Two Pearland School Bands Awarded[via Pearland ISD]Pearland ISD recently celebrated two bands earning state and national acclaim in Foundation for Music Education awards programs.The Berry Miller Junior High Honors Band and Pearland High School Symphonic Band ranked among the top in their class for performance excellence.Under the direction of Chris Bennett, the Berry Miller Honors Band was a national winner in the Mark of Excellence/National Wind Band Honors program in Class 2A and new music divisions.Of the 236 intermediate and high school music ensembles who provided recordings for the nationwide competition, only the top quarter received this recognition.The group of 57 junior high students performed Robert Sheldon’s “In the Center Ring” and Samuel Hazo’s “Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song” for the recording.“This honor is the result of much hard work and dedication. We strive to develop young musicians who have a passion for their instrument and enjoy the challenge of performing fun, complex and interesting literature. We want them to be the best they can be at everything they do, whether it’s playing music or challenging themselves in another class or a future career,” Bennett said.In addition, the PHS Symphonic Band, directed by Beau Hunter, numbered among only four Class 6A non-varsity bands in Texas to receive the Foundation for Music Education’s Citation of Excellence.The band of 60 students performed Yasuhide Ito’s “Festal Scenes” and Malcolm Arnold’s “Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo” for its recording.“This award speaks to enormous collaboration from so many people in Pearland ISD. From the school board and district and campus administrators to elementary music teachers, junior high and high school band staff and private lesson teachers, all play a role in our students’ music education. Not least of all, our students and incredible community of parents are world-class,” Hunter said.The Foundation for Music Education supports and advances band, choir, orchestra and elementary music education programs through awards, scholarships and educator training programs.www.pearlandisd.org/ pearland[Photo - Berry Miller Honors Band]