Goshen Community Schools

Goshen, IN — Goshen High School’s band program has received one of the highest honors in music education, earning the Earl D. Irons Program of Distinction Award from the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity.

The recognition was announced during the Goshen High School Winter Band Concert, where Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty presented a proclamation declaring Goshen High School Band Excellence Day in the City of Goshen on December 17^th, 2025. During the concert, the mayor also presented Keys to the City to band directors Tom Cox and Josh Kaufman, honoring their leadership and the program’s long-standing impact on students and the Goshen community.

The Earl D. Irons Program of Distinction Award is a national honor presented through an international evaluation process. It recognizes high school band programs that demonstrate superior musical achievement, professional integrity, leadership, and sustained excellence over many years.

In 2025, Goshen High School was one of only two band programs in the United States to receive this distinction, alongside North Shore Senior High School in Texas.

The award honors the entire band program, evaluating concert band, marching band, and jazz ensembles, as well as overall program culture, student achievement, community engagement, and alumni impact. Named for Earl D. Irons, a nationally respected band director and educator, the award reflects Phi Beta Mu’s mission to promote excellence in music education at all levels.

Cox and Kaufman were formally presented with the Earl D. Irons Program of Distinction Award on December 18^th, 2025, at the Midwest International Band Clinic in Chicago, IL, one of the world’s most respected gatherings of music educators.

This national recognition reflects the dedication of Goshen High School’s students, directors, and the broader Goshen community and underscores Goshen Community Schools’ long-standing commitment to excellence in music education.