a community of musicians at TXST School of Music
On April 23 I wrote that I had been asked to postpone my retirement and stay on one more year as Director of the School of Music. I was OK with that. Now we are deep into necessary budget cuts, and the University is encouraging longtime faculty to retire so their position can be de-funded…
The original Clark’s Rules for Musician Success are seven basic principles to live by. They have worn well, largely drawn from my observation of the common traits of great musicians I’ve had the good fortune to meet or work with. As I head toward the end of my administrative career, I reflect now on the…
The end of my 12th year as Director of the School of Music was to be my last before retirement, after 49 years of college teaching and administration. It’s not at all the kind of celebratory last year of my career that I was expecting! And as it turns out, also not my last year.…
As we each realize how important our health, family, and community are to us, we realize things about ourselves as musicians and members of our Somos Músicos School of Music community . . . We miss being together and making music together so much that even the remote togetherness of a group Zoom session is…
Plans are now in place for the students and faculty of the School of Music to safely continue their studies by remote communication for the remainder of the semester. The isolation is difficult, with music-making being such a team sport, but the music faculty are rising creatively to the challenge. I trust the students will…
The School of Music’s new Rock Ensemble, directed by Dr. Jose M. Garza, Jr., performed Friday, December 6 at Tantra Coffee House in San Marcos. Members include: Evan Barnes (guitar), Jacob Bellemans (drums), Ethan Bruner (vocals), Roy Carpenter (bass), Alyx Cousins (vocals), Stephen Douglas (guitar), Aaron Dworaczyk (drums and guitar), Owen Morgan (bass), Lucas Munson…
A CD recorded by Daria Rabotkina at Texas State was named a Critic’s Choice by American Record Guide.
Steven Vogel (BM ’15) recently joined the Edwards Instrument Company artist roster. He is currently on the faculty at Texas Lutheran University and Lone Star College – University Park, in addition to holding positions with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass.
▪ Abel Jaimes won a saxophone position in the Young Adult Honors Wind Ensemble to perform at the Musikverein in Summer 2020. Vienna, Austria. ▪ Lauren Gordon has been selected as the guest soloist with Sycamore Springs Middle School Band in Spring 2020. ▪ Edgar Blandon was hired as a Music Mentor for Kids in…
Saxophone professor Todd Oxford won First Place in the Professional Soloist Category of the American Protégé International Woodwinds & Brass Competition, New York. Oxford’s other recent activities of note include: ▪ Nominee: International Acoustic Music Awards – Instrumental Division, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ▪ Hired by University Interscholastic League Music Division to…