McKinney High School’s (MHS) Royal Pride Band recently put on an award-winning performance at a nationwide competition organized by the Percussive Arts Society (PAS).
McKinney Independent School District issued a June news release announcing MHS’s national award and an invitation to perform at the PAS convention in Indianapolis in November.
PAS selects percussion ensembles from one middle school, three high schools, and three colleges as winners in its annual International Percussion Ensemble Competition. Those wishing to compete had to submit concert recordings to a panel of judges.
Keller Central High School and Liberty High School were MHS’s fellow winners in the high school category. The award is the highest achievement for a high school percussion ensemble.
The other 2023 competition winners were North Gwinnett Middle School, Florida State University, Indiana University, and Texas A&M University-Commerce.
MHS’s Royal Pride Band has been directed by Wylie native Tyler Nechamkin for the past five years.
“I am beyond proud and excited for the students to get to experience [the PAS convention] and see what can happen when you persistently work hard!” Nechamkin told McKinney Courier-Gazette.
He also said the win shows that the school’s percussion program is headed in the right direction.
The Royal Pride Band has a lot to do ahead of its performance at the showcase concert of the Indianapolis PAS convention. Nonetheless, Nechamkin thinks the students’ hard work will pay off.
“My hope is for the students to have an awesome experience that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. It is always incredible when music takes you places through determination, discipline, and execution,” Nechamkin told McKinney Courier-Gazette.
Since taking up percussion as a 5th grader, Nechamkin has performed with a group in Italy and with the Symphony Orchestra and Grand Chorus at the University of North Texas.
He also competed in the very same PAS competition as his students as a high schooler and went on to play at the showcase concert in Indianapolis.
“I want any percussion student that graduates from McKinney High School to have the skills to go as far as they want with music, but more importantly to have confidence, strong work-ethic and excellent teamwork skills,” Nechamkin told McKinney Courier-Gazette.
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