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2018 Malcolm Helm Memorial Endowed

Scholarship Winner

Taylor Gaskins is in her senior year as a Music Education When not in a practice
major at the University of North Texas. Taylor, a 2015 room, in class, in rehearsal,
graduate of Vandegrift High School, studies clarinet or teaching, Taylor can be
with Professor Daryl Coad and music education with found attempting to play
Professor Dennis Fisher, Dr. Nicholas Williams, and Dr. ukulele, writing short stories,
Donna Emmanuel. She served on the Green Brigade attending Tuesday night
Marching Band leadership team as the Student Assistant collegiate services at her
for Marketing and Student Engagement, a section leader, church, spending time with her friends, Skyping her family,
and a field technician. Taylor has performed with both the or thinking about dessert. She hopes to teach middle school
Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble during her tenure at band in Texas after graduating in May 2019 and plans to
UNT. Additionally, she thoroughly enjoyed performing as encourage her students to pursue excellence and define the
a featured bass clarinetist on “Giroux: Shine”, a CD of Julie standard in all they do.
Giroux’s compositions released in April 2018. Taylor would like to thank her parents for their incredible
Taylor currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the support, for many years of music lessons, and for tolerating
Phi Tau Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon and holds membership her beginning clarinet sounds, along with her friends and
in both Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Phi. Outside of all of the music educators in her life for their guidance,
school, Taylor is the lead counselor and social media chair instruction, and mentorship. Without their encouragement,
for UNT’s ClarEssentials Summer Workshop, maintains a her life would look quite different… and distinctly less
private studio at Melissa Middle School in Melissa ISD, and musical! These teachers include Amy Allison, Chris Yee,
is a marching technician for Timber Creek High School in Carter Matschek, Jeremy Spicer, Mike Howard, Stephanie
Keller ISD. In addition to the Helm Scholarship, Taylor is a Grote, Katherine VanDoren, Gary Meyer, Michael Zook,
2015 recipient of the TMEA Executive Board Scholarship. Julie Linder-Gaulin, John Parker, and Dodie Morris.

2018 TBA Student Melody Competition

Congratulations to Jose Salinas, freshman at Glenda Dawson High School in Pearland, for
being selected as the winner of the 2018 TBA Student Melody Competition. Mr. Salinas began
playing the tenor trombone in 6th grade band and plays the bass trombone in his high school
wind ensemble. Jose also plays the piano and likes to compose music. He recently wrote
a piece for his high school choir. In addition to playing in his school’s ensembles, Jose is a
member of the Houston Youth Symphony and studies music theory. Jose’s winning melody,
titled “Inevitable,” was used as thematic material for a new wind ensemble piece composed by
Grammy nominated composer Rick DeJonge. The resulting piece was premiered by the U.S.
Air Force Band of the West at the TBA Convention/Clinic this summer. The 2018 TBA Student Melody Competition
received 76 entries submitted by 6th-12th grade Texas students. A panel comprised of KHS America Academic Alliance
musicians, educators, composers and industry professionals initially narrowed the field to three finalists before selecting
the winning melody. Jose and his parents, along with his band director Ryan Agard, were given accommodations at the
Marriott Riverwalk to attend this premiere performance, all courtesy of the KHS America Academic Alliance.

Bandmasters Review • September 2018 20 Texas Bandmasters Association