Pride of Texas Music Festivals

Thank you SO MUCH. I thought the entire experience was absolutely perfect. My kids were so excited about their 1 and their trophy. Thank you again!!!! Hopefully next year we will be together in person!

Rachel Holt
Prosper ISD Suzuki Violin
Windsong Ranch Elementary
(Virtual 2021)

Thank you so much for running the contest today! I thought everything was so smooth and was very simple to follow. My students and I had a very positive experience and it is all thanks to you and your team! We look forward to performing in your contests in the future!

Respectfully,
Cris Lira
Head Band Director
McCormick Middle School
(Virtual 2021)

Due to the constraints of Covid-19 and working in a low socio-economic school, I was rather hesitant to enter this contest, but now I'm glad I did. I was very impressed with the judge's comments and the communication of this organization. We will definitely return next year; hopefully face to face.

Sincerely,
Patricia Turner Laman
Bethune, Cochran & Salazar ES Orchestra Director
(Virtual Festival 2021)

“The kids have told me multiple times how much fun they had yesterday at the festival. Thank you for all you do to make Pride of Texas a great experience for all.

Alison Hamilton
Hamilton Junior High Band
(Fun with Friends Festival Participant 2021)

"Wow! I am speechless! Thank you for giving us a way to compete, and thank the adjudicators for such positive and constructive comments. We are blown away and look forward to next year."

Diane Andersen
Zion Blazer Band
(Virtual Festival 2021)

"Thank you very much for the feedback. I am excited to share with the kids the judges’ comments. Thank you for making this a simple and user friendly competition."

Megan Wisdom
Forestwood Middle School Choirs
(virtual Festival 2021)

"Thank you so much for this! I'm sitting here in tears watching the trophy presentation and reading the comment sheets.
Thank you for making this so special in a year that has been so hard.
Please share my thanks with the judges. The kids will enjoy this so much!"

Liz Moreno
Killian Middle School Choirs
(Virtual Festival 2021)

"Thanks for a wonderful festival yesterday! Our kids had fun and everything was smooth and organized! :)"

Jennifer Alcocer
Vista Ridge Middle School Band

"Hi Erica,
I just wanted to send a quick email of thanks for yesterday. I thought this was an outstanding competition and, my students, not only loved singing, but ADORED the venue. Hats off to you and your staff for such a great job."

Julie Troutwine
Marti Elementary Choir

"Thank you for being so accommodating to both my choirs and the EMS bands. Especially do with our unforeseen traffic delays. And a big thanks for making this so much fun for kids this was much needed for them. I know for sure the choir will be back again next year."

Tyler Hughes
Elgin Junior High Choirs

"We just wanted to tell you what a fabulous job you all did on putting the festival together on Friday at ZDTs! This was our first time attending, and we LOVED it! The kids had so much fun. We loved the feedback that the judges gave as well. It was spot on!
Thank you!"

Misti Martinez
Bluebonnet Elementary Choir

"Dear Erica,
I always enjoy seeing you and your mother everyone is so warm and personable. When I have a question via e-mail or phone message I always receive an immediate response. The festival is truly educational and fun. This year was my fourth year to participate in the Pride of Texas Music Festival at Amazing Jakes. I have had the experience of bringing middle school band students as a band director and choir students as an elementary choir director. Each year our participation is always exciting from our time with the judicators to the fun attractions. Here it is a week later and we are still talking about the festival. My students, their parents and teachers who come out to help chaperon had a blast!
See you next year"

Chuana Hughes
West Main Elementary Choir,
Lancaster, TX

"Good morning Erica!
Thanks for a great day at the Pride of Texas Music Festival at Sea World, SA yesterday. The venue we performed in was comfortable and ideal for their young voices. The judges' comments, their medals, and our trophy encouraged and motivated our students. The meal included was wholesome and tasty. Best of all the attractions offered at Sea World made their trip fun and memorable. They were so excited and said it was the best choir trip ever. I agree!"

Rebecca Albritton
Memorial Middel School Choirs

We had a really fun time. Please pass along my appreciation to the judges you had. They were very affirming and enthusiastic about choir, which is so important for my kids to hear (other than from me!) Thanks again!

Andrea Welty Peachy
Cypress Grove Intermediate Choir,
College Station

We had a FABULOUS time!!! The organization was terrific!!! As always, you did a MARVELOUS job at Sea World. You really DO a great job with the festival. KUDO's to all!!!

Scott Taube
Lockhart ISD Bands

"Awesome contest!! Awesome venue!! Awesome judging!! We had a blast and thank you, for having us!! The kids had fun!!!!"

