Cockrill MS Band Honored with the Sudler Silver Cup for 2017

The John Phillip Sousa Foundation has named the Dr. Jack Cockrill Middle School Band, as a recipient of the Sudler Silver Cup for 2017.

The Sudler Cup is an award bestowed to identify, recognize and honor junior high and middle school concert band programs that have demonstrated particularly significant high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years. The official description of a deserving band is:

The band must have achieved and maintained a high standard of literature in the concert area over a period of several years. The concert band will have placed itself in situations where there has been opportunity for evaluation by qualified persons or has been rated “superior” at state, regional, or national levels in concert activities. The band should have performed at regional, state, national, and professional meetings of significance. These can include but are not limited to state music conventions, regional or national MENC meetings, and state or national band association conventions. The director must have been incumbent in his/her position for at least seven years, including the current year. A number of the students in the band should have participated in district and all-state honor bands or similar all-area groups. The total program of music should exemplify what is considered a sound viable, music education program for this level of endeavor.

The 32-year-old program selects recipients from applications throughout the United States and Canada by a jury of previous cup recipients who meet at the International Mid-West Band Convention in Chicago each year. Since it’s inception, just over 50 bands have been designated with this coveted award.

“Because of the great music education program, and the support from their parents and communities, the schools in Texas have always competed very successfully with other middle school programs throughout the United States and Canada,” a press release stated.

Other winning states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Utah.

A representative will present the award from the Sousa Foundation at the concert in May.

Directors for the Cockrill Middle School Band are Gary Williams, Matthew Harp and Robin Winter.