Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • December 2014
3
On October 23, 2012 I had the
privilege of having Ryan Anthony (Dallas
Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet)
come out to Duncanville High School to
present a master class for our trumpet
students. Wow, what an
experience for us all. This
is when I got to know
Ryan Anthony a little
and discovered that we
both had a connection
and relationship with my
former trumpet teacher,
James Darling (Cleveland
Symphony Orchestra).
Over the past couple of years, we have
kept up through Facebook.
The following month, November
2012, Ryan Anthony had just completed
a guest appearance with his old group the
Canadian Brass and wasn’t feeling well.
Recent chronic aches sent the 43-year
old to multiple doctors searching for the
cause. Blood tests revealed abnormalities,
but the doctors reassured him “It can’t be
cancer.” Fortunately, one doctor decided
to test “just in case”. The day after the
Canadian Brass concert, Ryan got a call
that no one is prepared for. Ryan had
been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma,
a terminal cancer of the bone marrow
that most often appears in patients
70 years and older. Ryan immediately
began intensive treatment including
chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant
in Dallas at Baylor Charles A. Sammons
Cancer Center.
During his transplant, Ryan was
overwhelmed with phone calls from
trumpet players all over the world.
Everyone asked what they could do to
help. Ryan jokingly started saying, “We’ll
play a concert when I am
healthy again, and we’ll
call it C
ancer Blows
.” As
the weeks went by, the
joke solidified into a real
event with an impressive
guest list. Soon Ryan
realized the event could
be used to raise awareness
and money to further the
research that has helped give his family
and others hope for the future.
Ryan returned back to work with the
Dallas Symphony in fall of 2013. While
currently in remission he continues active
treatments every other week to battle this
disease.
Just ten years ago, Multiple Myeloma
was a death sentence with a life span
of 3-5 years. While the cancer is still
considered incurable and terminal,
recent, rapid advances in research have
greatly extended the life span of newly
diagnosed patients and hope for a cure is
a real possibility.
Cancer Blows
™
is a once-in-a-lifetime
musical event bringing together legendary
trumpet players in a special concert on
March 4, 2015. Trumpeters including
Doc Severinsen, Arturo Sandoval, Lee
Loughnane (from the band Chicago),
former trumpet players from the Canadian
Brass and more will join members of the
Cancer Blows!
Jeff King, 2014 - 15 TBA Vice President
The purpose of the
Texas Bandmasters
Association, Inc. is to:
Continually assist its
membership in achieving
the highest standards
of instrumental
music education.
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Promote the place
and value of music
education in our society
and the important role
instrumental music plays
in our cultural, intellectual,
and social lives.
u u u
Foster goodwill,
fellowship and a collegial,
fraternal spirit
among its members.
u u u
Provide its membership
with an annual
Convention/Clinic which
introduces new music,
tried and proven teaching
methods and materials
as well as instruments
and equipment.
u u u
Provide Educational
Publications of instructional
methods and materials
for TBA members and
aid them with their
personal development
and leadership.
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Provide information for
the university music student
preparing to become
a band director.
Mission
Statement