To Our Families:

Thank you for coming on all of our crazy adventures and for helping us through any hardships we face. Thank you for putting us in lessons, buying our instruments, and supporting our goals. But most of all, thank you for always being there and for making us a priority. Because you believe in us, we believe in ourselves. We love you!

To the PISD Fine Arts team John Alstrin, Timothy Doyle, Dana Goodnuff, and Amie Kim:

Thank you for all that you’ve done to make this performance a possibility for us! We would not be here without your support!

To the Rushing MS Faculty and Administration:

Thank you for helping us to pursue our passions in all academic areas and for supporting us on this journey!

To the 2022-2023 Symphonic Winds:

Thank you for paving the way for opportunities like performing at the Midwest Clinic. Thank you for setting the example for us to follow. Your legacy inspires us every day and we hope we are making you proud!

To Our Midwest Composers:

Thank you for writing great music! We have had so much fun rehearsing and playing this program!

To Tuner Caddy:

Thank you for creating products that help us succeed! We love these and use them every day!

To Brook Mays and Duo Music Clarinet Shop

Thank you for assistance with our many instrument needs.

To Snapberry Photography:

Thank you for taking such great photos of us for the program! The photoshoot was so much fun!

To Our Private Lessons teachers:

Thank you for guiding us and showing us how to be a successful musician. Your time and dedication has helped us grow in many ways beyond music.

To The Midwest Clinic:

Thank you for inviting us to perform at the Midwest Clinic. This opportunity has been such an incredible experience and we are so excited to represent our community!

To My Wife, Ali

You are the best wife and mother to our children that I could have ever hoped for. Thank you for holding everything together even during the late rehearsals and weekend competitions, and for supporting me every step of the way.

To My Children, Spencer and Hannah

Nothing means more to me than the hug I get from you after a long day. Even when it feels like I’ve failed, I can always count on a running hug and an emphatic “Daddy!” as I walk through the door. Thank you for softening my heart.

To Mom and Dad

I know that it was rarely easy, but I’m so fortunate to have had both of you supporting me. Even when I wanted to, you never let me quit. You encouraged me, you supported me, and you never gave up on me. Thank you for still coming to concerts, even 25 years later, and for always telling me it was great… even when I knew it wasn’t.

To Kaitlyn, Brandon, and Hayden

Thank you. Thank you for all of the hard work and dedication it takes to run our band program. Thank you for ALWAYS putting these kids first and for building them up. Thank you for caring more about our students as people than as performers. Thank you for bringing your passion for music and for kids into our office every day. And most of all, thank you for bringing laughter and joy into our office each day.

To Melodianne Mallow

Thank you for being a constant source of knowledge and inspiration. You’ve challenged me to become a better teacher by changing the way I think about band. Our band wouldn’t be who we are today without you.

To my mentors June Bearden, Terry Maxwell, and Gary Williams

I can not begin to thank each of you enough for your patience with me as a young educator. Everything I’ve learned comes directly from watching you. I am forever grateful that my journey includes each of you and that I can still call on you to help guide me.

To the 2023 - 2024 Symphonic Winds

You are why I come to school every day. My cup is filled by watching you achieve heights that you thought were unreachable. I am so thankful that we get to go on this journey together. Each of you are incredible musicians, and I am so proud of the hard work you have put into making this a special performance.

To the 2022 - 2023 Symphonic Winds

Our performance is dedicated to each of the band students who at one time called Rushing home. You have each left a mark on our band that has propelled us to where we are now, but I want to make a special “thank you” to the 8th grade class of 2023. Your dedication and pursuit of excellence has set the standard for what band at Rushing Middle School will look like for years to come.

To My Wife and Daughter, Rachel and Elizabeth

Thank you for all of your love and support over the years, while always bringing a smile to my face. You are both my joy of this earthly life and I love you both with all of my heart!

To My Parents

For investing all in me and my brother, Ryan. You have made us into what we have become and we love you for it!

To all of the people that have invested so much into me throughout my life

The list is too long for me to include everyone but know that you have left an indelible impact on me and will always have a place in my heart.

To all of my close friends and family

for helping me “keep the main thing, the main thing” over the years.

To Jarred, Kaitlyn, and Hayden

You are an incredible team to work with. You bring some amazing strengths to the table and it is a blast to come to work with this world class team everyday!

To my PISD coworkers

It takes a village to grow a child and you are all doing AMAZING work!

To my Parents, Kim and Paul Norwood and Family

Thank you for endlessly supporting me and pushing me to strive for my dreams. I love you!

To my sister, Hannah Norwood

Sissy, I love you so much and am so grateful for your constant support from day 1. Thank you for being my rock and a role model for me.

To My Grandma and Mamaw

I miss you both so much. There is not a single day that I do not miss you. I know y’all are always listening and my forever guardian angels. I hope you enjoy the concert.

To my friends

Thank you for always being there for me. I am grateful for the late night phone calls, support, and constant laughs.

To Dr. Cliff Croomes, Amanda Stevenson, and Justin Smith

EFND! Thank you for setting me up for success and for pushing me to become the musician & leader I am today!

To Dr. David Begnoche

Thank you for taking a chance on me and helping me become a better person, trombone player, and educator while at TCU. I am so glad Dr. Croomes introduced us. Go Frogs!

To the Aledo Band Staff

Thank you for teaching me how to become a better educator and for sharing your Aledo Band family with me.

To Lauren Jones, Joey Prescott, and Josh Smith

Thank you for your guidance and wisdom throughout student teaching and into my teaching career.

To Ms. Jolette Wine and Ms. Melodianne Mallow

Thank you for helping me find my way in the “band world.” You both have helped me land at Rushing MS and I could not be more grateful.

To My Colleagues, Jarred, Brandon, and Hayden

Thank you for showing me the ropes, putting up with me, and always giving me a voice. Thank you for showing me what it looks like to work with a fantastic team, be a better educator, and how to cultivate a positive band culture.

To My Family, Karen and Madison

Thank you for your support throughout the years, and putting up with all the noise I’ve made.

To My Former Feachers and Mentors, Dr. Brian West and Nick Beaudet:

Thank you for always pushing me to grow not only as a musician and educator, but as a person as well.

To the Rushing Band Team, Jarred, Brandon, and Kaitlyn:

Thank you for welcoming me into the Prosper band family with open arms. Your trust and support has helped me to grow as a teacher in my short time here.

To the Prosper Percussion Team, Shane Snyder and Justin Matthews:

Thank you for creating a program and culture of excellence here at Rushing. You’ve made it easy for me to come in and continue the work you started, and have a ton of fun doing it.