Byron Nelson music program hits all the right notes during award-winning school year

In the words of the great Neil Diamond, one could say the Trophy Club Nelson High School band and orchestra made some beautiful noise this past school year.

In fact, the school’s music directors are hailing it as the best yet since the school opened its doors in 2009.

“We are so proud of everything that the bands and orchestras accomplished this year. We are so fortunate to work with some incredible students who give their all in everything they do, and we were ecstatic that the students received such prestigious recognition for all of their dedication and efforts,” said Michael Moore, Jazz Band Director and Associate Director of Bands.

The list of success for the band included:

▪ Winning a marching contest for the first time in school history, the U.S. Bands Burleson Showcase.

▪ The drumline placed second at the Lone Star Drumline Contest, also winning best Bass Line and Best Tenor Line at that contest.

▪ Highest finish/placement at area marching contest in school history (12th).

▪ Senior percussion Noah Caldwell was named all-state.

The list of success for the symphony orchestra featured:

▪ Having the No. 1 English Horn player in the state, senior Katherine Lilley.

▪ Senior percussionist Ethan Brown was named all-state.

▪ Being asked to perform for the first time at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December 2021.

▪ Being selected to perform, also for the first time, at the elite Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention in San Antonio this past February.

“Byron Nelson Band has a history of successful programs and groups but this year seemed to just take it to the next level. Our students were able to have exposure to groups and places that they normally would not be able to have and they had a phenomenal time doing it,” Moore said.

Symphony Orchestra Director Gary Keller said he still cannot believe his students performed at not one, but two of the biggest conventions for music education in the same school year.

“Most would be ecstatic to perform at just one, but both in the same year is rare. The success is due to many years of collaboration between the band and orchestra departments,” Keller said. “Each has their own curriculum in strings versus wind/brass/percussion. We made it a goal to be very good at what we did as individual programs before working to collaborate.”

Keller called the TMEA performance the best he’s ever been associated with.

“I am astonished by the ability our students showed in learning 12 pieces of music, seven of which are pieces the DSO (Dallas Symphony Orchestra) and FWSO (Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra) would gladly showcase on one of their programs, in the time we had together this past year,” Keller said. “We were definitely out of our comfort zones but everyone rallied around the opportunity we were given.”

Also, the Tidwell Middle School and Medlin bands joined joined the Nelson bands in University Interscholastic League competition and all earned sweepstakes awards. They received a unanimous rating, the highest possible, from six different judges.

Moore said this is an indication that the future of the program is in good hands.

““The future of the band and orchestra programs are incredibly bright with the strength of our middle school feeders. We are lucky enough to work with incredible middle school directors who not only teach musicianship and instrumental skills, but life skills and foster a strong band/orchestra community within their schools,” Moore said.