Jeffrey Gershman
Guest Conductor, December 2006

Dr. Jeffrey D. Gershman is the associate director of bands and an associate professor of music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is conductor of the Symphonic Band and teaches classes in undergraduate music education and repertoire and graduate conducting. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting degree at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Gershman maintains an active guest conducting schedule throughout the country. In addition, he has presented lectures at many state and national conventions as well as publishing articles on repertoire and programming which have been hailed as "groundbreaking."

Timothy Rhea
Guest Conductor, May 2008

Timothy B. Rhea is the Director of Bands at Texas A&M University. He serves as administrative head of the instrumental music department, serves as conductor of the University Wind Symphony, and is the director of the nationally famous “Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.” He joined the Texas A&M University band staff in June of 1993, and assumed his position of Director of Bands on June 1, 2002. In addition to conducting, Rhea maintains a very successful career as an arranger and composer. His output of compositions and arrangements numbers over 300.

Mark Rogers
Guest Conductor, November 2006

Mark Rogers was born in Littlefield, Texas, and has degrees in instrumental music education from Texas Tech (bachelor and master’s degrees) and the University of Texas (doctorate in wind conducting). Dr. Rogers is the Director of Publications at Southern Music Company, where his editions of the band music of Percy Grainger and John Philip Sousa and transcriptions of orchestral works have drawn critical acclaim. In his spare time he plays bassoon and contrabassoon with orchestras in Corpus Christi, Victoria, Laredo, Seguin, and New Braunfels (and on occasion with the Austin and San Antonio Symphonies), and teaches bassoon at San Antonio College, Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University.

Richard Shuster
Piano Soloist, March 2007

Dr. Richard Shuster is Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Piano Studies at Texas Woman's University. His degrees in piano performance include the Bachelor of Music from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and the Master of Music and Doctorate in Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he was a student of Rebecca Penneys. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Grant for study at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Shuster was recently recognized as a National Arts Associate by Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity for his accomplishments in the arts.

Frank Ticheli
Guest Conductor, April 2010

Frank Ticheli's music has been described as being "optimistic and thoughtful" (Los Angeles Times), "lean and muscular" (New York Times), "brilliantly effective" (Miami Herald) and "powerful, deeply felt crafted with impressive flair and an ear for striking instrumental colors" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel). Dr. Ticheli joined the faculty of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music in 1991, where he is Professor of Composition. From 1991 to 1998, Ticheli was Composer in Residence of the Pacific Symphony. Frank Ticheli is well known for his works for concert band, many of which have become standards in the repertoire. Ticheli was the winner of the 2006 NBA/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest for his Symphony No. 2.

Frank Troyka
Guest Conductor, December 2007

Frank Troyka is Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. A teacher of 23 years, ensembles under his director have been selected to perform at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and the Midwest Clinic. He is a perennial faculty member of the Music For All Leadership Weekend Experience summer workshop and served as one of the concert band conductors at the 2003 BOA Summer Symposium held at Illinois State University.

Alfredo Vélez
Guest Conductor, September 2006

Alfredo Vélez III currently is the Director of Bands at Lone Star College-Kingwood. In this capacity, Mr. Vélez directs the Symphonic Band and the Jazz Ensemble. In addition to these ensemble responsibilities, he also conducts the Kingwood Symphonic Community Band and teaches courses in music education. His dedication to advancing the arts is only surpassed by his strong advocacy for music education in the state of Texas. Mr. Vélez is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the College Band Directors National Association.