Friday, November 21, 2008
 
       Van Henry

AMCHS Head Band Director

Van Henry, Director of Bands, is in his 25th year of teaching in the public schools of Texas. Mr. Henry earned Bachelor's degrees from Rider University, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and Abilene Christian University. His Master of Music Education Degree was awarded by Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University), in San Marcos. Mr. Henry has taught in the San Benito CISD, Dallas ISD, Austin ISD, Bastrop ISD and Elgin ISD. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands for the College Station Independent School District, Mr. Henry was Director of Bands in the Bastrop ISD. During his 13 years at Bastrop High School, the Bastrop Band earned its first ever sweepstakes awards in school history. The Bastrop Band under Mr. Henry's direction won numerous marching contests and concert competitions. The Bastrop Band represented Region 18 at the Area D marching contest each year the band was eligible to compete at the area level. While Director of Bands for the Elgin Independent School District, Mr. Henry's band won the prestigious TMEA Honor Band Award in 1995 and performed for the music educators of the state of Texas at the annual Texas Music Educator's Association's annual convention. Mr. Henry, to date is the only African American band director to have won the TMEA honor band award. Bands under Mr. Henry's director also won the Westlake Marching Festival, Blinn Marching Festival, Corpus Christi Buccaneer Days Concert Band Festival, Music Fest Orlando concert band festival and numerous other concert and marching festivals. Mr. Henry is in demand as both a clinician and adjudicator having judged marching and concert contests throughout Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri and Great Britain. He has also conducted all region and all district honor bands in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lubbock, Texas, Waco, Texas, Port Lavaca, Texas and San Angelo, Texas.

Mr. Henry is a member of the Texas Music Educator's Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmaster's Association (TBA), National Band Association (NBA) and the Texas Music Adjudicator's Association (TMAA) 

 

You may contact me Mr. Henry at vhenry@csisd.org

 

       Michael Rowden

Associate Director of Bands

More information about Mr. Rowden to come.

You can contact Mr. Rowden at mrowden@csisd.org

       Michael Dixon
AMCMS Band Director

thMichael Dixon is currently in his 7th year of teaching for CSISD at A&M Consolidated Middle School. Under the direction of Mr. Dixon the AMCMS Cat Band has received first division awards at the Blinn College Music Festival, a first division in UIL sight reading four consecutive years as well consecutive Sweepstakes Trophy in 2007 and 2008. As well as teaching in College Station he has taught for Blinn College as the applied horn instructor.

Michael received his Bachelor's of Music in Education (BM Ed.) in 2002 from West Texas A&M University. He had the opportunity in college to study horn under Ron Lemon and conducting with Dr. Gary Garner. As a student he performed with the WTAMU Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and the French Horn Ensemble. While in the panhandle he taught private lessons for Canyon and Amarillo ISD's.

Currently Mr. Dixon holds the principal horn chair with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs around town during the holiday seasons. Before coming to the Brazos Valley he was assistant horn with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra for two years.

Professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and the Texas Bandmaster's Association (TBA).

In his free time Michael enjoys playing golf as much as possible, watching the Dallas Cowboys and playing with his dog Gus.

You can contact Michael Dixon by email: mdixon@csisd.org

       Tim King

CSMS Band Director

Tim King graduated from Tascosa High School in Amarillo, TX in 1996.  He was twice named to the TMEA All-State Band and served as Drum Major two years with the Rebel Band.  Mr. King then earned his Bachelors of Music degree (All-Level Certification) from West Texas A&M University in 2001.  He studied Clarinet with Mr. Doug Storey and Conducting with Dr. Gary Garner.  While at WT he participated in the national recognized Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, The Sound of West Texas Marching Band, Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and several other ensembles.  Mr. King also taught many private lessons and consulted with area high schools.     

Mr. King is currently in his 6th year of teaching for the CSISD Bands and is at College Station Middle School.  He has had continued improvement and success with CSMS Cub Band earning a Division 1 and Best in Class Award at the 2006 Blinn Music Festival, and a Division 1 Performance at the 2007 UIL Competition.  He is also in his 4th year performing with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra.  Mr. King has also consulted with area schools as well as adjudicated in the area for several events.  He also teaches in the summer with the WTAMU Band Camp in Canyon, TX.  His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. 

