Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame
sponsored by
Alpha
Chapter, Phi Beta Mu
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1975-78
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Ralph Lee Mills was born April 4, 1922 in Cleburne, Texas. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1940. From 1942-1946, he was a bandsman in the Army Air Forces Band, and also a member of the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra. In 1947, Ralph became band director at Lamesa High School and remained there through 1949. It was also in 1949 that he received his B.S. degree in Performance Practices at McMurry College in Abilene.
From 1949-1951, he was with the Odessa schools and a member of the Odessa Symphony Orchestra. In 1951 (through 1954), Ralph was high school band director and coordinator of instrumental music for the Midland schools. In 1954, he became music director and coordinator of music for the First Baptist Church in Midland, a position he held through 1959. During his 8 years in Midland, he was also a member of the Midland Symphony Orchestra. In 1960, Ralph earned his master's degree at the University of Southern California, and later received his doctorate from the same university. He studied clarinet with Mitchell Lurie while attending USC. From 1961-1962, he was director of instrumental music for the Garden Grove Unified High School District, and was a member of the Anaheim Symphony Orchestra. In 1961-1964, he was director of instrumental music at El Camino College in Torrance, California, and also was a member of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.
Ralph returned to Texas in 1964 where he became professor of music, director of bands, and chairman of the instrumental division of music at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, a position which he held for 18 years. The past performances of his bands include the Texas Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, and the combined American Bandmasters Association/Japanese Band Directors Association in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Ralph is an active clinician, clarinetist and conductor. In 1976, he was named Texas Bandmaster of the Year. His doctoral
dissertation, “Technical and Fundamental Problems in the Performance of Clarinet Solo Literature", includes an in depth study on basic fundamentals of clarinet playing and is one of the sources used in Frederick Westphal's "Guide to Teaching Woodwinds", Editions 2 and 3. In May of 1988, the State of Texas Board of Regents, Texas State University System, passed a resolution designating Ralph "Professor of Music and Director of Bands Emeritus at Sam Houston State University" to hold that title in perpetuity. It was presented to him personally by the Board of Regents.
Ralph's professional affiliations include the American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Houston Professional Musicians Union, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Dr. Ralph Mills is now retired and resides in Huntsville, Texas.