Story by: Dr. Ray Lavan, GCCISD Director of Fine Arts

Goose Creek CISD is proud to announce that the Cedar Bayou Junior School (CBJ) Honors Band has been named a National Winner in the prestigious Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project, sponsored by the Foundation for Music Education.

The Mark of Excellence is a national music competition that recognizes ensembles across the country for their high standards in performance. Each entry is judged by nationally respected adjudicators, with the top 25% of ensembles named as National Winners and the second 25% recognized as Commended Winners.

This year’s competition received an impressive 478 entries across all classifications, representing ensembles from 40 states nationwide.

Under the direction of Marcus Goodlow and Josh Cormier, the CBJ Honors Band was selected as a National Winner based on their outstanding UIL performance recording of “Zipline.” As part of this recognition, the band’s recording will be included in a national compilation album of winners, which will be available for purchase and download at www.markcustom.com in the coming months.

National Winners will also be recognized in regional and national music education publications and honored at major conventions across the country, showcasing the excellence of student musicians and music education programs like those at Goose Creek CISD.

“This is an incredible honor for our students, directors, and community,” said Dr. Ray Lavan, Director of Fine Arts for Goose Creek CISD. “Being recognized on the national stage is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our CBJ Honors Band. We are so proud of their dedication to excellence.”

The Foundation for Music Education, which oversees the competition, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and fostering excellence in music performance and education across the nation.

For more information on the Mark of Excellence program, please visit www.foundationformusiceducation.org.