr. Speck received the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees magna cum laude from Baylor University in Waco, where he studied conducting with Richard Floyd and Michael Haithcock. After receiving the Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Michigan, where he was a student of H. Robert Reynolds, Speck was a high school band conductor in the Houston area for five years. In 1987 he was a Doctoral Conducting Associate at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he was a student of Eugene Corporon. At Miami, Professor Speck conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches courses in conducting, music education, and wind repertoire.
Professor Speck has led the Miami Wind Ensemble in eight invited performances for the Ohio Music Education Association, most recently in 2014; five invited performances for the College Band Directors National Association, including the national conference in 1999; at the inaugural Atlanta International Band and Orchestra Conference in 1996, and at the MENC/Michigan Instrumental Music conference in 2005. Additionally, under his direction, the Wind Ensemble has won praise from numerous composers for performances of their music, including John Harbison, Michael Colgrass, Gunther Schuller, Karel Husa, Leslie Bassett, Verne Reynolds, and Daron Hagen, among many others.
Professor Speck’s former students hold positions as music administrators, high school band conductors, and teachers at all levels of the music profession. Over the years, several have been awarded assistantships for graduate study in conducting at such prestigious institutions as Northwestern University, the New England Conservatory, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Universities of Iowa, Tennessee and Houston.