This year, the Argyle band was awarded the Texas Exemplary High School Band award for its great success in the past years. The Argyle band is the eighth band to win the award since its creation in 2006 by the Texas Bandmasters Association.

In order to win the award, the TBA meets at the conference for the Texas Music Educators Association where the board submits their candidates for what school should win the prestigious title. Once the board, which is made up of the top music educators in the state, submits their candidate, they vote for the school to win. Any school in the state of Texas, of any classification, 1A to 5A, could win the award.

“It is a huge honor to be receiving this award,” head director Kathy Johnson said. “To have won it before bands as great as Marcus High School or L. D. Belle High School is extremely humbling.”
The band was picked due to its numerous achievements in the past six years since the organization started looking at the band. They looked at the bands three consecutive state marching championships, its success in festivals and UIL competitions during concert band season, as well as its role in hosting events such as UIL and solo and ensemble competitions.

Though there is no application for the award, the band still had a lot of work to do in order to receive this award. Johnson constantly pushes the students to be able to learn and be self-guided in both their music as well as in their life outside of band.

“I try not to help as much in order to let the students make their own judgments and decisions about what to fix,” Johnson said. “I’m wanting them to seek information as opposed to me just giving it to them.”

The award will be given during the summer at the President’s Concert where Johnson will be giving a speech as well as accepting a plaque commemorating the accomplishment.