It is a great honor to serve the band directors and students of the state of Texas. Being asked to serve on the Board of Directors of Texas Bandmasters Association is a responsibility that I will accept with great pleasure and respect for all those that we serve as well as the leaders that have served on the board before us. Our association will continue to thrive as a leading and visible advocate for music educators in Texas. For sixty years, this association has been a guiding hand in educational preparation and a spiritual meeting place for the experienced and inexperienced alike to share their commitment and pedagogical expertise. I am proud to help be a part of the continuing excellence and vision on behalf of all the brothers and sisters in our field.

I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank all those who have had a great impact on my life personally and professionally. Thanks to the most important people in my life: my wife Heidi and children Alex and Andrea as well as my parents, Alfredo and Maria. I started band in San Angelo and had three wonderful public school teachers: Don Hayes, Homer Anderson, and my mentor and long time advocate, David Pennock. My years at Angelo State University were a blessing in a huge part to a great college band director—Harris Brinson who still offers sage advice and encouragement. I had an opportunity to work in a great school system, Plano ISD which introduced me to Ken Valliant, Jerry Finnell, Travis Smith, and Jerry Thomas. These men truly shaped the first part of my career and showed me what dedication to your craft truly means.

I've had some wonderful folks that I want to thank more than they will ever know for working with me and teaching me to be a team player good teacher, and a better musician: Cindy Lansford, Carl Herrmann, Philip Alvarado, Nicholas Williams, Evelio Villarreal, Richard Murrow, Brian Youngblood, Bobby Francis, Dennis Fisher, Eugene Corporon, Paul Hageman, James Bankhead, and Matthew McInturf. Thank you to all the great Texas band directors that have let me come into their band rooms, talk to their students, and shared their wonderful friendship with me on a personal level. Very special thanks to Arturo Valdez and Bryce Taylor for their heartfelt wisdom and counsel. I feel that all these great people, friends, and the wonderful students that I've had the pleasure to know have enhanced my life and showed me a spirit of sharing that I want to continue through my work with the TBA. I look forward to discovering all the new friends, students, and mentors I have yet to meet and know

Please let me thank again all of you for this unique opportunity to share my passion for music and education with my friends and colleagues around the state. I look forward to serving your needs and helping you personally and professionally in any way possible. Here's to the future and the future of our students' success.

For sixty years, this association has been a guiding hand In educational preparation and a Spiritual meeting place for the experienced and Inexperienced alike to share their commitment and pedagogical expertise.

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