Creekside Performing Arts
Creekside Middle School Bands
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.
DIRECTORS
Mrs. Wendy Higdon
Wendy Higdon is the Director of Bands and Unified Arts Department Chair at Creekside Middle School. She began her career as Director of Bands at Lebanon Middle School (IN) in 1991 and came to Carmel Clay Schools in 1999 where she taught band at Carmel Middle School until the opening of Creekside in 2004. Under her leadership, the performing arts programs at Creekside have grown from 400 students in 2004 to nearly 900 students this year.
Under her direction, the Creekside Wind Symphony was honored to perform at The Midwest Clinic in December 2013. The Creekside Wind Symphony has also been a featured performing group at the Indiana Music Education Association Conference under her direction. Her bands have consistently earned high praise from judges, clinicians and guest conductors, including twenty-six consecutive Gold Awards at the Indiana State School Music Association Organizational Contest and many Best in Class and Overall Grand Champion awards at competitions around the Midwest. The Creekside Wind Symphony has also served as a rehearsal clinic band at the 2013 Midwest Clinic and at the 2015 Indiana Music Education Association Conference.
Mrs. Higdon performs frequently with bands and orchestras in central Indiana. She has served as an adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor and guest speaker around the country. In 2013, she received the “Fifty Directors Who Make a Difference” Award from School Band and Orchestra Magazine. She has had articles appear in The Instrumentalist magazine and Bandworld magazine. Her blogs have been reprinted by NAfME and Conn-Selmer, among others. She has been a frequent presenter at the Indiana Music Education Association Professional Development Conference, and has presented a clinic session on beginning band recruitment at The Midwest Clinic. In 2016 she was a featured conductor for the Music for All Summer Symposium's inaugural Middle School Concert Band Camp.
Mrs. Higdon earned her degree in music education from Ball State University Honors College, graduating summa cum laude. She also holds two masters degrees from Butler University, one in clarinet performance and the second in education administration.
Mrs. Higdon may be reached via email at: whigdon@ccs.k12.in.us
Mr. Andrew Brough
Mr. Brough joins the Creekside Middle School Band program after teaching for nine years in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Brough received his B.A. degree in Music Education from Miami University in 2007. He spent six years as the band director at Tri-Village Schools, teaching beginning, middle and high school band. While at Tri-Village, he also taught the Northmont High School Marching Band, serving as an assistant director. In 2013, Mr. Brough became the high school band director within the Northmont City Schools District.
In addition to his duties at Northmont, Mr. Brough has been an instructor for many Ohio band programs including Fairfield High School, William Mason High School, Miamisburg High School and Valley View High School. He also spent four years marching with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, Wisconsin from 2001 through 2004. In 2014, Mr. Brough was appointed as a brass instructor for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Email Mr. Brough at: abrough@ccs.k12.in.us
Awards and Recognitions
2016-17
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
2015-16
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
2014-15
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
ISSMA Gold Award (Concert Band)
Rehearsal Lab Clinic at the Indiana Music Education Association Conference
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
2013-14
Performance at The Midwest Clinic
Rehearsal Lab Clinic with Linda Gammon at The Midwest Clinic
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Symphonic Band)
2012-13
NAMM Best Community for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Featured Performance at Indiana Music Education Association Conference
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
ISSMA Gold Award (Concert Band)
2011-12
Overall Grand Champion, First Place Concert Band, Music In The Parks, Chicago, IL
ISSMA Gold Award (Wind Symphony)
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
2010-11
Overall Grand Champion, First Place Concert Band, Music In The Parks, Chicago, IL
ISSMA Gold Award (Wind Symphony)
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
2009-10
Overall Grand Champion, 1st Place Concert Band, Music In The Parks, Cincinnati, OH
ISSMA Gold Award with Distinction (Wind Symphony)
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
2008-09
1st Place Concert Band, Music In The Parks, Cincinnati, OH
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
2007-08
NAMM Best Communities for Music Education (Carmel Clay Schools)
Overall Grand Champion, 1st Place Concert Band, Music In The Parks, Cincinnati, OH
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)
2006-07
1st Place Concert Band, Music Showcase Festivals, Cincinnati, OH
ISSMA Gold Award (Symphonic Band)