Tarleton State Bands
Tarleton Invitational Band Festival
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Bands that participate in the Invitational Band Festival receive
COST: $250.00 |
The Tarleton State University Invitational Band Festival offers a first-class performance and music education experience for outstanding bands and for students participating in the Tarleton Band Program. Each year, a guest composer is invited to the Tarleton campus to work with the students involved with the music program and with band programs throughout the State of Texas who participate in the festival. While each composer brings similar professional practices, every experience can differ from year to year. After each band’s concert presentation, the guest composer will give a clinic on stage. This experience brings each student’s music making to life and gives the performer the opportunity to experience a composers intentions and interpretation.
In addition to the guest composer, a panel of adjudicators will offer pre-festival audio and written comments. In this regard, the Invitational also serves as a PRE UIL Concert and Sight Reading Festival.
Once the performing ensemble has completed their stage performance and clinic with the guest composer, a second clinic may be performed in a private setting with one of the stage performance adjudicators, thereby enhancing the evaluation experience with immediate feedback.
Invitational Band Festival Composers-In-Residence
| 2011 | Col. John R. Bourgeois, USMC, Ret. |
| 2012 | Frank Ticheli |
| 2013 | Samuel R. Hazo |
The Philosophy behind the Tarleton Invitational Band Festival is
-to provide each participating band the opportunity to perform in the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Auditorium
-to provide an opportunity for students to work with the composer and other professionals in the music education profession
-to offer band directors an opportunity to receive Pre UIL Concert and Sight Reading comments and suggestions that may be beneficial to the music-making process of their program
-to allow students in the Tarleton State University Band Program the opportunity to network with leading composers, music educators, adjudicators, and participating band directors.
-to provide the Tarleton and Stephenville communities an opportunity to have a visiting professional composer of national/international stature to further the musical culture offered by the University
What Others Are Saying About the Invitational Band Festival
"What we experienced at Tarleton State with Dr. Ticheli exceeded our expectations in every way. Our concert performance was truly memorable, and seeing Frank Ticheli bound onto stage following our last selection made our students just light up. They hung on his every word, took his musical advice to heart instantly, and left having been truly moved by the experience of working with one of the finest composers in the world. Our post-concert clinic off-stage was insightful and helpful. With UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest a few weeks away, the advice of Dr. Hebert aided our ensemble greatly in making our final preparations. To any directors considering attending in the future, I would highly advise that you jump in with both feet. It can sometimes be intimidating - performing for people of this caliber - but the band staff and students at TSU made us feel like superstars. It's an experience my students will remember for a lifetime." ~Gerry Miller, Director of Bands, Fine Arts Department Chair, Wakeland High School, Frisco, Texas
"We had the most outstanding time! Colonel Bourgeois was absolutely wonderful and so gracious. Performing in front of him was intimidating to say the least but he made us feel fantastic. My kids recognized the music he brought out of them and the were so impressed." %7ePriscilla Gibson, Director of Bands, Archer City High School, Archer City, Texas
To register for the 2013 event, please email Dr. Pursell by clicking here.
TIBF III (March 27-28, 2013) With Samuel R. Hazo
(b. 1966) Samuel R. Hazo resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife and children. In 2003, Mr. Hazo became the first composer in history to be awarded the winner of both composition contests sponsored by the National Band Association. He has composed for the professional, university and public school levels in addition to writing original scores for television, radio and the stage. His original symphonic compositions include performances with actors Brooke Shields, James Earl Jones, David Conrad and Richard Kiley. He has also written symphonic arrangements for three-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams. Mr. Hazo’s compositions have been performed and recorded world-wide, including performances by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra (national tour), the Birmingham Symphonic Winds (UK) and the Klavier Wind Project’s recordings with Eugene Migliaro Corporon. Additionally, his music is included in the series "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band." Mr. Hazo's works have been premiered and performed at the Music Educators’ National Conference, Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Convention, National Honor Band of America, National Band Association/TBA Convention, College Band Directors’ National Association Convention and also aired in full-length programs on National Public Radio. He has served as composer-in-residence at Craig Kirchhoff’s University of Minnesota Conducting Symposium and has also lectured on music and music education at universities and high schools internationally. In 2004, Mr. Hazo's compositions were listed in a published national survey of the "Top Twenty Compositions of All Time" for wind band.
Mr. Hazo has been a music teacher at every educational grade level from kindergarten through college, including tenure as a high school and university director. Mr. Hazo was twice named “Teacher of Distinction” by the southwestern Pennsylvania Teachers’ Excellence Foundation. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Duquesne University where he served on the Board of Governors and was awarded as Duquesne’s Outstanding Graduate in Music Education. Mr. Hazo serves as a guest conductor and is a clinician for Hal Leonard Corporation. He is also sponsored by Sibelius Music Software. Recordings of his compositions appear on Klavier Records and Mark Records.
Our National Adjudicators for March 2013
Dr. Robert Grechesky
Director of Bands
Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana
Click here for Dr. Grechesky's Bio
Dr. William Malambri
Director of Bands Emeritus
Winthrop University
Click here for Dr. Malambri's Bio
Dr. Frank Tracz
Director of Bands
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KansasClick here for Dr. Tracz's Bio Dr. Gary Westbrook
Associate Director of Bands
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Texas
Click here for Dr. Westbrook's Bio
