News ... With Pride

This past Saturday, Turner Band competed at the Annual Tournament of Champions (TOC) and walked away with the honor of being Best in Class. Congratulations!

Senior Amanda Werneke was recently named as one of RLT's two National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist!  Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS to RLT

Region 24 Jazz Band Member!

JaRod Hall - Bass Trombone

Tryouts for the TMEA Region 24 All-Region Jazz Ensemble were held at RL Turner on Sat., Sep. 19. Over 100 students from CFB, Frisco, Lewisville, Grapevine-Colleyville, and Southlake auditioned for one of the 40 spots in the All-Region Jazz Ensembles. Our own JaRod Hall placed first chair Bass Trombone in the top band and will have the opportunity to tape for the TEXAS All-State Jazz Ensemble on Oct. 7.

JaRod has already shown outstanding talent by being selected to the TMEA All-State Band on Tuba for 3 years in a row. This, JaRod's 3rd time being selected as an All Region Jazz Band member, marks a significant milestone for him.  He has not only been selected 1st place as a bass trombone player in the All Region Jazz Band, JaRod also placed 1st in the top band and 1st in the region.

Congratulations to you JaRod for all of your hard work in upholding the tradition of excellence for the R L Turner Jazz Program!

This event occurs 3 times during the marching season. The first exchange usually occurs at the first home game; the second at homecoming; and the third is at the last home game of the season.

This year's first gift exchange was postponed because the kids wanted to be in the new uniforms.  This Friday night will be the first Turner Band Gift Exchange Event. No more than $5 should be spent on a gift and please make sure your child brings a gift for each of his/her sibling.

The exchange usually occurs at the game.

It can be candy, absolutely no chocolate; a trinket; sandwich, gift certificate, ball, noise makers, or whatever you'd like. Please keep all gifts light and rated "G".

DeSoto Classic Marching Festival

On October 11th, R. L. Turner Band competed at the DeSoto Classic Marching Festival, once again receiving a first division rating, as well as placing 4th in their class and taking home honors for Outstanding Percussion in their class.

UIL - All 1's

The Lion Marching Band has been busy, perfecting their competition marching show.  All the students hard work paid off with several accolades at various marching contests throughout the fall.  The Band earned a first division rating at the Carrollton Tournament of Champions on September 27th.  This is the first time since 2006 the band has received straight First Division ratings, and only the third time in the past six years.

GO LIONS!!

All Region Jazz Band Selected

Evan Runyon, senior, was selected to the All-Region 2nd Jazz Band on Bari Sax, and JaRod Hall, Junior, was selected to the All-Region 1st Jazz Band on Bass Trombone.  This is the second year in a row for both students to be selected for this honor.  In addition, JaRod Hall also earns an opportunity to audition for the Texas All-State Jazz Band, to be held in February in San Antonio.

Solo & Ensemble Contest

JaRod Hall has been selected as an Outstanding Tuba Soloist at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition held at the University of Texas in Austin.  Of the nearly 85,000 students who compete in Regional UIL Solo and Ensemble events statewide, approximately 22,000 were selected to compete at the State level.  Of those students, only 256 students were selected as Outstanding Soloists.