Frenship High School Director of Bands Dr. Ryan Smith said they entered four ensembles to compete: a Varsity group led by Smith, a Non-Varsity group led by Associate Director Scott Carter, and two Sub-Non Varsity groups led by Assistant Directors Jose Gonzalez and Hunter Stockton.
“Each ensemble has different requirements for levels and difficulty of music,” Smith said. “All of our groups exceeded the minimum requirements for difficulty of music played.”
Smith explained that the Division 1 ratings that the bands scored at this performance, coupled with the Division 1 ratings they received during their marching band competition, the groups achieved the UIL Sweepstakes rating and trophy.
“This trophy is designed to reward excellence in the three most measurable aspects of the public school band curriculum: marching, prepared concert performance, and ability to sight read music,” Smith said.
At the contest last week, the different groups performed the pieces listed below:
Wind Ensemble (Varsity)
"La Fiesta Mexicana" by H. Owen Reed
"Colonial Song" by Percy Grainger
"The Ringmaster’s March" by John Mackey
Wind Symphony (Non Varsity)
"George Washington Bicentennial March" by John Philip Sousa
"Swirling Prisms" by Brian Balmages
"Canarios Fantasia" by Douglas Akey
Symphonic Band Gold (Sub-Non Varsity)
"Arsenal" by Jan Van der Roost
"Redemption" by Rossano Galante
"Abracadabra" by Frank Ticheli
Symphonic Band Blue (Sub-Non Varsity)
"Peacemaker March" by Karl King
"The Seal Lullaby" by Eric Whitacre
"Lightning Field" by John Mackey
Smith expressed his excitement and praised his students and the other directors for their hard work during such an unprecedented and strenuous school year.
“A sweepstakes award is the culmination of a year-long effort in excellence,” Smith said. “This is an awesome achievement any year but especially this year when so much uncertainty with the COVID pandemic affect some of our student’s ability to be at rehearsals due to quarantines. Also, all our rehearsals have been done with social distancing and special accommodations to help mitigate unnecessary close contact.”
Smith said they were thrilled when COVID numbers had receded enough to compete in an in-person performance.
“Buddy Holly Hall is a top notch facility and is comparable to any fine auditorium in the country,” Smith said. “Lubbock is extremely fortunate to have this facility! We are extremely thankful for Lubbock Independent School District, Lubbock Entertainment/Performing Arts Association, and UIL for working together to allow us to have our concert and sight reading evaluations in Buddy Holly Hall.”
Smith also announced the bands had a well-known music aficionado in the audience during their performances.
“We were also lucky to have Mr. Richard Crain in attendance during the performances,” Smith said. “Mr. Crain has served on The Midwest Clinic Board of Directors since 1992 and is a well-known music educator throughout the country. After our performance, Mr. Crain made an effort to tell me how wonderful the students at Frenship performed.”
Smith said this school year has been filled with success for his bands, as well as the middle school bands at Frenship.
“We are extremely excited that every band in the district, middle school and high school, made a Division 1 (Superior) rating on their concert and sight reading evaluations,” Smith said. “Each middle school had a Varsity and Non-Varsity ensemble, plus the four HS bands, for 10 total awards!”
If you would like to hear the FHS Band ensembles play, they will be performing for the public:
Frenship HS Spring Concert at FHS Performing Arts Center, April 29, 2021
6:00 PM – Symphonic Band Gold
6:45 PM – Symphonic Band Blue
7:30 PM – Wind Symphony
8:15 PM – Wind Ensemble
Chamber Music Concert at Wagner Park, Lubbock, TX
May 3, 2021, 6:00 PM
Percussion Ensemble Jazz Band Concert at FHS Performing Arts Center
May 11, 2021, 7:00 PM