• Band

    About the McMillen Band Program

    C.A. McMillen High School is a Texas UIL 5A high school serving 9th and 10th grade students in the East Cluster of the Plano Independent School District. All students at McMillen attend Plano East Senior High for 11th and 12th grade. The campus is located 1 mile south of the famous Southfork Ranch in the City of Murphy. Students attending McMillen come from the surrounding communities of Lucas, Murphy, Parker, Plano and Richardson. The Marching Band rehearses and performs from August through mid-October. Concert Bands and Jazz Band perform from November through May. The Color Guard performs in the Fall with the Marching Band and in the Spring with the Plano East Winter Guard. The Band, Drumline, Color Guard, and Jazz Band appear at school and community functions throughout the year. The McMillen Band is a proud part of the award-winning Plano East Cluster Band Program, and is supported by its feeder campuses, Armstrong and Murphy Middle Schools.
Lindsay Barnhill
Band
 
Joshua Kurzweil
Band
 

  • Band Classes

    All the members of the Band Program are assigned by audition to one of several concert bands that meet every day as academic classes. Auditions are held twice each year at the end of each semester. New students are auditioned upon arrival. Since there are no remedial classes at the high school level, students are expected to have and maintain certain skills on their instruments in order to be successful, contributing members in their band class. Students not passing the initial audition will be given the opportunity to audition again at a later date. These students will be given specific instructions as to what must be done in order to qualify for one of the performing ensembles at McMillen.

    Performances will be given periodically throughout the year at school, community, University Interscholastic League events and nationally adjudicated concert band festivals. All members will be expected to maintain the highest levels of responsibility and preparation.

    Students who have an unexcused absence from band practice or class may lose the privilege to perform with the Band.

    For questions regarding the Band program, please contact McMillen's Band Director Christopher Brown at Christopher.Brown@pisd.edu

    For more information, please visit our website www.mcmillenband.com.
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  • Wind Ensemble

    Prerequisite: Audition by Directors

    The Wind Ensemble is the top-performing ensemble at McMillen High School. Students will have the opportunity to continue their ensemble, musical and technical development at the most advanced levels. Attendance at all out-of-school rehearsals, clinics and performances is required.

  • Symphonic Band

    Prerequisite: Audition by Directors

    The Symphonic Band offers the opportunity for continued development of individual and ensemble skills at an advanced level. Attendance at all out-of-school rehearsals, clinics and performances is required.

  • Concert Band

    Prerequisite: Audition by Directors

    The Concert Band offers the opportunity for continued development of individual and ensemble skills. Attendance at all out-of-school rehearsals, clinics and performances is required.

  • Jazz Ensemble

    Prerequisite: Membership in the McMillen Band program; Audition by Director

    The Jazz Ensemble is a group of selected student musicians interested in the study of music in the jazz idiom. The Jazz Ensemble is offered as an after-school exploratory course in the Spring semester and will perform at the Spring Concert. Attendance at all out-of-school rehearsals and performances is required.

  • Percussion Class

    Prerequisite: Membership in the McMillen Band program; Audition by Director

    The Percussion Class is offered during the Fall semester only. All percussionists in the McMillen Band program are scheduled into this class, regardless of their placement in the concert bands. In addition to performing with the band at all scheduled events, percussionists participate in the preparation of percussion ensembles and present a Percussion Concert/Recital during the Fall and Spring semesters. Attendance at all out-of-school rehearsals and performances is required. Auditions are held during the Fall semester for placement in the concert bands for the Spring semester.

  • Marching Band

    The McMillen High Marching Band is comprised of all members in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and Concert Bands. The marching band rehearses before school from August through mid-October and performs at pep rallies, five sophomore home football games, the East Cluster Football Game, the Plano East Marching Invitational, the University Interscholastic League Region Marching Contest, the annual Plano Christmas Parade, and other special events as required. A schedule of rehearsals and performances will be given to students in June so that conflicts can be avoided during the Fall semester. Students who attend all rehearsals, make a conscientious effort to improve on their marching fundamentals, and demonstrate an understanding of their music and marching assignments for performances, will be given an opportunity to perform with the marching band.

  • McMillen Band

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