Denise Eaton, President

Denise R. Eaton has taught secondary choral music for 27 years. A native Texan, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where she received the Bachelor of Music degree in education with emphasis in piano and voice.

Eaton is currently in her fifteenth year as the head choral director at Spring High School in the Spring ISD. Prior to accepting her current position in 1994, she was the associate choral director at Sam Rayburn High School in the Pasadena ISD for 12 years. Choirs under her direction have performed at TMEA conventions in 1994, 1997, 2003, 2004, and 2007 and at the 1998 Southwest ACDA convention.Chamber Choirs under her direction have won the prestigious American Classic Madrigal and Chamber Choir festival in San Antonio five times.

Eaton has served TMEA as Area and Region Vocal Chairman, All-State Treble Choir Organizer, All-State Section Leader and as a convention facilities team member. She has also served on both the UIL Sight-reading and PML committees. An active clinician, she has conducted numerous Texas All-Region choirs, the 2001 Arkansas All-State Treble choir and the 2006 Louisiana ACDA All-State Treble choir. She was the 1998 recipient of the Southwestern Bell UIL Sponsor’s Excellence Award and was named the 2004 Spring High School Teacher of the Year.

Known for her innovative teaching styles, Eaton has presented numerous workshops and clinics for TMEA regions and school districts throughout Texas and Georgia, for TCDA and TMEA conventions and is a founding member of the CEDFA cadre. She authored SMART Volume I (Sight Singing Made Accessible Readable and Teachable), a sight-reading book published in July of 2006. She is a member of ACDA, TMEA, TMAA and TCDA.

Contact Information:
Spring HS
20423 Cannaberry Way
Spring, Tx 77388
Phone: (281) 891-7061
Fax: (832) 764-7001
denisee@springisd.org

Ross Boothman, President-Elect

Ross Boothman is the director of bands and music department chair at Lumberton High School. Currently in his twenty-second year of teaching, he has taught in Lumberton for sixteen years and previously taught in the Deweyville and Hardin-Jefferson school districts.

Under his direction, the Lumberton High School band has become a consistent UIL sweepstakes award winner. In addition, the symphonic band has been named outstanding instrumental ensemble at festivals in Orlando and Atlanta.

He earned his Bachelors and Masters in Music Education from Lamar University. In May of 2006, he completed his Masters in Educational Administration, also from Lamar University.

He is a member of TMEA, ATSSB, TMAA, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Ross and his daughter, Lauren, live in Lumberton.

Contact Information:
Lumberton High School
103 S. LHS Dr.
Lumberton, TX 77657
Phone – 409-923-7858
Fax – 409-923-7819
Email – rboothman@lumberton.k12.tx.us

JD Janda, Past-President

JD (John David) Janda is a native of Bellville, Texas. Janda earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree at Southwestern University in Georgetown, with a minor in Trombone Performance. He holds a Masters Degree in Educational Management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Janda’s professional career has spanned 29 years. He currently is the Director of Fine Arts for the Georgetown ISD (since May 2009). In this appointment, Janda supervises the dance, theater, visual arts and music departments of the growing district. Previously, he worked as Director of Bands at Columbus HS, Boling HS, Katy JH and 19 years at James E. Taylor HS in the Katy ISD. While at Taylor HS, Janda directed the 300-member JET Marching Band, the Wind Ensemble, the Junior Varsity Band and served as Associate Conductor of the Taylor HS Symphony Orchestra. Janda was recognized for his outstanding contributions to students lives in 2001 when he was named recipient of the “Southwestern Bell - UIL Sponsor Excellence Award” for the State of Texas.

Janda has also served as the TMEA State Band Division Chair, Region 23 Band Chair, the TMEA Area E Audition Chair, the TMEA 5A All-State Audition Chair and serves as chair of the UIL State Music Advisory Committee. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu - International Bandmaster Honor Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda - Music Honor Society, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Music Administrators Conference and the Texas Jazz Educators Association.

JD’s wife, Nancy, teaches eighth grade math in the Georgetown ISD at Forbes Middle School. His daughter, Janie, is a music education major at Texas Tech University and plays horn in The Goin’ Band. His son, Gordon, is a ninth grader at Georgetown HS where he is involved in many activities including playing tuba in the band.

Contact Information:

Georgetown ISD
107 Parque Dr.
Georgetown, TX,  78626
Phone: (512) 943-5110
Fax: (512) 943-5111
Email- jandajd@georgetownisd.org

Chuck Young,
Vice-President and Band Division Chair

Chuck Young is the director of bands at Gregory-Portland HS. More details to come . . .

Contact Information:
Gregory-Portland HS
Email – cyoung@g-pisd.org

Jeff Turner,
Vice-President and Orchestra Division Chair

Jeff Turner has been the Instrumental Music Coordinator for the Plano Independent School District since 2007. Prior to his administrative position, he taught orchestra for sixteen years. He served at the director of orchestras at Plano Senior High School for seven years and before that was the director of the Vines High School Orchestras and Williams High School Orchestra also in Plano. Mr. Turner earned a Bachelor of Music Education from New Mexico State University in 1991 and a Master of Secondary Education from the University of North Texas in 2002. Before moving to Texas, Mr. Turner taught orchestra for five years in Las Cruces, New Mexico where he taught grades 6-12.

