Welcome to Pine Tree Band
It is the mission of the Pine Tree High School Band Program to create functionally literate, independent musicians, who continually exhibit the highest level of character as school citizens. This education shall take place through traditional concert band classes, as well as through extra-curricular activities, i.e. marching band, jazz band, small ensembles, solos, auditions, etc.
Pine Tree High School currently has three ability-based concert ensembles: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. All ensembles are seated through an audition process.
Pine Tree High School currently has three ability-based concert ensembles: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. All ensembles are seated through an audition process.
Latest NewsCongratulations to Seniors Keelan Davis and Oscar Ruiz, Sophomore Carlo Echave, and Freshman Seaghan Wong for earning chairs in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region Jazz Band.
The students traveled to Texas High School Tuesday, October 17 to audition, which included playing several cuts of music as well as jazz improvisation. The All-Region Jazz Band will perform a concert on Saturday, December 14 at Paris High School. Check our Facebook and Twitter feeds at the bottom of the page for the latest news from Pine Tree Band.
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2019-2020 Drum Majors (Left to Right: Leah Counts, Timothy Wright, and Karina Ruiz)
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About PT BandWind Ensemble
The curriculum for the Pine Tree High School Wind Ensemble class focuses on developing the technical skills needed for performing on brass and woodwind instruments as well as musicianship. The Wind Ensemble meets first period each semester, after marching season. Students in this ensemble display the highest level of musicianship, capable of performing “Masterwork” literature. This ensemble is intended for upperclassmen, most specifically Junior and Senior members, although outstanding younger students may be placed here as well. REQUIREMENTS
EVALUATION Everyday is an audition – students will be evaluated daily on their individual musical skills and personal contributions to the ensemble. Formal playing assessments will be held regularly via live playing. AUDITIONS Students will audition for the concert ensembles in May of the Spring semester. The audition process includes selections from etudes, chromatic scale and twelve major scales. All students who audition and fulfill the minimum competencies will become part of the Pine Tree High School band program. All band students, regardless of concert ensemble assignment, will also participate in the Pine Tree marching band, The Pride. Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is typically the largest of the 3 wind bands at Pine Tree High School. Students in this group display a level of musicianship necessary for high achievement in band literature, however may not show the individual musical maturity yet for performing in the Wind Ensemble. This ensemble is intended for upper classmen and very advanced freshmen and meets during first period, after marching season. REQUIREMENTS
EVALUATION Everyday is an audition – students will be evaluated daily on their individual musical skills and personal contributions to the ensemble. Formal playing assessments will be held regularly via live playing. AUDITIONS Students will audition for the concert ensembles in May of the Spring semester. The audition process includes selections from etudes, chromatic scale and 12 major scales. All students who audition and fulfill the minimum competencies will become part of the Pine Tree High School band program. All band students, regardless of concert ensemble assignment, will also participate in the Pine Tree marching band, The Pride. Concert Band
The Concert Band is the entry-level performing ensemble at Pine Tree High School. Students in this ensemble display a skill level that is still developing into maturity, showing a need for more individual practice and understanding of key concepts. All of the high school directors are present during this class so that extra attention is given. This class meets during second semester sixth period. REQUIREMENTS
EVALUATION Everyday is an audition – students will be evaluated daily on their individual musical skills and personal contributions to the ensemble. Formal playing assessments will be held regularly via live playing. AUDITIONS Students will audition for the concert ensembles in May of the Spring semester. The audition process includes selections from etudes, chromatic scale and twelve major scales. All students who audition and fulfill the minimum competencies will become part of the Pine Tree High School band program. All band students, regardless of concert ensemble assignment, will also participate in the Pine Tree marching band, The Pride. Jazz Band
The Pine Tree High School Jazz Band consists of students who are enrolled in one of the concert bands. Entrance into the Jazz Band requires an audition and is made up of traditional jazz instruments including: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and drum set. Students will learn jazz styles from various eras and will study advanced techniques in chord study, rhythm, and improvisation. Everyone is a soloist in the Jazz Band. The Pine Tree Jazz Band receives requests to perform at several community events and concerts each year. UIL Marching Contest
In the fall of each school year, the University Interscholastic League sanctions an event in which marching bands play for judges’ comments and ratings. In October, The Pride Marching band performs a 7-8 minute marching show, demonstrating their ability to play challenging music while marching a technical drill. Bands that earn a superior rating at this contest can advance to the Area level competition every other year, according to classification, and then potentially advance to the State contest. All-Region Band
Each November students may audition for TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) All-Region Bands. From this region of schools, students are selected to participate one of several concert bands, including a Freshmen Band. The All-Region Bands meet for a two-day clinic and concert in January. Each of the bands is directed by a guest conductor, usually from a college or university band program. ALl-State Band & Orchestra
The All-State Band and Orchestra membership is selected at an Area audition from students in a large grouping of Regions. The All-State Band and Orchestra rehearse and perform as part of the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, which is held in San Antonio, Texas each year in February. Becoming an All-State musician is the highest rank of competition an individual student can obtain in high school. Solo & Ensemble Contest
Solo and Ensemble is an adjudicated event sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League in which students may play individually or in small groups. Soloists typically play with a piano accompanist. Ensembles usually number from 3 to 5 players, but sometimes are larger. Examples of ensembles that could perform at Solo and Ensemble Contest would be trumpet trio, flute quartet, woodwind quintet, brass quintet, etc. UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest
In the spring of each school year, the University Interscholastic League sanctions an event in which concert bands play for judges’ comments and ratings. In April, the high school bands perform a stage concert and then perform a piece to be sight-read. Auxiliaries: Color Guard and Twirlers
2019-2020 Pirate Pride Auxiliary: Makayla Allison Annabelle Bigham Samantha Bradley Jerusalem Briseno Stephanie Davis Aaron Fears Cassidy Fuller, President Madison Harrell Berenice Juarez Kennedy Lewis, Twirling Co-Captain Natalia Monreal M'ryah Monroe Gabrielle Pumphrey, Twirling Co-Captain Angie Rojas Ariel Sanchez, Color Guard Lieutenant Ethan Sanders, Color Guard Captain Antranae Thomas |
DirectorsAaron Turner
Director of Bands aturner@ptisd.org Aaron Turner is the Director of Bands for Pine Tree Independent School District, and also served as the Assistant Director of Bands from 2014 until 2017. Mr. Turner’s bands have consistently earned superior/sweepstakes ratings in UIL contest performances. As Director of Bands, he leads the 200 member PT Pride Marching Band and is the conductor of the Wind Ensemble at Pine Tree High School. Additionally, Mr. Turner is a brass specialist and teaches AP Music Theory, Applied Music, and beginning brass at Pine Tree Middle School. He is the organist at First Christian Church of Longview. Previously, he taught on the band staff at Kingwood High School in Humble ISD and worked for over 20 years in church music with both choral and orchestral programs. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in music/specialization in euphonium and piano. Principal mentors were Mr. John L. Whitwell, Dr. Charles Gavin, and Dr. Andrew Parr. Mr. Turner also has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and is a licensed professional counselor. He and his wife, Mindi, have three children who are all graduates of Pine Tree High School: Caitlin (2010- now married to Josh Kirk), Kelsey (2012), and Chris (2014) and a beautiful granddaughter, Isla Jane Kirk. Mark Perry
Junior High Band Director mperry@ptisd.org Mark Perry has been with Pine Tree ISD for 9 years and is in his 11th year to teach. He has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stephen F Austin State University and a Masters in Education Leadership degree from the University of Texas in Arlington. He currently oversees the Junior High band program and assists at the Middle School and High School Campuses. In his spare time he enjoys traveling abroad and scuba diving when possible. Kirk Wells
Assistant Director of Bands kwells@ptisd.org Kirk Wells is the Assistant Director of Bands and is in his seventh year teaching, third year at Pine Tree ISD. He is responsible for teaching the Symphonic Band at Pine Tree High School. Also, he is responsible for teaching beginning French horn, trumpet, and tuba. He has a degree in Music Education/specialization in Tuba from Stephen F. Austin State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is happily married to his wife Margot, and they currently own two dogs named Sophie and Hudson. In his spare time Kirk enjoys spending time with his wife watching Netflix, playing fetch with Hudson, and playing video games with his close friends. Mindi Turner
Fine Arts Assistant mturner@ptisd.org Mindi Turner is in her seventh year as the Fine Arts Assistant for Pine Tree ISD and her sixth year as the Color Guard/Majorette sponsor. She was an undergraduate music major at Stephen F. Austin State University, specializing in clarinet. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from LeTourneau University and is in progress of a Masters degree from UT Tyler. In addition to keeping the Fine Arts Department and Auxiliaries running, she assists in teaching clarinet whenever possible. Aaron and Mindi have been married for 29 years, have 3 Pine Tree graduates and a beautiful granddaughter. Their son, Chris Turner, has now joined the staff at Pine Tree High School, teaching Environmental Science and Biology. Michael Lyons
Michael Lyons is in his second year as an Assistant Band Director and will be teaching beginning flutes, clarinets, and double reeds at Pine Tree Middle School, conducting the Symphonic Band at Pine Tree Junior High, and assists with the High School band. He specializes in flute, and has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana and a Master’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. In his free time, Michael enjoys going to the ballet, reading, and photography. Cody Brown
Cody Brown is the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor for Pine Tree ISD. Mr. Brown is a native of Texarkana, TX and an alumnus of Texas High School in Texarkana ISD. He is a graduate of Henderson State University where he studied music education with Dr. Carrie Pawelski and Dr. Shaun Popp, and percussion with Dr. Rick Dimond and Mr. Doug DeMorrow. Mr. Brown taught for four years at Queen City ISD where he assisted with all aspects of the band program and coordinated percussion instruction for the district. The Queen City band was a finalist at the UIL State Marching Contest in 2015 and 2017 while Mr. Brown was there. The award winning Indoor Percussion Ensemble at Queen City was founded by Mr. Brown and earned two consecutive gold medals in the North Texas Colorguard Association in 2016 and 2017. Mr. Brown enjoys spending time with family and friends, movies and television, and reading in his free time. He has aspirations to travel and see more of the world in the future. |
All-State History
1977 Concert Band Bass Clarinet Pam Ezelle
1978 Symphonic Band Eb Clarinet Cindy Davis
1978 Symphonic Band Bass Clarinet Pam Ezelle
1992 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jo Lee Hammer
1993 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet JoLee Hammer
1993 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jenny Schuette
1995 Concert Band Eb Clarinet Sarah Hall
1995 Concert Band Bass Clarinet Emily Terrell
2007 4A Symphonic Band Tenor Trombone Hunter Decker
2008 4A Symphonic Band Tuba Kirk Wells
2009 4A Symphonic Band Percussion Greg Wallace
2010 4A Symphonic Band Flute Lindsey Conway
2012 5A Concert Band Euphonium Joseph Schaetz
2013 4A Symphonic Band Percussion Zachary Schaetz
2015 5A Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jerry Zhang
2016 5A Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jerry Zhang
2016 5A Symphonic Band Contra-Bass Korbin Davis
2016 5A Symphonic Band Cornet/Trumpet Gage Ellis
2016 Concert Band Cornet/Trumpet Cristian Najera
20175A All-State Band /Trumpet Gage Ellis
2017 6A All-State Band/Trumpet Cristian Najera
2018 5A All-State Band/Trumpet Gage Ellis
1978 Symphonic Band Eb Clarinet Cindy Davis
1978 Symphonic Band Bass Clarinet Pam Ezelle
1992 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jo Lee Hammer
1993 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet JoLee Hammer
1993 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jenny Schuette
1995 Concert Band Eb Clarinet Sarah Hall
1995 Concert Band Bass Clarinet Emily Terrell
2007 4A Symphonic Band Tenor Trombone Hunter Decker
2008 4A Symphonic Band Tuba Kirk Wells
2009 4A Symphonic Band Percussion Greg Wallace
2010 4A Symphonic Band Flute Lindsey Conway
2012 5A Concert Band Euphonium Joseph Schaetz
2013 4A Symphonic Band Percussion Zachary Schaetz
2015 5A Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jerry Zhang
2016 5A Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jerry Zhang
2016 5A Symphonic Band Contra-Bass Korbin Davis
2016 5A Symphonic Band Cornet/Trumpet Gage Ellis
2016 Concert Band Cornet/Trumpet Cristian Najera
20175A All-State Band /Trumpet Gage Ellis
2017 6A All-State Band/Trumpet Cristian Najera
2018 5A All-State Band/Trumpet Gage Ellis