In his spare time Mr. King likes to golf, watch educational shows and sporting events (especially basketball Go, Spurs, Go), read, visit family and friends and enjoys attending his local church.            

You can contact Mr. King: tking@csisd.org

       Jonathan Seale
AMCMS Assistant Band Director

Jon Seale is currently in his fourth year of teaching for CSISD as the Director of Percussion for the district. This will be his second year as the assistant director at AMCMS. He has previously taught for two years as the Beginning Band Director for Cypress Grove Intermediate School. He currently performs with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and on the praise and worship team for Living Hope Baptist Church.

Jon received his Bachelor's of Music in Education (BM Ed.) in 2003 from West Texas A&M University and his Master's of Music in Percussion in 2005 also from WTAMU. Jon has had the opportunity to study Percussion under Dr. Susan Tariq and conducting with Dr.Gary Garner and Mr. Donald Lefevre. As a student he performed with the WTAMU Drumline, Percussion Ensembles, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra and the Amarillo Symphony and Opera. During his graduate studies Jon assisted with the Percussion Ensembles, conducted the Jazz Band II and was Instructor/Arranger for the WT Drumline. He also taught privately for grades six through twelve in the Canyon and Amarillo ISD's.

Jon is an active clinician, adjudicator, composer, arranger and performer in Texas. His professional affiliations include Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmaster's Association (TBA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.

Jon and his wonderful wife Kristen have been happily married for a little over four years and have two lab puppies, Brady and Sabian. In his free time Jon enjoys playing golf, working around the house, playing with the dogs, hanging out with Kristen and friends and family.

You can contact Jon Seale by email: jseale@csisd.org

       Kristen Seale

Oakwood Intermediate Band Director

Kristen Seale has been teaching in College Station for three years now. Her current position is located at Oakwood Intermediate School where she is the Beginning Band Director. 

Kristen received her Bachelor's of Music in Education (BM Ed.) in 2004 from West Texas A&M University. She received her Master's of Arts in Conducting in 2005 also from WTAMU. While Kristen attended WTAMU she had the opportunity to study Conducting under Don Lefevre. As a student she performed with the WTAMU Drumline, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Orchestra and the Amarillo Symphony. During her graduate studies Kristen assisted in conducting the WTAMU Concert Band. She also taught privately for grades six through twelve in Clovis, New Mexico, Canyon and Amarillo ISD's. While in College she was inducted in to the National Music Honor Society Pi Kappa Lambda.

While in College Station Kristen has had the opportunity to be a member of the Brazos Valley Symphony.

Her professional affiliations include, Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and Texas Bandmaster's Association (TBA).

Kristen has been happily married to her husband Jon for a little over three years and has two lab puppies, Brady and Sabian. In her free time Kristen enjoys playing golf with her husband, working around the house, scrapbooking, playing with the dogs, hanging out with Jon, friends and family.

You can contact Kristen Seale at: kseale@csisd.org

       Cliff Jones

Cypress Grove Band Director

Clifton Jones is currently the Band Director at Cypress Grove Intermediate School in College Station, Texas. A native of Houston, Texas, he grew up in Sugar Land, Texas. His early music influences were from playing clarinet and saxophone in the band programs of the Ft. Bend I.S.D. schools in Sugar Land. He studied music theory and composition with Dr. William Thornton at Trinity University in San Antonio; later composition studies were with Dr. Michael Horvit at the University of Houston, and arranging with Shelly Berg at San Jacinto Jr. College. Mr. Jones is a member of the Austin Symphonic Band in Austin, Texas, for which he has had many valuable opportunities to write and arrange (several works are dedicated to the band and its director, Richard Floyd); he is a past member of the San Antonio Municipal Band. In addition, he is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. He also works on the railroad as a volunteer with the Austin Steam Train Association.

You can contact Mr. Jones at: cliftonjones@csisd.org