Under his direction, his orchestras in NM and Texas have received numerous first division and sweepstakes awards at local and national festivals. The Plano Senior High Orchestra was a consistent finalist in honor orchestra competition (string and full) every year under his direction. The Plano Senior High Symphony Orchestra was invited to perform at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2003 and was named the 2007 Texas Music Educators Association Honor Full Orchestra.

Mr. Turner has served as secretary for the Southwest District of the New Mexico Music Educators Association, President Elect for the NM chapter of ASTA, and elected Vice President for Orchestra for the NMMEA. He is the past orchestra division chair for TMEA Region 24. Mr. Turner holds memberships in TMEA, TMAA, TMAC, TODA, and is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He has also taught at Texas Tech, Baylor, New Mexico State, and Hummingbird music camps as well as a chamber coach for The Institute for Strings at SMU.

Mr. Turner lives in Plano with his wife, who is also a music educator, and their two boys, Danny and Jack. He is an active all-region clinician and adjudicator in Texas and NM and will conduct the Concert Orchestra at New Mexico All-State in January 2009. Mr. Turner is also the concertmaster of the orchestra at First Baptist Church in Dallas and performs with various professional groups in the Dallas area.

Contact Information:
Plano ISD
3416 Hilltop Ln
Plano, TX 75023
Phone: (469) 752-5380
Fax: (469) 752-3081
Jeff.Turner@pisd.edu

Joe Weir began his teaching career in the Humble ISD at Atascocita Middle School in 1984. He transferred to Humble High School in 1991. At HHS, Joe served as the associate director for twelve years and as the department chairman for three years. While teaching at HHS, his Madrigal Singers were selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2001 and the Southwest American Choral Director's Association Convention in 2002.

In the Fall of 2006, Joe opened Atascocita High School as the Choir Department Chair where his program maintains a healthy enrollment of 260. At AHS, Joe teaches the A Cappella Choir, the Concert Men, and the Madrigal Singers. Over the years, his choirs have earned consistent sweepstakes awards and been named Best in Class at several festivals in Texas and Florida. Mr. Weir is very proud of the fact that he is nominated yearly by his colleagues for Teacher of the Year and by his students for Who's Who Among American High School Teachers. Joe has spent many summers teaching the All-State literature at camps around the state and stays active as an adjudicator and region clinician throughout the year.

Joe has proudly served TMEA in almost every capacity and is now honored to serve as the Vocal Division Vice-President. His previous TMEA offices/positions include: Region XIX Vocal Vice-Chairman, Region XIX Vocal Chair, Area F Chair, Region XIX audition host & UIL Solo & Ensemble host, 2000 All-State Mixed Choir Section Leader, 2002, 2003 All-State Mixed Choir Organizer, 2004, 2005 TMEA Vocal Division Clinic Coordinator/Facilities Team, 2006 TMEA Convention Assist. Equipment Manager, 2007, 2008 TMEA Convention Equipment Manager.

Joe earned his Bachelor of Music from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas and his Master of Music in conducting from the University of Houston. Outside of school, Joe serves as the Director of Music at Atascocita Presbyterian Church. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Choral Directors Association, the Texas Choral Directors Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Contact Information:
Atascocita HS
19627 Firesign Dr
Humble, Tx 77346
Phone: (281) 641-7606
Fax:281-641-7517
Joseph.Weir@humble.k12.tx.us

John Gillian,
Vice-President and Elementary Division Chair

John Gillian is Elementary Music Curriculum Specialist for Ector County ISD in Odessa and a half-day teacher at Barbara Jordan Elementary. He completed coursework in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa earning a Texas Principal certificate; completed a Master of Music in Kodály Pedagogy from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Music from Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

Gillian has taught elementary music for 14 years, plus an additional five years as an assistant band director. During the band years, Gillian's groups earned UIL Sweepstakes Awards, competed in the UIL State Marching Contest, and performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.

TMEA has always been an important part of Gillian's professional life. Having first joined TMEA as a college student, Gillian has served in numerous roles including Region 6 Elementary Chair, Elementary and Band Division convention office volunteer, and he is a member of the TMEA/TMAC Curriculum Assessment Committee. Gillian received a TMEA Graduate Study Scholarship in 2002.

Gillian is a member of TMEA, TMAC, TCDA, OAKE, KET, and ATPE.

Married to Leslie, also a teacher in Ector County ISD, the Gillians have a young elementary-aged son, Jerry.

Contact Information:
Ector County ISD
3624 Loma Dr
Odessa, TX 79762
Phone: (432) 334-7112 x 7288
Fax: (432) 334-7174
Email – john.gillian@ectorcountyisd.org

Dr. Fiese is Professor in Music Education at Houston Baptist University where he is responsible for all studies in music education and instrumental conducting.  Fiese also serves as the advisor for the HBU student Music Education Society.  He has been a senior faculty member and member of the graduate faculties at the University of Houston (currently the Moores School of Music) and the University of Miami (currently the Frost School of Music).  He is a former TMEA vice-president and chair of the College Division, President of Florida College Music Educators Association, TMEA Research Chair, and FMEA Research Chair.  Dr. Fiese is widely published and has extensive professional performance experience across the United States and throughout South America.  In addition, Dr. Fiese conducts numerous clinics for bands and orchestras in the schools throughout the southwest.  Dr. Fiese lives in Tomball with his wife Robin, a former Texas musician-educator, his son Jackson Christofer, and their two dogs, Jazz and Kylie.

Contact Information:

Houston Baptist University
E-mail- rfiese@hbu.edu