Music
Awards & Accolades
2024-25
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Seventh Grade Blue Band
- Gold Award with Distinction, Eighth Grade Red Band
- Gold Award with Distinction, Sixth Grade Orchestra
- Gold Award with Distinction, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Gold Award, Seventh Grade Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati Ohio:
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
- Outstanding Quartet, Eighth Grade Choir
2023-24
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award with Distinction, Seventh Grade Orchestra
- Gold Award with Distinction, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Gold Award, Wind Symphony
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati Ohio:
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2022-23
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati Ohio
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2021-22
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2019-20
Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster, Phi Beta Mu, Gamma Chapter (Wendy Higdon Rice)
2018-19
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2017-18
Indiana Music Education Association Clinic and Performance (Wind Symphony in partnership with Carmel High School)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2016-17
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2015-16
IMEA Middle School Music Educator of the Year, Nicole Johnson
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2014-15
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Rehearsal Lab Clinic at the Indiana Music Education Association Conference (Wind Symphony)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award with Distinction, Philharmonic Orchestra
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Concert Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2013-14
Featured Performance at The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (Wind Symphony)
Rehearsal Lab Clinic Presentation at The Midwest Clinic (Wind Symphony)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award with Distinction, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award, Concert Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2012-13
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Featured Performance at Indiana Music Education Association Conference (Wind Symphony)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Concert Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2011-12
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Chicago, IL
- Overall Grand Champion, First Place Concert Band, Music in The Parks, Chicago, IL
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2010-11
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Overall Grand Champion, First Place Concert Band, Eighth Grade Band
- First Place Middle School Orchestra, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2009-10
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award with Distinction, Wind Symphony
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Overall Grand Champion, First Place Concert Band, Eighth Grade Band
- First Place Middle School Orchestra, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2008-09
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- First Place Concert Band, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2007-08
NAMM Best Communities for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Music in the Parks Concert Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- Overall Grand Champion, First Place Concert Band, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2006-07
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Music Showcase Festival, Cincinnati, OH
- First Place Concert Band, Eighth Grade Band
- Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Orchestra
Superior Rating, Eighth Grade Choir
2005-06
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
2004-05
Indiana State School Music Association Organization Festival:
- Gold Award, Symphonic Band
- Gold Award, Symphony Orchestra
Band
The Creekside Band program is known nationally as one of the top middle school band programs in the country. The band performed at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2013 and has received numerous other awards and honors over the years. The band program serves approximately 350 students in grades 6-8 ranging in skill level from beginning to advanced. In addition to concerts presented to the public at school, students in the band program have the opportunity to participate in the Wildcat Pep Band, honor ensembles and Solo and Ensemble festival. Students seeking leadership opportunities may also participate in the Tri-M Music Honor Society along with their peers in the orchestra and choir programs.
The Creekside Band is a place where students of all skill and interest levels are welcome. We take pride in providing a culture that is both nurturing and appropriately challenging for all.
Choir
The Creekside Choral Department is a thriving component of the performing arts program. The membership has doubled in size over the past five years and over 250 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are involved. Although the entire choir program is non-audition and open to all students they regularly receive high praise from guest clinicians and judges. The eighth grade ensembles consistently perform high school level literature including Group 1 selections. Numerous students perform at Solo and Ensemble annually with consistent Gold rating performances. Leaders can also be involved in the Creekside Tri-M Music Honor Society along with peers from the orchestra and band programs.
The choral program prides itself on its excellent comprehensive musicianship focus by daily striving to improve choral tone, developing independent music literacy skills, performing a variety of high quality literature, and connecting with the expressive and creative elements of music. Concerts for the public are performed quarterly on top of extra outside experiences like the annual charity basketball game and recruitment events.
Incoming Fifth Graders
Musical Theatre
Each year the Musical Theatre Department produces a musical treat for the Creekside community. Three performances are presented. Past productions include Annie, Jr., Dr. Seuss: The Seussical, Mary Poppins, Jr., & Fame, Jr.. In 2019 Bye, Bye Birdie was a big hit selling out at each of its performances. In 2021 the department enjoyed another sellout with their production of Willy Wonka, Jr. In 2022 the department presents Singin' In the Rain, Jr.
Read about Mary Poppins at Creekside.
Orchestra
There are over 200 students in the Creekside Orchestra program. The sixth grade Cadet Orchestra focuses on the basic skills of learning how to play a string instrument and reading music. The seventh grade Philharmonic Orchestra continues to develop and refine basic individual and ensemble skills. The eighth grade Symphony Orchestra students strengthen and refine advanced musical concepts and are exposed to advanced musical literature.
The orchestras at Creekside have received top ratings at the Indiana State School Music Association, the Indiana Music Education Association, and contests throughout the Midwest. They have also been honored to perform at The Center for the Performing Arts.
Students have the opportunity to perform in many other events such as Solo & Ensemble Contest, the Cultural Fair, and the Orchestra Ensemble.
