The Foundation for Music Education and its board of trustees recently announced that two Birdville ISD bands were among the winners in the 2016 Mark of Excellence recorded music competition.

The Birdville High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mike Cheripka, was selected as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence I National Jazz Honors project.

The Richland High School Honors Band, directed by Jason Bird, was selected as a Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence I National Wind Band Honors project.

The Mark of Excellence consists of the National Wind Band Honors, National Choral Honors, National Orchestra Honors, National Jazz Honors and National Percussion Ensemble Honors. It is a competition, entered by recordings, in which the top quarter are selected as National Winners and the second quarter receive Commended Honors.

This year 236 of the finest musical ensembles in the nation entered the competition. The project has now received entries from thirty-six states.

Congratulations to Mike Cheripka, Jason Bird and the student musicians from Birdville and Richland high schools for their accomplishments.