The Plano East Senior High Band
Since the opening of the school in 1981, the band program at Plano East Senior High has evolved into one of the finest band programs in the state of Texas. The Plano East Band program has been honored by the American School Band Directors Association with the Dale C. Harris Exemplary Band Program Award. The Plano East Wind Ensemble has been selected as a Class 5A Honor Band Finalist by the Texas Music Educators Association and a featured performing ensemble at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. The Wind Ensemble has been recognized as a National Winner by the National Wind Band Honors competition sponsored by the Foundation for Music Education on numerous occasions.
Band students have the opportunity to participate in one of four concert bands, marching band, percussion ensemble, music theory and color guard. All students participate in the marching band which meets after school during the fall semesters. Students audition every semester and are placed by ability into one of the four concert bands that meet daily during the school day. During the spring semester, students participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, the East Plano Chamber Winds and Brass groups, Percussion Ensembles and Winter Guard. Plano East Band students are highly successful in the state’s region, area and all-state selection process, as well as the UIL solo and ensemble contest. It is the goal of the Plano East band program to provide a balanced and well-rounded music education curriculum.
The marching and concert bands participate in both invitational and Texas University Interscholastic League competitions throughout the year. The Plano East Marching Band has received first division ratings at the UIL Region Marching Contest every year since the school opened in 1981 and advanced to the UIL Area Contest where it has been selected to advance the 5A UIL State Marching Band Contest on five occasions. The marching band has participated in many invitational marching festivals where it has received many caption awards, been named “Best In Class” and most recently advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest in 2016. In 2012, the Plano East Marching Band was awarded the Sudler Shield by the John Philip Sousa Foundation which recognizes outstanding high school marching band for world class excellence.
In 2017, the Plano East Band Program was awarded the Earl D. Irons Program of Distinction by Phi Beta Mu International for exceptional merit and achievement.
The four concert bands participate in the University Scholastic League Concert and Sight Reading Contest along with invitational festivals throughout the United States. The concert bands are consistent winners of the UIL Sweepstakes Award for Superior Ratings in Concert Performance and Sight Reading. The Wind Ensemble has earned the UIL Sweepstakes Award for Superior Ratings in Marching, Concert Performance and Sight Reading every year since the school opened in 1981. All of the concert bands have earned numerous “Best In Class” awards at nationally adjudicated festivals in Texas and throughout the United States. In 2015, the Plano East Wind Ensemble was awarded the Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Students interested in the jazz idiom have the opportunity to further their musical experience as a member of the Plano East Jazz Ensemble. Membership to this ensemble is by audition held each spring. Students participate in the Texas Music Educators Association Region Jazz auditions during the fall. Plano East is well represented in this prestigious group of student jazz musicians. Over the years, members of the Plano East Jazz Ensemble have earned positions in the TMEA All State Jazz Ensemble. Former students have gone onto professional careers performing with some of the top stars on today’s music scene.
Through the efforts of students and directors, the Plano East Bands have firmly established a “Tradition of Excellence”.
Recent Awards:
2022-2023 Season
Plano East Marching Band
UIL Sweepstakes 43rd Consecutive Year
5th Place McKinney Marching Invitational
5th Place Duncanville Marching Invitational
Plano East Drumline
6th Place Plano Drumline Contest
6th Place Lone Star Classic Drumline Contest
Plano East Percussion Ensemble
2nd and 3rd Place in Large Division of the North Texas Percussion Festival
2019-2020
Fall 2019 named Grand Champions at the Tournament of Champions. Received Outstanding Music and Marching Awards
