If you have any information on the history of the drumline at contests or any performances, then feel free to share with Mr. Mathew.
All-State Percussion
- 1997 Philharmonic Orchestra - Grant Braddock
- 1997 Symphonic Band - Mike Lawrence
- 1997 Symphonic Band - Justin Winn
NMHS Percussion videos online
Percussion Jam 2009
Here are some YouTube videos of our concert:
Frog Dance by John Pollard (7-8 grade students)
Taiko Night by Daniel William Boothe (NMHS Symphonic Band)
Taiko Night (different angle)
Mujer Latina by Kike Santander/arr. Paul Rennick (All HS percussion)
Percussion Awards
1997-1998
Carrollton Tournament of Champions
Outstanding Drumline Award
Lone Star Classic
Stand Still Class - 4th place
Plano DLC
AA Field Show
1st place
Two unnamed caption awards
1998-1999
Lone Star Classic
Open Class
3rd place
Mid-Cities Percussion Ensemble Festival
Large HS Ensemble
Superior Performance
1999-2000
The Colony Drumline Competition
3rd place Open Class
Best Tenor Line
Plano DLC
AA Field Show
1st place
Best Bass Line
Lone Star Classic
Open Class - 3rd place
2000-2001
PASIC High School Marching Division
3rd place
Lone Star Classic
Best Tenors
Best Cymbals
Plano DLC
AA Field Show
1st place
Best Bass Line
Lone Star Classic
Stand Still Class - 2nd place
2001-2002
Plano East Invitational Marching Festival
Open Preliminary Competition
Outstanding Percussion 5A
2002-2003
Plano DLC
AA Field Show
3rd place
Lone Star Classic
Stand Still Class - 6th place
2003-2004
Lone Star Classic
Stand Still Class
12th place
2004-2005
Plano DLC
AA Standstill
2nd place
Outstanding Bass Line
Lone Star Classic
Division 1 9th place
NTCA Percussion Scholastic A
1st place
2005-2006
Plano DLC
AA Standstill
1st place
Outstanding Front Ensemble
Outstanding Bass Line
Drop6 Outstanding Arrangement & Musical Interpretation Award
2006-2007
Plano DLC
AA Standstill
2nd place
Outstanding Snare Line
Outstanding Bass Line
2007-2008
Plano DLC
AA Standstill
3rd place
Outstanding Bass Line
2008-2009
Lone Star Classic
Standstill Division II
Best Cymbal Line
2009-2010
Plano DLC
Best Cymbal line
Lone Star Classic
Standstill Division 1
Best Cymbal LIne
2009-2010
HEB Drumline Contest
Lone Star Classic
Percussive Arts Society Drumline Contest
- 2000 PASIC - Dallas, TX - 3rd place HS Marching (89.00)
Plano Drumline Contest
- 2009 - 4th place AA - Best Cymbal Line
- 2008 -
- 2007 - 3rd place AA - Best Bass Line
- 2006 - 2nd place AA - Best Snare Line, Best Bass Line
- 2005 - 1st place AA - Best Bass Line, Best Front Ensemble, Drop 6 Outstanding Arrangement and Musical Interpretation Award
- 2004 - 2nd place AA - Best Bass Line
- 1997 - 1st place AA
Notable Alumni
Denton Hunker
Denton graduated from North in 2002. Scott Zender was his percussion instructor, and he also studied with Robert Anderson, Quiyan Murphy, Jeff Sutherland, Mike Mathew, Michael Reed, and Michael Hernandez. Denton played quads all four years of high school.
After NMHS, Denton went to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where he studied Religion and Music Education. He was the section leader of the quad line his first year in college. In 2003 he played quads as a member of the Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps from Fort Mill, SC.
He has most notably played in the band Green River Ordinance, based out of Fort Worth. This band currently has two albums out and an EP out:
The Beauty of Letting Go (For Mona, 2005)
Way Back Home EP (For Mona, 2007)
Out of My Hands (Virgin Records, 2009)
(Here is what a green river ordinance actually IS.)
Green River Ordinance is on iTunes. Support the band! (link will open iTunes Store).
Denton is pictured second from the left.
DRUM! Magazine has an interview up with Denton Hunker, drummer of Green River Ordinance. Denton is a Big Blue Band alumnus-Class of 2002. Check out the interview here!
Denton went to TCU in Fort Worth (where he studied with Mr. Mathew’s teacher) and performed in Carolina Crown as a member of the quad line. He is especially fond of his Dr. Beat metronome (like everyone ought to be!).
Dave Abbruzzese
Dave went to Vanston JH and North Mesquite HS. He is most famous for playing with the band Pearl Jam from 1991-1994. He played the tour and some videos from the album Ten and played on the albums Vs. and Vitalogy. This was a cutting edge band setting the “grunge” trend with the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Stone Temple Pilots. Dave plays on a DW drum kit (pictured below) and uses Sabian cymbals.
Here is Dave’s website for his production company Free Association Records. According to this Wikipedia article, Dave is still living in the D/FW area and married to his childhood sweetheart.
Dave is the tallest one, here pictured with Pearl Jam
