North Mesquite High School - Trailblazer Yearbook (Mesquite, TX)

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Proud Moment — Orchestra President Dottie Spalding accepts an award for the orchestra at the Honor Orchestra concert in Fort Worth. This Concert’s for you — With Jana Gamble, Melody Roberts, Linda Boroughs, Danny Macey, and Paul Hunter looking on, Mr. Minnick introduces the TMEA Honor Orchestra. Some kind of hero — Director Weldon Minnick reads the plaque presented to him by the TMEA President. Musical magic — mr. John Kl ine directs the orchestra during a rehearsal at the Tarrant County Convention Center. 12 TMEA Honor Or

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Flower Power — Sandy Hiit, Hope Phillips, and Rhonda Schreiber smile at the camera during the Homecoming pep rally. The Homecoming Queen of 1983 is Keri Baird escorted by her father Ken Baird. ‘Home Turf’ It was October 7, a day filled with nonstop excitement. Students got to school early, so they could talk to all their friends, and see what all they got for Homecoming. Walking through the halls, there wasn’t a moment of silence, bells everywhere! Some teachers even made the girls scotchtape the bells before entering class. As the day lingered on, the excitement grew. Classes still continued, but it was difficult to concentrate on books when your thoughts were focused on that night’s activities. Finally the last bell of the day rang and students trampled to their cars, which some found shoe-polished. They hurried home to get ready for the night to come. Homecoming fans crowded into their home turf, Memorial Stadium to sit back and enjoy pregame activities. The Pacesetters and the Big Biue performed their regular pregame show with a little something extra. The moment that was long awaited finally came. The noise from the crowd died down and the ‘‘court’’ was announced. The crowd was silent when suddenly, “‘The 1983 Homecoming queen is. . . Keri Baird.’’ Keri was crowned by the former queen Sherri Reville and recieved a dozen long stemmed roses. Keri Baird comments on being Homecoming Queen, “‘I felt it was such an honor being nominated; It was so exciting to have my daddy escort me onto the field. He was as excited as | was. It was an experience we'll both remember for the rest of our lives.”’ As the crowd roared with excitement, the queen and her court were escorted off the field. The game was no let down for the Homecoming fans. The Stallions defeated the Garland Owls, 14-0. Student Life 11

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Musical showdown — The Honor Orchestra practices hard prior to the big concert. Celebrate in Cowtown After 370 hours of organized class rehearsal time, plus innumerable hours of personal practice time and private lessons, the show was finally on the road. The show was the 1984 Texas Music Educators Association Convention in Fort Worth, Texas; and it began with these words, spoken by the TMEA President, ‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the N orth Mesquite High School Orchestra — the 1984 TMEA Symphonic Honor Orchestra.” The long day started on the morning of February 2 when seventy students, ten chaperones, and three music directors boarded buses, vans, and a U-Haul headed for Fort Worth. After the seemingly endless bus trip, the members of the orchestra relaxed by attending the concert of the String Honor Orchestra from Lake Highlands High School. After enjoying the sounds of the string group, it was time to get back to work and rehearse for the big concert that evening. This particular rehearsal, long and grueling though it was, was fil led with nervous jokes and anticipation of the event to come. The remainder of the morning and early afternoon were spent in the convention area viewing the exhibits, tasting free samples, trying out new instruments, and buying musical souvenirs. Later, the orchestra members reboarded the buses and traveled to Crystal’s Pizza Parlor to relax over dinner. For the NM orchestra, relaxation meant an afternoon spent playing video games and skeeball, watching cartoons and television, riding the coin operated cars and trains, and sleeping. As the exhausted orchestra members loaded the buses one more time, Jo Della King voiced the thought on everyone’s mind when she said, ‘‘Do we have to have a concert tonight?” The show, however, did go on. Amid changed plans, crowded restrooms, and limited mirror space, the seventy members of the high school orchestra were transformed into professional musicians. Director Weldon Minnick commented on this transformation by saying, ‘‘ think we have one of the most business-like groups around. | was most impressed by the preparation going on backstage and the fact that everyone finished like a trooper despite the nervousness.” The orchestra gave an outstanding performance, as the standing ovation proved. The orchestra members left the stage, collapsed into their bus seats, and slept, content in the knowledge that they were successful in their mission: To show Texas that the North Mesquite Symphony Orchestra is the best ever. Student Life 13