Robert Stovall has devoted thirty-three years to the Texas Public School System as well as four years in the Private Education arena. A Past President of the Texas Music Educators Association, Mr. Stovall is currently the Director of Music and Worship Arts at First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth. While in the education field, Robert’s choirs were awarded UIL sweepstakes, festival grand champions, and Convention Performance invitations throughout his career. Most recently, Mr. Stovall was recognized by his peers of the Texas Choral Directors Association by receiving the TCDA Choral Excellence Award in 2015.

Mr. Stovall has served the state in several different capacities. His involvement in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and most recently, The Texas Music Administrators Conference, have allowed Mr. Stovall the opportunity to promote fine arts throughout the state. He continues to serve as Site-Chair for both regional and national ACDA conventions.

Mr. Stovall is an active adjudicator, speaker, clinician, and conductor both on the state and national level.

In his current position, Mr. Stovall conducts Choral Union four of the many performing ensembles recognized at FUMCFW, including the parent ensemble, Choral Union. He is responsible for staff and all fine art activities in the fine arts of the church. A native of West Texas, Mr. Stovall graduated with both a Bachelors of Music Education and Masters of Music Education from Angelo State University. Mr. Stovall’s choirs have been honored with five invitations to perform at the TMEA convention. He is married to wife, Cindy. They have two sons, Parker, of Midland, Texas, and Austin, of Stephenville, Texas. Robert and Cindy also are proud grandparents to Ryder and Jaxon, sons of Parker and Bonnie Stovall.

Creston Herron is the newly appointed Director of Orchestral Activities for the University of Kansas and serves on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp. Mr. Herron previously served as the Director of Fine Arts for the Klein Independent School District, Conductor of the Shepherd School of Music Campanile Orchestra at Rice University, Director of Orchestras at Klein High School and the Director of Orchestras for the Yes Prep Public Schools.

Mr. Herron’s recent engagements as a guest conductor include work with Regional and All State ensembles in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee and throughout Texas. He has also served on the summer faculty of the AFA Summer Music Festival, Stephen F. Austin University Summer Music Camp and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer Music Clinic.

As a dedicated pedagogue, Mr. Herron enjoys working with current and future educators and young performers. He has presented masterclasses and guest lectures at The Midwest Clinic, Rice University, Shepherd School of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, University of Houston, Moores School of Music, Sam Houston State University, Texas Tech University, The American String Teachers Association, The League of American Orchestras, and the NAMM Believe in Music Webinar Series. He also gives professional development workshops to educators locally and nationally and is involved in judging UIL competitions and solo and ensemble contests.

Mr. Herron has enjoyed national recognition both as an educator and musician with orchestras earning multiple national titles under his direction, including being named national winner of The American Prize, Grand Champions of the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, Texas Music Educators Association State Honor Orchestra, Grand Champions of the New York Orchestra Cup and invited group at the 75th Midwest Clinic held in Chicago, Illinois. Individually he has gained recognition for his work in music education as the Teacher of the Year at Klein High School, awarded the Marjorie Keller Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award by the state board of the Texas Chapter of ASTA and the Spec’s Charitable Award for Excellence in Music Education awarded by the Houston Symphony.

Alongside his work as an educator, Mr. Herron continues to hone his performing skills as a violinist, having collaborated with artists such as Renee Fleming, Mark O’Connor, and Rachel Barton-Pine. He has performed with Da Camera of Houston, CCM Spoleto Festival in Italy, Galveston Symphony, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Pasadena Philharmonic, Eutiner Festspiele Opera in Eutin, Germany and the Houston Latin Philharmonic.

Creston Herron is a graduate of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, where he received his B.M. in music performance, Rice University, Shepherd School of Music in Houston, TX, where he received his M.M. on scholarship as a Provost Fellow and a Brown Scholar, and recently received a M.Ed in school leadership from Sam Houston State University.

Creston Herron resides in Kansas City with his wife, orchestra director Dawn Herron and their three children.

