Band
Music. It's a subject that prepares students for life.
Eagle Band notes and information
The Austin Academy Band program has over 215 students participating in daily band classes ranging in ability from beginning to advanced. Students begin their instrumental instruction in the sixth grade. Seventh and eighth grade students are either placed in Honors or Symphonic bands through an audition process. In addition to Symphonic and Honors Band, seventh and eighth graders may also participate in Pep Band and Jazz Band. Austin Academy is proud to have the largest number of band students selected to participate in the Garland All-District Band and Region III All-Region Band for the past three years.
Over the years, the Austin Academy Honors Band has won numerous awards including sweepstakes ratings at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest and various festivals throughout the Dallas area. In 1998, the Honors Band was 4th runner-up in the CC Middle School State Honor Band Competition. In 2012, Honors Band was a finalist in the CC Middle School State Honor Band Competition. Our band finished 9th place overall in the state.
Austin's two Jazz bands were created to introduce students to jazz fundamentals and provide an outlet for creative expression. Jazz I and Jazz II meet outside the normal school day for two hours a week. Jazz II serves as a training group for potential Jazz I students. Both Bands consistently earn superior ratings at the TCU Jazz Festival. Jazz I has Performed in New York, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, and Reno. In 2022, Jazz I was the invited middle school jazz band for the The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL.
Meet your band directors
Head Band Director
Assistant Band Director
Mrs. McCue is entering her second year of teaching and her first at Austin Academy. Mrs. McCue graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University- Commerce with her bachelor's in music education in the Spring of 2023. In her undergraduate studies she served in many roles including section leader and Tau Beta Sigma president as well as served as members of the performing ensembles and jazz groups. Mrs. McCue is currently a member of the following professional groups; TMEA, TBA, and NAFME. Mrs. McCue currently resides in McKinney, Texas with her husband and cat Maestro and is excited for a great year of music making!
X (Formally known as Twitter): @aae_band
Harvard University
“The arts are clearly an integral part of life at Harvard and Radcliffe, important for their value to the college environment and also for the potential they provide for lifelong enrichment. In addition to academic criteria, therefore, we always consider extracurricular talents and personal strengths when we evaluate a candidate’s credentials. We look for the students whose previous participation in the arts shows that they can make a substantial contribution to our community.”
William R. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions