tylercommunityband.org
History
The Tyler Community Band was formed in 1989 as the UT Tyler/Community Band. The band was founded as a means to draw music majors to The University of Texas at Tyler. The University tapped Richard Highfill, a retired music educator who had enjoyed a highly successful career in the Tyler public schools, to be the conductor of the group. In the beginning, the band met in a church fellowship hall on Old Omen Road, and played concerts in the cafeteria area of the student center at the University. Dr. Tom Fernandez served as announcer, and the group performed quality programs for enthusiastic audiences. The band later rehearsed in the HPE Complex (a gymnasium) where their music competed with the clanking of weight machines.
In 1994, Ronald Todd was hired as band director for both Tyler Junior College and UT Tyler. Now the TJC/UTT/Wind Ensemble, the group moved into the comparatively luxurious rehearsal hall at TJC. The band programs at the schools grew to the point that they had their own ensembles, and the community group was spun off as free-standing band. Under Mr. Todd’s baton, the band performed concerts in Wise Auditorium on the TJC campus before moving into the Vaughn Auditorium in the Cowan Performing Arts Center at UT Tyler. The move back to UTT brought another new moniker, The East Texas Wind Symphony. A highlight of Mr. Todd’s years with the band was a performance by the band at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in July of 2000.
Dr. Jeffrey Emge, Director of Bands and Music Program Coordinator at UT Tyler, became our conductor in the fall of 2001. Under his leadership, the band’s repertoire has been broadened and creative new events such as the Halloween Concert added to the schedule. With one more name change to the Tyler Community Band, we have a beautiful home for rehearsals and performances in the Cowan Performing Arts Center on the campus of UT Tyler thanks to the continuing generosity of the University.