Kerry Taylor currently serves as Director of Bands for Westlake High School and Fine Arts Director for Eanes ISD. Mr. Taylor is in his 35th year as a band director in the Texas public schools; five years in Katy ISD and 30 in Eanes ISD, a small community just five miles from downtown Austin. He is currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Waterloo Wind Band, a community band in Austin comprised of musicians aged 16-80. He is a graduate (BM in 1981 and MM in 1982) of the University of Texas at Austin.

During his tenure at Westlake HS, the band has travelled extensively and performed in 6 different states and 8 different countries. On January 2, 2017 the Westlake Chaparral Band performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. This was their second appearance (2003) in this parade. The Westlake Wind Ensemble has performed in Carnegie Hall, the 2002 and 2013 Midwest Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. In addition, the Westlake Band has made concert tours to the Pacific Northwest, Canada, western Europe, and the British Isles.

In 1997 the John Philip Sousa Foundation presented the Westlake Band with the Sudler Flag of Honor and, in 2010, the Sudler Shield. The band was recently named one of two programs to be awarded the inaugural Phi Beta Mu-Earl D. Irons “Program of Distinction”.

Mr. Taylor is active as a clinician and adjudicator in Texas and states throughout the South. He has served the Texas Music Educators Association in many positions including President 2005-2006) of the 10,000+ member organization. His other professional memberships include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association and the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). He is currently co-chair of the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Award Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for the ABA.  He has received the Bandworld’s “Legion of Honor” (2013), the University Interscholastic League’s “Sponsor of Excellence Award” (2014) and the Texas Bandmasters Association’s “Meritorious Achievement Award” (2016).

Jeffrey Grogan is an internationally acclaimed conductor and teacher currently serving as Director of Orchestral Activities and Professor of Music at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music and as Artistic Director of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras. He has served as adjudicator, conductor, and clinician for many prestigious national and international events. In 2018 he was invited by the LA Philharmonic to conduct with Gustavo Dudamel and Michael Morgan at Disney Hall. Mr. Grogan’s orchestras have performed in some of the greatest concerts halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Musikverein & Konzerthaus in Vienna, Sydney Opera House, and Smetana Hall in Prague. Jeffrey Grogan is a Yamaha Corporation Master Educator.

Dr. Gene Peterson is the Director of Choral Studies at California Baptist University Collinsworth School of Music. His diverse and extensive background in both academic and church music contexts supports his leadership in international performance events and tours, as well as choral arts ensembles, worship ensembles, graduate choral conducting and vocal programs at CBU.   Dr. Peterson’s breadth of expertise and experience, engaging and articulate teaching, and passion for mentoring the next generation of musicians is apparent through his work in the academy, the church as well as his work around the world.

Jerry Junkin is the Director of Bands at The University of Texas at Austin and is recognized as one of the world’s most highly regarded wind conductors. He serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia and as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Dallas Wind Symphony. In 2005 Jerry was presented the Grainger Medallion by the International Percy Grainger Society in recognition of his championing of Grainger’s works. Jerry Junkin is an enthusiastic advocate of public school music education, having conducted All-State bands and festivals in forty-eight states and on five continents.

Carla Summers taught choir at Oak Ridge High School in the Conroe Independent School District for 9 years. She graduated from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin with a choral music education degree. While at UT Austin she studied voice with David Small and sang with the University of Texas Chamber Singers and Choral Arts Society under the direction of Dr. James Morrow. Carla taught voice privately and worked with Murchison Middle and Hill Country Middle School choirs as well as with the Atascocita High School choral program. Piano was Carla’s initial instrument at the age of 6, and regularly accompanies choral, vocal, and instrumental ensembles for concerts and competitions.  She currently accompanies voices lessons at The University of Miami and chorus ensembles from the Robert Morgan Educational Center. Carla currently lives in Miami, Florida while her husband is pursuing his doctorate degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Miami.

