For the second year in a row, the Mt. Pleasant High School Goin’ Gold Band has earned one of the highest honors the UIL awards bands – being named a Sweepstakes Award Winner.

To be named a Sweepstakes Band, the band must earn all 1’s, the highest score awarded, in the UIL Marching Contest, UIL Sight-reading Contest and UIL Concert Band Contest.  Prior to last year’s win, the last time the MPHS Goin’ Gold Band won the Sweepstakes Award was in 1996-97.

“I am so proud of these musicians,” said MPHS Band Director Dr. Theo Luckett. “This is not an easy award to earn. These students worked hard during the fall to learn the music and the movements for our awesome half-time show that earned us 1’s at the marching contest.  They then worked on the music to prepare for the sight-reading and concert contests where they again earned all 1’s. At the same time, they were working on other contest music, work that earned 36 of them the privilege of advancing to State Solo and Ensemble Contest. I can’t say enough about how great they are.”

“This is a great accomplishment,” said MPISD Director of Communication Dr. Judi Saxton. “It is not easy for a high school band to excel in all three categories that are judged for the Sweepstakes Award.  And to do that two years in a row is a testament to to how well Dr. Luckett and the MPHS Band students work together. It is also not easy for any band director, especially one in his second year, to gel with a group of high school students in such a way as to motivate them to this level of achievement. We are extremely proud of Dr. Luckett and the members of the Goin’ Gold Band and congratulate them on this award.”

Pictures:
Sweepstakes Band: MPHS Band Director Dr. Theo Luckett leads the Goin’ Gold Band in the Concert Performance at the UIL Concert Contest.