2008 Visiting Artist
The 2008 Department of Bands Visiting Artist is composer Jonathan Newman. He will visit classes, rehearsals and a performance of his wind music during his stay on campus. The Texas State University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will present a concert featuring the music of Jonathan Newman on Wednesday, March 26 at 8 pm at the new San Marcos High School Auditorium. The Wind Ensemble will perform Newman's "Moon By Night" at the Southwest Division Conference of CBDNA on March 1, and will repeat the work for the concert on the 26th.

Mr. Newman earned a Bachelor of Music from Boston University's School for the Arts, and a Master of Music from the Juilliard School where he studied with John Corigliano and David Del Tredici. Jonathan is a founding member of BCM International, a composer consortium of four composers (Jonathan Newman, Eric Whitacre, James Bonney and Steven Bryant) who strive to create high-quality literature for all concert and educational mediums. Newman is currently working on a wind band commission scheduled for completion sometime this fall. Texas State University is one of the participants in the consortium, and the Wind Ensemble will mostly likely perform the new work on the Visiting Artist Concert.

For more information, consult the following websites:

www.jonathannewman.com
www.bcminternational.com

More information will be available in January.

Marching Band Compact Discs: The new 2004 & 2005 Bobcat Marching Band CDs are in!! All members of the 2004 and 2005 bands can purchase the CD for only $3 from the Ensembles Office. They are also on sale to the general public for only $10, with an additional $2 if you need it shipped to you. (Call 512-245-3399 or e-mail je19@txstate.edu)

The University Bookstore also has the recordings available, and is the sole vendor on campus outside of our office.

For nearly a century, the bands at Texas State University have represented the university at many national and international conventions, conferences and major events in the United States. The Department of Bands is home to five ensembles, each with a specific purpose and function within the university and School of Music. Regardless of whether or not a student chooses to major in music, there is a home for them in one or more of our groups.

The Wind Ensemble is the finest wind band at the university. Admittance is by audition only.

The Symphonic Winds is a major wind band that performs in both the fall and spring semesters. Admittance is by audition only.

The Bobcat Marching Band has a rich history of performance excellence that spans 86 years and offers an exciting opportunity for instrumentalists, colorguard members and twirlers to continue performing in an outstanding musical organization. The band has earned the moniker “Pride of the Hill Country” due to its great spirit and high performance standards.

The Concert Band meets in the spring semester and offers an opportunity for students to continue playing without the pressure of auditions and a rigorous performance schedule.

Although the Bobcat Basketball Band begins in the fall semester, students register for credit in the spring. The band performs for all home basketball games that do not fall over a university break.