Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Forney High School Wind Ensemble is a premier performance ensemble based in Forney, Texas, about 20 miles east of Dallas. The city of Forney is located in Kaufman County, which is currently the fastest-growing county in the nation. Students begin their instrumental studies in the 6th grade at Rhea Intermediate and Jones Intermediate Schools, and continue as 7th and 8th graders at Warren and Themer Middle Schools. Through vertical team teaching, the high school and middle school directors work together collaboratively each week to teach more than 40 classes across 5 campuses daily. Intermediate and Middle School band members perform multiple concerts each year, travel to music festivals, build their individual musicianship through the TMEA All Region audition process, and build their small ensemble and chamber music skills through a district hosted solo and ensemble contest each year. Additional offerings at the middle schools include jazz band, color guard, percussion ensemble, and our middle school indoor drumline.
At the high school level, the Forney High School Band Program is quite expansive, including four concert ensembles, jazz band, multiple percussion ensembles, two color guards, and marching band. Each year, the concert band program at FHS performs five or more concerts depending on the calendar, most of these with completely new programs for each event. Each concert band ensemble member will regularly play 12 - 15 band works each year. The directors prioritize exposing the students to not only great literature, but a diverse and eclectic spectrum of works. Recently, the premier on-campus performing group, the Forney High School Wind Ensemble, earned 5th place in the Class 5A TMEA Honor Band competition and has been named a Mark of Excellence National Winner several times.
All members of the program are members of the The Forney High School Marching Band, which competes at University Interscholastic League events, Bands of America events, and other local marching band contests across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the state of Texas. Recent accomplishments include our first year in Texas class 6A, advancing to the UIL State Marching Championship, in 2021 coming in 8th place, and 2023 earning 4th place in Texas class 5A. Additionally, the Forney Band is a consistent finalist in the Bands of America Regionals in the DFW area.
Leadership development is a core tenant to our success. Whether that be in our thriving color guard program, our award-winning percussion department, or within our wind section, we utilize peer teaching and mentorship daily. These leaders are trained in teaching and learn specific roles and techniques to be utilized throughout the school year. We have high school mentor students that travel to our middle school band programs to have a presence and influence in those students' lives. Within our own band hall, the culture of the program is a top priority and has led to a complete shift in the direction of the band program over the last five years. Directors focus on teaching values, communication, dedication, and teamwork daily, creating a place where students are safe, included, and have a second home. The Forney High School Band cluster staff is proud to have three current team members included in Yamaha’s 40 Under 40 top young music educators in the country, as well as two staff members recently being recognized by the Country Music Association Foundation as a Music Teacher of Excellence.
The 53 students featured in this recording represent the best of Forney High School. In addition to band, the students on stage are active members of our athletics department, choir, theater, ROTC, cheer, dance, culinary, welding, FFA, National Honor Society, Student Council and much more. The majority take AP and Dual Credit classes while balancing their many responsibilities. Alumni of the Forney Band can be seen performing around the world in university music programs, collegiate marching and concert bands, local community bands, and even on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon. Most recently, our students have received full tuition scholarships to attend Rice, TCU, Tokyo School of Music and most notably received the highest scholarship ever offered to a music student to attend SMU.
The mission of the Forney Band is to create a culture of unity through selflessness, positivity and encouragement while nurturing meaningful experiences and lasting relationships through our pursuit of musical excellence.
Forney High School Wind Ensemble
Conductor's Bio
Cody Newman attended high school in Red Oak, Texas before attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock. While at Texas Tech, Mr. Newman performed with the nationally recognized, Sudler Trophy winning Goin’ Band from Raiderland and later returned to complete a Master’s Degree in Music Education.
Mr. Newman worked at Poteet High School in Mesquite as an associate director and eventual head director for 15 years. During his years at Poteet, the marching band earned “Best in Class” at numerous competitions, three “Grand Champion” awards from area contests, a UIL Bronze Medal at the 2009 AAAA State Marching Contest, a 5th place finish in the state in the 2017 State Championships, being named the Grand Champions of the Plano East Marching Invitational in 2019 and the USBands REMO Series Finale in the fall of 2018 and being crowned the 2007 AAAA State Marching Champions. The Poteet Honors Band was a Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band competition state finalist in both 2017 and 2019, Mark of Excellence National Winner multiple times and was named by the National Band Association as the 2018 Southwestern Division Citation of Excellence.
In 2020, Mr. Newman assumed the role of director of bands at Forney High School. Since accepting this position, the Forney Band has been UIL Area Marching champions three times, BOA marching championship finalists and finished 8th in the 2021 UIL State Marching Championship and 4th in 2023. The Forney High School Wind Ensemble most recently earned 5th place in the state in the TMEA Honor Band Competition and was announced as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project in 2023. In 2021, Mr. Newman was named a Yamaha 40 Under 40 educators in the country, an honor awarded to teachers under 40 who are impacting their communities through education and in 2024 he was named a National Music Teacher of Excellence through the Country Music Association Foundation.
Mr. Newman’s professional affiliations include membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity.
Mr. Newman lives in Forney with his beautiful wife, Candice and his sons, Jace (2008) Jackson (2009), who are on stage to perform today, and at home his "littles", Jolee (2015) and Jensen (2017).
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