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Michael Watts graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, with a Bachelor of Music education degree. As an undergraduate he studied saxophone with Dr. Joseph Wytko and conduction from Dr. Richard E. Strange and Dr. Robert C. Fleming. While in high school, he studied saxophone with Dr. Larry Teal at the University of Michigan. Mr. Watts has also complete graduate course work at Arizona State University and West Texas A&M University. Mr. Watts has been teaching for Ector County Independent School District since 1983. He has been director of bands at Permian High School since 1996. Under his direction the band has received straight first division ratings in all University Interscholastic Contests, qualified for the Texas State Marching Contest, been named outstanding band and performing group at several music contests across the country, performed in the 2004 "Tournament of Roses Parade" and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention in December, 2006. The Marching Band was nominated for the "Sudler Shield" in 1997 for its traditional marching excellence and the Symphonic Band is nominated this year for the "Sudler Flag of Honor" sponsored by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. Mr. Watts has held several offices for the Texas Music Educators Association including: Region President, Region Vice President, Region Band Chair, Area Auditions Chair and All-State Auditions Chair. Mr. Watts is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association and the Texas Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, an International School Bandmasters Fraternity. Mr. Watts has served as an adjudicator and clinician in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Michigan. The University Interscholastic League seeks to highlight the contribution of sponsors of UIL scholastic competition. This award is created to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who assist students in developing and refining their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the educational system while helping them to keep their personal worth separate from their success or failure in competition. Mr. Watts was awarded this prestigious UIL Sponsor Excellence for 2007-2008. |
John Carroll is in his fourteenth year as the associate band director at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. At Permian, Mr. Carroll assists with the marching band, organizes the marching drum line, and directs the Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Carroll has directed many bands at Permian that have often been Sweepstakes Awards winners in University Scholastic League concert and sightreading contests as well as First Divsion recipients and winners of "Outstanding Band in Class" awards at spring festivals. Under his direction, the Permian Jazz Ensemble has also been the recipients of First Division ratings at the Texas Tech Jazz Festival and was named "Outstanding Overall Band" at the festival in 2001. In 2005, the Permian Jazz Band received the "Outstanding in Class" award at the Director's Choice south Padre Island Music Festival. While Mr. Carroll has taught at Permian, the marching drum line has won the West Texas Auxiliary Championships in Lubbock, Texas, three times. In addition, groups which he has taught have also won the "Outstanding Percussion Ensemble" award at the West Texas A&M University "Day of Percussion". Mr. Carroll recieved his Bachelors Degree from Abilene Christian University, where he studied with Dr. Charles Trayler, and his Masters Degree at West Texas A&M university, studying with Dr. Gary Garner and Dr. Susan Tariq. He has held clinics for Texas Bandmasters Association, the West Texas A&M University Day of Percussion, and the West Texas Auxiliary Championships. On numerous occasions, he has also conducted the percussion section rehearsal for All-State Bands and Orchestras in Texas, and has also served as panel chair for the Texas All-State percussion section seating auditions. Most recently, Mr. Carroll has been named as a member of the Vic Firth, Inc. Education Team. Mr. Carroll holds membership in Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Directors Fraternity. |
James R. Fry is in his fifth year at Ector County Independent School District as Assistant director of Bands for Permian High School. He is director of the Wind Band, rock Band, and Color Guard. Formerly he was director of bands at Versailles High School in western Ohio and Fort Fryed High School in southeastern Ohio. Mr. Fry's bands consistently received superior ratings at Ohio Music Education Association, district, state marching, concert, and jazz band contests. Mr. Fry earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Akron, School of Music, Akron, Ohio. He studied with Scott Johnston (principal trumpet of Akron and Canton Symphonies), Doug Huey (member of Cleveland Jazz Orchestra) - trumpet/jazz studies, Paul Fergusen (member of Cleveland Jazz Orchestra) - jazz arranging, and Dr. Robert Jorgensen, Director of Bands. Mr. Fry's professional performances include Odessa College concert and jazz bands, First Baptist Church Orchestra, Lonny Clark Big Band, 1993 International Trumpet Guild, OMEA state conventions 1992-1996, Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra, Calfee Jones & the Eight Beats (swing band), Swing Machine (big band), 77 South & the Interstate Horns (rock band), Empire Statesmen, and Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corp. Mr. Fry is a member of TMEA, MENC, OMEA, IAJE, and the University of Akron, chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfornia. Honors include" Directors Award IAJE Tri-C Jazz Festival, Cleveland, Ohio; Mideast Performance Association 2003 Circiut Championship bronze medalist; 1997-2004 OMEA State Marching Band Finalist. Mr. Fry was also published in the OMEA Triad in 2001. This past summer he was a staff member for Revoultion Drum & Bugle Corps. from San Antonio TX. He has been on TMEA Region, Area, And All State Panels for the past 3 years. |