Don Haynes served as the Director of Bands at LBJ High School in Austin, Texas for 40 years. During his tenure, the LBJ Band performed across the globe including ambassador trips to Beijing, China, London, England, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy. Mr. Haynes was awarded the prestigious – Texas UIL “Denius Award” in 1994, which is presented to Texas’ top UIL sponsors. While teaching at LBJ High School, his colleagues selected him “Teacher of the Year” four times. He was recognized as the Outstanding Community Leader (Austin) in 2015. He is frequently invited to conduct region bands in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida. Mr. Haynes is past president of the Board of Directors for the Texas Bandmasters Association. He has held offices in the Texas Music Educators Association, the TMEA Advisory Board, and the UIL State Sightreading Advisory Committee. He serves on the board of directors – “Longhorn Band Legacy Foundation” for the University of Texas Longhorn Band, and Panoramic Voices Choir of Austin, Texas.

Under his leadership, the Jaguar Band’s awards and accomplishments are numerous – The LBJ Bands have won first place honors in statewide and nationwide music festivals, including the first Fiesta Bowl Music Festival held in Phoenix, Arizona. The band consistently won sweepstakes honors at UIL marching and concert performances. Mr. Haynes is often invited to adjudicate regional and area marching and concert competitions in Texas. He has on several occasions given clinics and speeches at music conventions designed to assist young teachers in the profession. Mr. Haynes shares that his greatest accomplishment is influencing thousands of young people through his love for music, his dedication to excellence, and his commitment to creating a “band family” for 40 years at LBJ High School – known across central Texas as The One, The Only, LBJ Jaguar Band.

Following an illustrious 42 years (total) of teaching high school band, Don has become a certified Life Coach. Assisting hundreds of students, band parents and colleagues in the band profession over the past four decades, he has become a special confidant for professionals, as well as young students who are in hopes of crafting their future. He specializes in group and individual conflict resolution, and serves as a motivational speaker across the state of Texas.

During the spring of 2017 – Don served as the Interim Fine Arts Director for Austin Public Schools. As interim leader, Don assisted the department in continuing the affairs of band, orchestra, guitar, and visual arts programs for Austin ISD. School year 2017 – 2018 Don is serving the Austin ISD Fine Arts department as the Instrumental Music Coordinator.

Scott Coulson recently retired as Director of Bands at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas. He was the director since the school’s opening in 1986. Prior to his tenure at Poteet, Mr. Coulson was an assistant band director at North Mesquite High School. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music Education degree from East Texas State University, where he studied under James Keene.

Under his direction, the Poteet High School bands received the University Interscholastic League’s “Sweepstakes” Award for twenty- three consecutive years. In 2008, the Poteet Honors Band was named the TMEA State 4A Honor Band. In 2009, the Poteet Honors Band was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Sudler Flag of Honor”, and was named the Texas Bandmasters Association’s Exemplary High School Band Program in 2010.
His marching bands also excelled, winning Best in Class and Best in Contest awards at marching festivals in the North Texas area. The Pirate Band won the Texas UIL 4A State Marching Championship three times under Mr. Coulson’s tenure: 1997, 2005, and 2007, and was a state finals medalist 6 times.

Mr. Coulson’s affiliations and awards include: Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, President of Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster Fraternity- Alpha Chapter, past Concert and Marching Band Vice President of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, American School Band Director’s Association, and was named to the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Legion of Honor” in 2005.

In March of 2011, Mr. Coulson was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association at their annual convention in Norfolk, Virginia.

After spending 31 years as a Texas music educator, Mr. Alvarado recently retired as Director of Bands & Fine Arts Coordinator at Lake Highlands High School in the Richardson ISD.  He also taught in the El Paso, Plano and Garland ISD, most notably creating an award-winning program at Rowlett High School. His marching bands and concert bands were consistent UIL Sweepstakes Award winners, finalists in Area competitions and made six appearances at the Texas UIL State Marching Contest. The Rowlett H.S. Wind Ensemble was also a two-time TMEA Honor Band finalist.  In addition, Mr. Alvarado’s jazz bands achieved acclaim on the local and national level including performances at the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic and the International Association of Jazz Education Conference. The Rowlett Brass Quintet was also an invited ensemble at the 2007 Midwest Clinic. In 2015, the Rowlett Band program received the “Exemplary Band Award” from the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Mr. Alvarado earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music Education degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  Professional affiliations include membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Wind Symphony from 2009-2011 and is currently serving as a committee member for the Lone Star Youth Winds. Mr. Alvarado remains active as a consultant, clinician and adjudicator.