Paul Martin
Lake Country Christian School Bands

"Thanks for running such a nice festival for the students! It was well organized and fun in spite of the rain. Actually the rain turned out to be the most fun for some of the kids, I heard one student say as they were running in the rain to go get their instrument, “This is the best day of school ever!” Hopefully everyone involved had a day they will remember. Thanks for a great festival!"

Vincent Pugh
HEB Honor Orchestra
Bellaire Suzuki Strings

"Erica (& Erin!),
THANK YOU so much for everything today! Our 6th graders had a BLAST at the festival! We are IN FOR SURE for next year! Great to see you both today!"

Jennifer Hay
Ousley Junior High Cluster Bands

"I wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I appreciated your festival. When the school barely has a band program, it is great to go to your positive , uplifting festival and receive the great response from you and all of your folks. There will be a new director next year so I am leaving your information for him to know about "Pride of Texas"."

Jerry Roberts
Ft Worth Christian School Bands

"What a wonderful day we had at the Pride of Texas Festival at Amazing Jake's in Plano! The day was perfect! The atmosphere was exciting; the judges were excellent; the performance venue was wonderful; and the Amazing Jake's buffet and games venue was truly AMAZING! Thanks for a great day at a GREAT price for our kids! We will be back next year!"

Lora Robison
Harmony Junior High Choir

"Good Afternoon Ms. Crosley,
I want to tell you that we had a great time at Amazing Jake's and the Pride of Texas Festival. In years past we have gone to a different festival for our end of year fun trip, but when I polled my students which festival was better, the overwhelming response was Pride of Texas, and when I asked whether they wanted to go back next year, they gave an enthusiastic yes! Thank you for helping with such an outstanding program. My students and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and I would highly recommend Pride of Texas to other directors."

William Hoel
Agnew Middle School Orchestras

"Pat & I really enjoyed bringing our two groups last Friday. Normally these end-of-the-year contests are fun for kids, and painful for the directors & chaperones, but the way it was organized made it surprisingly a fun day for both the kids & us directors. Also, the fact that the contest was still so organized even with bad weather thrown in the mix makes me already willing to come back next year. The kids had a great time, and they got a taste of success, and not a single kid got bored & wanted to leave early. Thanks for your hard work. You’ve won us over. See you next year."

Jared Bass
Itasca ISD Bands

"We all had a great time and the kids want to come again next year so success for all."

Marilyn Elliott
Gaston Middle School Choirs

"Thank you for all of your help today. You are wonderful!"

Rebecca Cloud
Howard Dobbs Middle School Choirs

"Thanks again for a fantastic experience - the kids had a blast!"

Lisa Heupel
Ennis Junior High Choirs

"Thanks again for a wonderful day at the park. The kids had a great time."

Glenn Grant,
Hanna Springs Intermediate Band

"We all had a great time! Thanks for putting on such an "uplifting" festival for struggling choral programs."

Martha Hurta
Bastrop Middle School Choirs

"Thanks, Erica! It was quite a relaxing and problem free day! The weather was perfect and cool and it was a great day to be in the park. The students also had a blast! So thanks for all you do to put this together and I'll look forward to seeing you next year!"

Amy Lucio
Cedar Creek Intermediate Choirs

"Thank you so much for the group photo! The students had a blast at the festival. Have a great summer! :)"

Valerie Curry
Ford Middle School Orchestra

"Thanks so much. My kids really enjoyed the festival yesterday- it was run really well."

Kelley Poche Rodriguez
Pioneer Heritage Middle School Choir
Hunt Elementary Choir

"Bravo to you and the entire staff for the wonderful job you did at the contest! This year was the best ever; everything went perfectly, and our students loved it! It was great to have unlimited food and games, too!"

Jeanne Stephens
Jackson Technology Center Orchestras

"I just wanted to express how much fun we had at the Pride of Texas Music Festival yesterday. The kids loved it, the chaperones thought it was great and I am definitely going to bring a group next year. Thank you for a wonderful experience!"

Barbara Lee
Lamar Middle School Choirs

"On behalf of my group, the Pope Panther Choir, I just wanted to send you a note and thank you for a wonderful day yesterday. My kids had an AMAZING time, and bringing back a 1st place trophy our first time out didn't hurt any, either!! The event was very well organized and everything ran so smoothly and right on time. The two of you did a fantastic job with the event. I hope to be able to bring a group again next year.

Thank you again so much for planning and organizing such a wonderful event."

Catherine Ulmer
Pope Elementary Choirs