Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • September 2014
2
By now, you have returned to the band
hall, the practice field or parking lot and
have started the new school year. I want
to wish you a successful and rewarding
year, whether it is your first or thirty-
first! Always keep things in
perspective as you work in
the trenches everyday; we
are teaching our students
to love and respect quality
music and to perform it at
the highest possible level.
Try to keep that in mind
as you deal with schedule
changes, fundraising, upset
parents or a surprise request to perform
by your principal!
My sincere thanks and congratulations
go to Presidents Richard and Lucinda
Herrera on another fantastic TBA
Convention/Clinic. I think the 2014
convention will go down in the record
books as one of the best. Attendees were
afforded the opportunity for more clinics
and demo groups than in previous years.
Lucinda put together a wonderful set of
events for the spouses and their family
members. All in all, this was a wonderful
convention of learning and fun.
I must take a moment to thank the
incredible TBA staff for all they do to
make the convention a success. Executive
Director Michael Brashear leads with
intelligence, organization and—most of
all—care. We are fortunate to have him
in that position every day. Then we
have to thank Robin Tovar, our Exhibitor
Manager, and Justin Young, our Director
of Information Technology—two of the
best in the business! We cannot forget
the volunteers who come in and help
out—Priscilla Brashear, Sarah Brashear,
Kimberly Young, and Gary Fair. Thank
you again to these faithful
workers for a job well done!
With a convention as big
as ours, dealing with audio/
visual needs, equipment
and all the performing
venues can sometimes
become a Herculean task.
Chuck Kuentz and Charlie
Munsell deserve a huge pat
on the back for covering these needs and
all the details involved. Thanks guys!
Once again Brian Merrill, past TBA
President, led the TBA Academy for new
teachers with great success and this year
had the largest number of people in
attendance. I highly recommend that
any new or young teacher attend this
Academy next year. Introduce new or
young teachers on your staff or in your
area to this opportunity.
Great big thanks to Frank Troyka and
his crew for the awesome Student Day.
Nearly 1500 high school students learned
how to be quality, caring leaders for
their band programs back home. Let me
encourage you to bring your students to
this incredible, life-changing event.
As we do each year, we bid a fond
farewell to one of our Board members.
Alfredo Vélez and his wife Heidi leave
us after seven years of dedicated service
to the board and the band directors
From the Board
Bruce Beach, 2014 - 15 TBA President
Bruce Beach
President
Franklin High School
900 N. Resler
El Paso, TX 79912
915-236-2266
beachbeachmus@aol.com
Steven Moore
President Elect
Lindale High School
P.O. Box 370
Lindale, TX 75771
903-881-4140
mooresw@lisdeagles.net
Jeff King
Vice President
Duncanville High School
900 W. Camp Wisdom Road
Duncanville, TX 75116
972-708-3732
kingjeffrey@hotmail.com
Chico Portillo
Treasurer
Pflugerville ISD Fine Arts
1401 W. Pecan
Pflugerville, TX 78660
512-594-0187
portillo.chico@gmail.com
John Morrison
Secretary
Hamilton Middle School
12330 Kluge Road
Cypress, TX 77429
281-320-7021
john.morrison@cfisd.net
Phillip Clements
Sergeant-at-Arms
Texas A&M University-Commerce
P.O. Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429
903-886-5285
Phillip.Clements@tamuc.edu
Richard Herrera
Past President
Brandeis High School
13011 Kyle Seale Pkwy.
San Antonio, TX 78249
210-397-8300
richard.herrera@nisd.net
Michael Brashear
Executive Director
Texas Bandmasters Association
1002 Central Parkway South
San Antonio, TX 78232
210-492-8878
mbrashear@texasbandmasters.org
Texas Bandmasters
Association
2014-15
Board of Directors