The National Band Association honored McLean’s band program for excellence the last four years with its Concert Band ensembles, Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, All-District Band and All-State Band, Jazz Ensemble, Solo/Ensemble and Guard.
The National Band Association selected the McLean High School band program for a National Program of Excellence Award, and winner of the Southern Division Excellence Award.
The NBA’s award recognizes high levels of program excellence and band programs that challenge students over a continued period of time.
“I am so proud of all of students for their hard work and dedication. This is a total program award, so all students in all of our bands and staff deserve recognition for contributing to our continued success,” said band director Chris Weise.
Weise had to submit materials to show the band’s history of success over the past four years. Those areas included performances, competition rankings and scores from Concert Band ensembles, Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, All-District Band and All-State Band, Jazz Ensemble, Solo/Ensemble and Guard.
Weise and his staff also had to submit concert programs from the past four years and recordings from the bands in the last two years. Included in the submissions were the Maslanka Symphony, Les Preludes, Seal Lullaby, Glory of the Yankee Navy, Armenian Dances, Sizzle and Memphis Blues.
McLean’s nationally-acclaimed program is made up of three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, three winter guards, two percussion ensembles and the Highlander Marching Band.