Choice Music Events' second annual Mark of Excellence Contest was an outstanding success due to the participation of many fine high school and middle school bands, choirs, and orchestras across the nation. The Mark of Excellence recorded music contest offers bands, choirs, and orchestras the unprecedented opportunity to earn national recognition for their musical achievement while creating a unique, competitive environment that allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to that of other outstanding groups from across the country.

The 2007 Mark of Excellence results are as follows:

Overall Outstanding Ensembles

• Allen High School Full Orchestra, David DeVoto
• Frank Tejeda Middle School Full Orchestra, Amy Williams
• Highland Park Middle School String Orchestra, Ted Grille
• Indian Springs Middle School Wind Ensemble, David Puckett
• Westfield High School Symphonic Band, Jodie Rhodes

National Finalists

• Allen High School Wind Ensemble, Anthony Gibson
• Boswell High School Symphonic Band, David Kirkley
• Frank Tejeda Middle School Wind Ensemble, Bernard Rosenberg
• Lamar Middle School Symphonic Band, Alan Hanna
• Space Center Intermediate School Symphonic Band, Donald McCandless

Excellent Musical Performances

• Collinsville High School Treble Choir, Lisa Neal
• Creekside Intermediate School Symphonic Band, Nick Nicholson
• Dulles Middle School Honor Band, Anthony Gilreath
• Friona High School Mixed Choir, Allison Johnston
• Kermit High School Concert Band, Jeff Witcher

Choice Music Events' Executive Director stated, "We were very pleased with the great response and the quality of the applicants for the Mark of Excellence. The evaluators that listened to the recordings were very complimentary of the performances. One university evaluator played the performances anonymously for their university methods classes to point out the high musical caliber of the performances. He wanted to demonstrate to his music education students what is possible when you have great inspirational teaching and dedicated young students. Congratulations to all participants!"

The Mark of Excellence participants are also given the opportunity, at the adjudicators' discretion, to have their submitted selections included in the Mark of Excellence recording series. This collection of reference recordings will be available for sale to the public in the near future. The proceeds from the Mark of Excellence series will be contributed to the Director's Choice Foundation For Music Education which provides college scholarships for music education majors.
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