The Artie Henry Middle School Honors Band is from Leander, Texas.
Mrs. Katherine Norris is the group's director. She has been at Henry Middle School for 6 years and enters her 7th as the new Director of Bands! At Henry, she conducts the Honors Band and teaches the beginning flute, clarinet, and double reed classes. She also assists with the Concert and Symphonic Bands. Katherine’s bands have consistently received Superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. In 2022 and 2023, her band was selected as a Citation Winner in The Foundation for Music Education’s Citation of Excellence Project. Under her direction, the Symphonic Band has also been named the Non-Varsity Grand Champion at the North Texas Festival of Distinction.
Katherine graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston in May 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. During her time there, she learned from master teachers: Eddie Green, John Benzer, and David Bertman. Katherine was a drum major for the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band. She was also president of the UH chapter of the National Association for Music Education and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Katherine has been a clinician at the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and Texas Music Educators Convention. Katherine has been a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps brass staff since 2019. She is also a part of the SASi Leadership Staff. Katherine's professional memberships include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. She works with bands in the Austin area as a clinician.
In her free time, she enjoys visiting local coffee shops, reading books, finding new restaurants to try with her husband, Kyle, and spending time with their Cavie, Gus!
This is the ensemble's Performer Bio Synopsis from the Midwest Clinic website: The band program at Henry Middle School serves more than 330 students, with seventh and eighth graders enrolled in one of three performing bands, and sixth grade beginning band classes in a homogeneous setting. Since the school opened in 2002, the Artie Henry bands have been consistent UIL Sweepstakes winners, and have been well-represented at Solo and Ensemble contest, TMEA All-Region Band and Region Orchestra auditions. Under the direction of Robert Herrings, Katherine Willer, Aaron Sanchez and Hector Gil, the Henry bands have earned numerous honors and awards at festivals in Texas. In 2008 and 2013, the band was invited to perform at the prestigious Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. The HMS Band Program was named the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Texas Class CCC Honor Band. In 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2022, the HMS Band Program was invited to perform at The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and in 2011 the program was awarded the coveted John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award. In 2014, the HMS Percussion Ensemble was the inaugural invited Middle School Percussion Ensemble to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, and the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association awarded the Outstanding Band Program Award to the Artie Henry MS Band Program. From 2009-2017, the program at Henry earned distinction as a National Wind Band Honors Class AA winner, and the Henry MS Symphonic Band was a 2016 and 2017 Citation of Excellence winner. Most recently, the Henry MS Band Program was selected as the 2018 Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Middle School Band Award winner. To improve their individual skills and musicianship, all students in the HMS Band program attend weekly section rehearsals, and many students take advantage of the opportunity for private lessons through the LISD Private Lesson Program. In addition to their involvement in band activities, HMS Band students are also active in other activities, including National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, Leadership, Yearbook/Journalism, Athletics, Art, Cheerleading, Dance Team, Theater and many more. Through the dedicated work of many individuals, the program has built a tradition of success that has flourished within the school and in the community.
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