Polk County Public Schools
Three high schools were honored for their music accomplishments at a school district recognition event held near the end of the 2009-2010 school year. They were honored by former school district Director of Fine Arts Frank Howes before the school board, school and district staff members, students, parents and community members.
Schools and personnel honored were:
Lake Region High (Eagle Lake): Lake Region High’s Honor Choir, under the instruction of the school’s Choral Studies Director Robert Zahner, earned superior assessments from all judges in 2009-2010 in the district and the state Concert Music Performance Assessment (MPA). According to Lake Region records, 2009-2010 was the first time that this chorus earned superior marks from all judges at the state MPA. Robert Zahner has been at Lake Region the last two years, coming to the school from Lakeland’s Lake Gibson Middle.
Lake Region’s band, under the direction of Band Director Don West, earned superior assessments from all judges in the 2009-2010 district marching band assessment and district concert band music assessment. The band also received superior assessments from all judges in the 2010 state band MPA.
In addition, Howes said at the event that he believes Lake Region has one of the most comprehensive and high achieving music programs in the school district. Lake Region includes music instruction in guitar, piano, string orchestra, multiple levels of chorus, jazz band studies, concert band, marching band and advanced placement music courses. Howes said he is encouraging Lake Region to apply to the Florida Department of Education to be a state Music Demonstration School. Music Demonstration Schools are designated by the state as models for other schools to improve their music programs.
Mulberry High: The Mulberry High band received superior ratings at the 2009-2010 district marching and concert band assessments. The band also earned superior ratings from all judges at the state assessment and received an “A” grade on every mark on the state judging sheet. 2009-2010 was the first time in Mulberry school history that the band earned all superior ratings at the state level. Howes credited the work of band director Zac Murdock for this accomplishment and noted that Murdock did this in only his second year of teaching. Murdock is a 2004 graduate of Lake Region High and also graduated from Florida Southern College.
Howes noted that Murdock began preparing himself for a band director position well before he became a teacher. Prior to becoming a teacher, Murdock worked with and learned under band directors at practices and regularly attended band concerts and assessments.
“Zac was always way ahead of the curve in terms of how to become a successful band director,” Howes said.
Winter Haven High: The Winter Haven High band, under the direction of Sean Luce, is the recipient of the Florida Bandmaster Association’s Otto Kraushaar Award for receiving superior ratings from all judges in all categories of marching and concert band assessments at the district and state level. The Otto Kraushaar Award is considered the highest level of success for Florida high school bands.
