The Texas Bandmasters Association recently named the George Jones ’77 of Wylie, Texas recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award.
After graduation from IWU, he was offered a full scholarship to attend Southern Methodist University, where he served as the Graduate Assistant Conductor of the Wind Ensemble under the legendary Howard Dunn. While working on his degree, he also served as a member and arranger for the Dallas Cowboy Band.
In 1977, George began his career with the Garland Independent School District serving as band director at Memorial Middle School and assistant band director at South Garland High School with Randy Bartlett. In 1983, he assumed the position of head band director at Lakeview Centennial High School. In the thirteen years that he served as director, the Lakeview Band earned many local, regional and national awards. In 1996, George served as the first band director at the newly constructed Rowlett High School in the Garland school district where he wrote the school’s Alma Mater and Fight Song.
George has served as the Director of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) for the GISD since 1997. In this capacity, he oversees the daily operations, curriculum, staff development, budget, and staffing for Music, Art, Theatre Arts, Dance and Competitive Speech. Under his leadership, the Garland school district has earned the distinction of being named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation nine times. Additionally, GISD groups have performed at The Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, ACDA Conventions, many TMEA Conventions as well as national and international festivals.
George has served as the chairman of the Metroplex Music Supervisors as well as President of the Texas Music Administrators Conference. In 2012, he was named the TMAC Music Administrator of the Year. He is an active member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA, Texas Music Administrators Conference, Phi Beta Mu-Alpha Chapter professional band fraternity and he is a Lifetime Member of the PTA. George has served as a music adjudicator and as a clinician throughout the state.
For 34 years George served as conductor of the Richardson Community Band. During his tenure as the director, the band grew both in size and popularity. He instituted the band’s summer series, which has become a favorite summer activity for families across the Metroplex. In 2010, George was presented with the first “Real Heroes Award” by the Richardson Coalition for his service as conductor of the RCB. In 2011, the Richardson Arts Alliance presented him with the “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
George is passionate about offering the very best possible arts education to the students of GISD.
Read the full press release here.
Congratulations, George!
