2025 Citation of Excellence Results and Adjudicators

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

2025 Citation of Excellence Winners

Class A

Group Conductor Location
Barnett JHS Symphonic Band Mr. Brandon Barrett, Mr. Michael Moreno Arlington, TX
Bernice Knox Wiley MS Wiley MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Cristina Davidson Leander, TX
Cedar Park MS Concert Winds Select Ms. Michelle Kim Cedar Park, TX
Colleyville MS Symphonic Band Mr. Joey Prescott Colleyville, TX
Grisham MS Symphonic Band Mr. Eduardo Estrada Austin, TX
Timberview MS Symphonic Band Mr. Daniel Walker, Mr. TJ Emsley Fort Worth, TX

Class AA

Group Conductor Location
Aledo MS Symphonic Winds Mrs. Emily Moore Aledo, TX
Argyle MS Symphonic Winds Ms. Alyssa Kunkel Argyle, TX
Artie Henry MS Concert Band Mr. Jorge Rivera Cedar Park, TX
Artie Henry MS Symphonic Band Mr. Samuel Sommer Cedar Park, TX
Briscoe JH Symphonic Band Mr. Joseph Nguyen Richmond, TX
Canyon Ridge MS Symphonic Band Mr. Tristan Rivera Austin, TX
Canyon Vista MS Select Band Mrs. Rebecca Click Austin, TX
Cedar Park MS Concert Band Mr. Brandon Morrison Cedar Park, TX
Fort Settlement MS Symphonic Band Ms. Tiffany Ye Sugar Land, TX
Hopewell MS Symphonic Band Mr. Luis Torres Round Rock, TX
Joe M. Adams JH Symphonic Band Mrs. Jessica Garza Fulshear, TX
Melissa MS Wind Ensemble Mrs. Bailey Hicks McKinney, TX
Reynolds MS Symphonic Band Mr. Dylan Dann Prosper, TX

Class AAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Colleyville Heritage HS Symphonic Band Mr. John Zellar Colleyville, TX
Glenda Dawson HS Concert Band Mr. Dominique McCray Pearland, TX
Grapevine HS Honors Band Mr. Ryan Andre Grapevine, TX
Lowery Freshman Center Wind Ensemble Mr. Joshua Blankenship Allen, TX
Pflugerville HS Honor Band Mr. Darrell Wagner Pflugerville, TX
Richland HS Symphonic Band Mr. Anthony D. Rivera North Richland Hills , TX
Wakeland HS Symphonic Band Mr. Kyle Ayoub Frisco, TX

Class AAAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Hebron HS Symphonic Band Mr. Travis Pruitt Arlington, TX
Keller HS Symphonic Band Mr. Richard Alvarado Keller, TX
Shadow Creek HS Symphonic Band Mr. Kelvin Guevara Pearland, TX
Southlake Carroll HS Wind Ensemble Mr. Philip Jones Southlake, TX
The Woodlands College Park Symphonic Band Mr. Aaron Owens The Woodlands, TX
Vandegrift HS Symphonic Band Mr. Kyle Norris Austin, TX
Westlake HS Symphonic Band Mr. Austin Byers Austin, TX

Orchestra

Group Conductor Location
Centennial HS Virtuosi Orchestra Ms. Jocelyn Ho Frisco, TX
Round Rock HS Philharmonic Full Orchestra Mr. Caleb Carter, Ms. Cathy Benford Round Rock, TX
Seven Lakes HS Lyrica Orchestra Mr. Sean Carlton, Mr. Sean Kime Katy, TX
Smith MS Symphonic Orchestra Ms. Samantha Rodriguez, Mr. Nassar Edwards Cypress, TX
William B. Travis HS Travis HS Sinfonia Orchestra Mr. John Niiler, Mrs. Sabrina Behrens Richmond, TX
Ereckson MS Sinfonia I Ms. Rachel Boone, Mrs. Joanna DeVoto Allen, TX

Commended Winners

Class A

Group Conductor Location
Barnett JHS Beginner Honor Band Mr. Michael Moreno, Mr. Brandon Barrett Arlington, TX
Bowman MS Symphonic Band Mr. Mark Caspersen, Mr. Andrew McCraw Plano, TX
Carlos F. Truan STEM Academy Carlos F. Truan Concert Band Mr. Cristian Tanguma Weslaco, TX
Heritage MS Symphonic Band Ms. Brenda Hinton, Mr. Josh Smith Colleyville, TX
Robbie E. Howard JHS Symphonic Band Ms. Macey Lee, Mr. Matthew Hiller Waxahachie, TX
Wilkinson MS Symphonic Band Ms. Kim Reed Frisco, TX

