Music
The Plano West Chamber Orchestra has been named the outstanding string orchestra for the state of Texas by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) 5 consecutive times. Directed by Mrs. Jo Wallace-Abbie, the orchestra is made up of approximately 40 musicians. TMEA rules prohibit a school from entering the competition the year after it has won, so the title of Texas "Honor Orchestra" was won in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. The orchestra has been featured on the Disney Channel series "Totally in Tune" which aired in 2001. In 2005, the orchestra won a Cappie Award for Outstanding Pit Orchestra in a musical, (for the school production of) Les Misérables.
The Plano West Mighty Wolf Band has a marching and concert season and also has a winterguard program. In the 2009–2010 school year, the band had approximately 95 members; by 2012-2013, this had increased to about 140. The band's 2009 Marching show was "Rising Dragons" by Robert W. Smith; in 2010-2011 it was "The Natural" (based on the movie of the same name), in 2011-2012 it was "Global Illuminations," and in 2012-2013 it was "Postcards from Texas."
In 2011, The Plano West Music Program was named 'Gold' GRAMMY® Signature School. Plano West was one of only seven "Gold" level award recipients. The award recognizes top U.S. public high schools making an outstanding commitment to music education.
Read more about this topic: Plano West Senior High School
Famous quotes containing the word music:
“The band waked me with a serenade. How they improve! A fine band and what a life in a regiment! Their music is better than food and clothing to give spirit to the men.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“I’ve come close to matching the feeling of that night in 1944 in music, when I first heard Diz and Bird, but I’ve never got there.... I’m always looking for it, listening and feeling for it, though, trying to always feel it in and through the music I play every day.”
—Miles Davis (1926–1991)
“A lot of pop music is about stealing pocket money from children.”
—Ian Anderson (b. 1947)