High school bands in the Queen Creek Unified School District reached some milestones this year as they showcased their talent, dedication and community spirit.

“Under the leadership of passionate directors, Eastmark High School, Crismon High School and Queen Creek High School have delivered outstanding performances, solidifying QCUSD as a host of musical excellence,” a press release from QCUSD stated.

The Firebird Marching Band at Eastmark High School in Mesa, under the direction of Dan Fischer, earned a bronze medal at the Arizona State Marching Band Championships with their show, “The Wild West.”

The band also received the Highest Auxiliary Caption Award for outstanding performance.

Led by Scott Lloyd, the Rattler Marching Band at Crimson High completed its debut competitive marching season with performances across the state.

The band will take part in the QC Hometown Holiday Parade on Saturday, and the Cadet Band, which has doubled in size, will perform alongside other ensembles at the school’s Winter Concert on Dec. 9.

Director Tucker Rother and the Queen Creek High School Marching Band performed “Freak Show Fantasia,” earning accolades such as third place at the University of Arizona Band Day.

The band also:

• performed the National Anthem for more 40,000 attendees at the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championships with a televised audience of about 1.1 million;
• will be one of the first high school bands to perform at an Arizona Cardinals football game, including a performance on the Great Lawn;
• performed at high-profile events like the World Hip-Hop Dance Championships and a “Shark Tank”-hosted conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Phoenix; and
• was Invited to perform at the opening night of the Phoenix Zoo Lights, which hosted a large in-person audience and was televised across the state.

“QCUSD’s high school bands have had a phenomenal first half of the school year,” the district release stated. “These students' achievements inspire pride throughout the district, highlighting the power of teamwork, artistry and community support.”