Class AA

Group Conductor Location
Central JH Concert Band 1 Mr. Oluwagbohunmi Fawehinmi, Mr. Jacob Groening, Mr. Manny Flores Euless, TX
Cooper Junior HIgh Symphonic Band Mrs. Misty Smith, Mr. Adam Powell Wylie, TX
Coppell MS West Symphonic Band Mrs. Lisa North Coppell, TX
Danny Jones MS Symphonic Band Mr. Isaac Galvan Mansfield, TX
Dieterich MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Angelyn Seppeler Midlothian, TX
Dulles MS Symphonic Band Mr. Adam Blakey, Mr. Edward Odeh Sugar Land, TX
Krimmel Intermediate School Concert Band Ms. Lilly Arnold, Mr. Kristofer McKee Klein, TX
North Shore MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Felicia Rubio Houston, TX
Pearson Ranch MS Honor Band Mr. Jonathan Pedersen, Mrs. Anne Leo Austin, TX
Pioneer Heritage MS Symphonic Band Mrs. Jennifer Teed Frisco, TX
Red Oak MS Symphonic Band Mr. Chris Eaton Red Oak, TX
Spillane MS Symphonic Band Mr. Cole Smith Cypress, TX
Stafford MS Wind Symphony Mr. Andrew Fowler Frisco, TX

Class AAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Burleson Centennial HS Symphonic Band Mr. Andrew Klein Burleson, TX
Creekview HS Symphonic Band Mr. Nathanael Salas Carrollton, TX
Granbury HS Symphonic Band Mr. Josh Crossman Granbury, TX
Lakeview Centennial HS Wind Symphony Mr. Vinicius Santana Garland, TX
Pieper HS Symphonic Winds Mrs. Allyn Conner San Antonio, TX
Summit HS Symphonic Band Ms. Beth Hermanson Arlington, TX
Timberview HS Wind Ensemble Mr. Peyton Lee Arlington, TX

Class AAAAAA

Group Conductor Location
Clements HS Concert Band Mrs. Leslie Flynn Sugar Land, TX
Dickinson HS Symphonic Band Ms. Risa Hsu Dickinson, TX
Elkins HS Symphonic Band Mr. William Phi Houston, TX
James Bowie HS Wind Symphony Mr. Tyler Jacks Austin, TX
Jasper HS Wind Ensemble Mr. Kyle Johnson Plano, TX
McKinney HS Wind Symphony Mr. Brandon Fisher McKinney, TX
Moe & Gene Johnson HS Wind Symphony Mr. James C. Malik Buda, TX

Orchestra

Group Conductor Location
Anthony MS Symphony Orchestra Mr. Caleb Churchman, Ms. Joanna Schess Cypress, TX
College Park HS Cavalier Chamber Orchestra Mrs. Mary Kate Sturgill The Woodlands, TX
Jordan HS Sinfonietta Orchestra Mr. Sunny Yam Katy, TX
Lowery Freshman Center Symphony Orchestra Mr. Charles Robinson, Mr. Joshua Blankenship, Mrs. Candi Ice Allen, TX
Sartartia MS Camerata Orchestra Guillermo Teniente, Heather Davis Sugar Land, TX

2025 Citation of Excellence Band Adjudicator

Kyle Glaser

Kyle Glaser serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Texas State University. His responsibilities include conducting the Symphonic Winds, overseeing all athletic bands, and teaching various methods classes. He holds a Doctor of Music degree in Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a Master of Music degree in Conducting from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University. 

He maintains an active schedule as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator across the nation. Glaser’s significant research of the music of Robert Russell Bennett has resulted in a performance edition of the wind band suite Down to the Sea in Ships issued by Alfred Publications. He is co-author of the workbook Conducting Enrichment: Daily Exercises for the Conducting Curriculum, published by Sentia Publishing. Additionally, Glaser has contributed several chapters to the GIA Publications Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. From 2017-2019 he served as the national vice president for professional relations for Tau Beta Sigma, the national band sorority. In 2022 Glaser was appointed as the Music Director of the Austin Symphonic Band, the official band of the City of Austin.

Glaser’s professional memberships include the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the National Association for Music Education, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Band Fraternity.

2025 Citation of Excellence Orchestra Adjudicator

Kayoko Dan

Kayoko Dan recently completed a 13-season tenure as the Music Director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, a position held since 2011. Previously, she served as the Assistant Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony and Music Director of Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. She has been awarded the Karajan Fellowship for Young Conductors, as well as the David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the Chautauqua Institute. Dr. Dan has participated in numerous workshops including the Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar, International Bartok Festival, Fondazione I Pomeriggi Musicali Conducting Workshop and National Conducting Institute.

As a strong advocate of music education, Dr. Dan serves as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Sam Houston State University. She is in demand as a clinician at universities, All-State, high schools, youth orchestras, and regional orchestras throughout the country. She has taught at several elementary schools including Thomas J. Pappas school for homeless children in Arizona as an ArtsBridge Scholar. While serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, her dedication and passion for music education was recognized by the Graduate Teaching Excellence Award from Arizona State University. Additionally, she is a frequent guest speaker at university conducting classes to encourage young conductors who are pursuing a career in music.

Born in Japan and raised in the United States, music has been an integral part of Dr. Dan’s life since an early age. She received a Bachelor in Music Education at the University of Texas, and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Master in Music Education from Arizona State University. Her principal teachers are Timothy Russell and Timothy Muffitt. She has also studied with Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin, Zoltan Pesko, Jorma Panula, and William Reber.