The Long Creek High School Dragon Band has earned statewide recognition after being named a Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honor Band State Semi-Finalist.

Every other year, Texas high school bands have the opportunity to participate in the prestigious TMEA Honor Band process, which recognizes the best concert bands in the state. This year’s competition featured Class 4A schools, and Long Creek High School submitted recordings from its spring concert performances for evaluation.

Following a blind judging process, the Dragon Band earned third place in Area E/G, securing its advancement as a TMEA State Semi-Finalist. The band will now compete in the next round of the Honor Band process on July 16 at MacArthur High School, where state finalists will be selected. Bands advancing from that round will move on to the final competition at the Texas Bandmasters Association Conference in San Antonio.

“This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication and work ethic of our students,” said Kyle Day, Director of Bands at Long Creek High School. “They have invested countless hours in individual practice, completed challenging pass-off assignments, attended extensive rehearsals, and performed at a high level throughout the year. Watching their growth as musicians and as people has been truly rewarding.”

Day also credited the many individuals and groups who have supported the program’s success.

“We are grateful to our Dragon Band families for their unwavering support and belief in what we are building,” Day said. “We also want to thank our private lesson staff, the faculty and administration at Long Creek High School, district leadership, Director of Fine Arts Dr. Marty Lenard, and the outstanding band directors at New Braunfels Middle School. Their encouragement, friendship, and commitment to excellence have played an important role in helping our students achieve this milestone.”

The Dragon Band’s advancement to the state semi-final round marks another significant accomplishment for Long Creek High School music program as the school will have seniors for the first time next school year. 

“We are incredibly proud of what our students have achieved and excited about what lies ahead for the future of the Dragon Band,” Day added.