It will be all about the school bands and students at the Texarkana Texas Independent School District over the next few days.

TISD is hosting the Four States Bandmasters Convention & Clinic on Thursday, January 18 through Saturday, January 20.  An expected 400 students along with directors representing 55 schools from the four states area will be in attendance.

The Four States Bandmasters Convention & Clinic brings together the musical abilities of area students who have been nominated to the Four States Honor Band by area band directors.  During the course of the convention, students audition for one of three bands:  jazz, concert and symphonic.

Following their concert assignment, students rehearse on a daily basis and present a series of concerts to the community which will be held on Saturday, January 20 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sullivan Performing Arts Center & John Thomas Theatre.  Admission is FREE and the public is invited to attend.

Additionally, prior to the concert series, the organization will induct Buddy Deese into the FSBA Hall of Fame.  Deese has served as Band Director for Westlawn Middle School (1980-89), Pleasant Grove High School (1989-1992), Texas High School (1992-2013) and Fouke High School (2013 – Present).  He is a lifelong member of the FSBA, member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu and numerous other prestigious musical organizations.  He received the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council Educator of the Year in 2012.

Band conductors for the concert series are chosen by the Four States Bandmasters.  This year’s conductors will be:  Dr. Sean Reed, Assistant Professor of Music for Arkansas Tech University (Four States Jazz Band); Dr. Dan Belongia, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands for Arkansas Tech University (Four States Concert Band); and Jim Robken, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands for Louisiana Tech University (Four States Symphonic Band).

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