The Coppell High School Honor Band performs during the Pre-UIL Concert on March 26th under the direction of Scott Mason.
At the 6A University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight Reading Contest held on April 14th – 16th, Coppell High School received First Division (superior) ratings for all five of its varsity and non-varsity bands in Concert, and First Division ratings in Sight Reading for four of its bands. The First Division Concert and Sight Reading ratings, combined with Coppell’s First Division Marching rating from last fall, garnered Coppell the coveted UIL Sweepstakes Award in 2015. “This is the 23rd consecutive year that Coppell has won the UIL Sweepstakes Award for outstanding achievement,” said Scott Mason, CISD Director of Instrumental Music. “All of our bands did an amazing job in their performances throughout the year.”
In the Concert portion of the UIL competition, each band performed three selections. The bands then moved to the Sight Reading portion where they prepped and performed a completely unfamiliar piece of music within a specified number of minutes. “Coppell is one of the few programs in the state that begins preparing for this UIL competition at the beginning of March”, said Mason. “Most bands start practicing in December or January, and some begin as early as August. I am impressed by our learners and their ability to play difficult pieces so well, in such a short amount of time. I am fortunate to work with such talented young musicians.”
The Coppell High School Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds and Honor Band presented a Pre-UIL Concert on March 26th as a warm-up for the April UIL contest held at Duncanville High School. The bands will gather on stage again May 21st for the Spring Concert. Additionally the students will focus on the upcoming solo contests which include the Coppell Solo Contest on May 9th, and the UIL Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest on May 23/25 (percussion) and May 29/30 (all other instruments) in Austin.
The Coppell High School Band is led by Director Scott Mason, as well as Doug Grice, Associate Director, Brandon Slovak, Assistant Director, Zach Scheer, Director of Percussion and David Marchuk, Assistant Percussion Director. For more information on the award-winning Coppell High School Band and Color Guard, go to the band website at www.chsbandboosters.com.