Wylie East High School
Wylie East High School boasts one of the largest and most comprehensive choral programs in Texas and the United States. The Wylie East High School Choirs, led by Dr. Nathan Dame, Mrs. Ashley Dame, and Mr. Andrew Carr have experienced remarkable growth in recent years to include 440 students in twelve ensembles. Their achievements include superior ratings in local, regional, and state contests, appearances at the 2022 TMEA Convention, the 2024 Southwestern ACDA Convention, and designation as two-time National Winners in the National Choral Honors Contest. Over the last seven years, the Raider Choirs have received 28 UIL Sweepstakes awards, earned 205 chairs in the highly competitive TMEA All-Region Choirs, and placed 15 singers in the prestigious Texas All-State Choirs.
The Wylie East Choirs are committed to providing unique musical and performance opportunities for students and shape experiences based on their four collaborative value statements: We Over Me, Be Inclusive, Be Passionate, and Music is for Happiness. East Choirs collaborate with other conductors, composers, and universities through concerts, the commissioning of new works, and embark annually on choir tours to offer life-changing experiences that are open to all students in the choral program. Recent premieres include "Courage Lives" (Mark Patterson, TTBB, 2024), "If" (Jonathan Reid, TTBB, 2023), "Last Night of Winter" (Connor Koppin, TTBB, 2022), "Falling Stars" (Kevin Padworski, SATB, 2021), and "Measure Me, Sky" (Jonathan Reid, SATB, 2020).
They travel annually around the state, country, and internationally. Recent travels include: London, Colorado, Disney World, Branson, San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. Choral ensembles include A Cappella Mixed Choir, Varsity Tenor-Bass Choir, Varsity Treble Choir, Cantus, Bella Voce, Bel Canto, Select Tenor-Bass Choir, Select Treble Choir, Concert Treble Choir, Concert Tenor-Bass Choir, Out of the Blue, Blue Horizon, and Symphonic Chorale.
