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John Kline Willie Perez
Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award Music Industry Award

John Kline is a 1973 graduate of Abilene TMF Tours and Travel was established
Christian University where he received in 2003 with a small daytime music
his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. festival at Super Splash Water Park in
Kline also holds a Master’s Degree in Music Edinburg, Texas. Through the years, TMF
from Texas A&M-Commerce, and a Supervisor’s Certification president Willie Perez saw a need for student travel that
from the University of North Texas. Having served as a band was affordable and offered services at a better price. Willie
director in the Mesquite ISD for 23 years, his bands at North expanded the festival to include multiple weekends in each of
Mesquite High School received numerous honors: finalist the metroplex areas and has added overnight travel destination
in the Parade of Champions Marching Contest seven years options throughout the U.S. and abroad. TMF rapidly grew
in a row, consistent UIL Sweepstakes winner, and Grand into a leading tours and travel company for student groups
Champion Band at the Opryland Music Festival. Kline served in the state of Texas. Currently, TMF takes student groups
as the Director of Fine Arts for the Mesquite ISD from 1995 into different parts of the world —most recently, they have
until his retirement in 2013. Over his career, he was involved gone to China, Italy, Hawaii, and Ireland. The company takes
with several music and community organizations. He is past great pride in giving back to the music industry by providing
president of the Texas Music Administrators Conference, was student scholarships, sponsoring band contests and as well as
named their Music Administrator of the Year in 2005-06 and co-sponsoring the RGV Hall of Fame and Region IVX Hall of
in 1995, and was inducted into the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Fame Banquets.
Mu. Currently retired, Kline is a Past President of the Dallas
Magic Club and was named the Dallas Magician of the Year.

Marcus High School Driscoll Middle School
Exemplary High School Band Exemplary Middle School Band
Amanda Drinkwater, Director Richard Gonzalez, Director

Marcus High School is located in Flower Driscoll Middle School opened in 1992,
Mound, Texas and is one of five high and at the time, was the most northern
schools that make up the Lewisville ISD. middle school in North East ISD, the
The Marcus Cluster Band organizations collectively strive to second largest district in San Antonio and the eighth largest
instill a life-long love of music within each student member in Texas. Known for its award winning schools, NEISD has
and have been awarded with numerous honors. The Wind multiple Blue Ribbon campuses and is rated as a recognized
Symphony was named a TMEA 5A Honor Band Finalist five district by the Texas Education Agency. In 2016, North East
times, performed at The Midwest Clinic twice and recognized ISD was named Best Communities for Music Education.
five times as a National Wind Band Honors finalist. Marching Richard Gonzalez is the Director of Bands at Driscoll MS, a
ensembles have earned seven consecutive trips to the 5A/6A position he has held since 1998. Currently the Driscoll band
Texas State UIL Marching Contest, placing First five times. program serves 200 band students. During Gonzalez’ tenure
The band has been a consistent Bands of America finalist and as head director, the Driscoll Band has earned 18 consecutive
recipient of various caption honors. The Marcus Band program UIL Sweepstakes Awards, stretching the streak to 25 years in
was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield a row for the school. In the TMEA State Honor Competition
for excellence in marching band performance in 2008 and the Driscoll Bands have advanced to Area eight times and were
the Sudler Flag for excellence in concert band performance in named Honor Band Finalist four times. The Driscoll band
2014 respectively. Currently in her 23rd year as a Texas music staff and parents have hosted region auditions for 15 years.
educator, Amanda Drinkwater has served as Director of Bands All band students participate in Solo & Ensemble contests.
at Marcus since 2005. She received her academic training at Many students from Driscoll have gone on to become music
Louisiana State University and at the University of Kansas in educators themselves.
Music Education and Instrumental Conducting, respectively.

Bandmasters Review • September 2017 25 Texas Bandmasters Association