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

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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

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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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Mesquite Week: Every year one of the most exciting =] games is Mesquite vs. North Mesquite. The Skeeters have always seemed to bring out the best in the Stallions. The week of the game is spent preparing for the big night: everything from hat day, boot day, wrangler day, to door decorations and Epitaph winners: al l promoting spirit for the Stallions. The Cheerleaders asked the fourth period clases to make some kind of door decoration to show their support for the Stallions. While the orchestra began working on their double doors to the band hall and Mrs. Wilson’s Latin class collected streamers, Mrs. Allan’s Biology class was constructing the winner, a scientific examination of the Skeeter, proving he could be easily stomped by the Stallions. Painted faces — John McDaniel, Mark Dilodovico and their friends turned some heads at the North Mesquite-Mesquite game. They ail painted let ters on their faces that shelled out NMHS 1, just one of the many spirit ideas through the week. IMFO ICC TA PITT i a Boman ae | surrender. Jan Susco raises her hands and is captured by Brad Winkfein in the halls during Mesquite week. Just horsing around — Wayne McKee, Cliffton Payne, Brad Winkfein, and Matt Kinkeade crowd around Spirit and watch the pep rally. 14 Mesquite Week