Leander Middle School Honors Band

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The members of the Leander Middle School Band program are diverse, well-rounded, hard-working young musicians, who care deeply about making music and making the world a better place. With only 860 students in school (and all students getting only one elective choice), our 280-student band program is truly a home away from home for our students. Leander Middle School’s diverse student population is 35% Hispanic, 7% Black, 7% Asian, 7% one or more races, and 44% white, and the band program reflects similar numbers. With over 35% of our population being economically disadvantaged, we are able to provide supplies, private lesson scholarships, and general financial assistance to any family that needs it. In the Leander Tiger Band, we have three ability-based Advanced Bands and homogeneous classes in Beginning Band. Our band students also participate in other activities, including National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, Yearbook, Athletics, Cheerleading, Dance, and various clubs on campus. Our curriculum focuses on fostering a love of music in every student, achieving musicianship at the highest possible level, and students leaving our program better human beings and more productive members of society.

Leander Middle School Honors Band

Conductor's Bio

Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, Liz Love is an active music educator and saxophonist in the Austin, Texas area. She is currently in her third year as the Director of Bands at Leander Middle School. Previous to her time at LMS, she was the Director of Bands at Grisham Middle School, and the Assistant Band Director at Running Brushy Middle School in Leander ISD. She is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator around the state of Texas and across the country. In 2019, the Grisham Middle School Honors Band was selected to perform at The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic! Ms. Love is a founding member of the Austin Saxophone Ensemble, which is in its eleventh season and has recorded extensively. She also founded ASEYouth, a city-wide youth saxophone ensemble with the most talented middle and high school saxophonists from the Austin area. Ms. Love is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. She also served as the TMEA Region 26 Middle School Band Chair for four years, as well as the Region 26 TBA representative. Liz has given clinics at TMEA and TBA about mental health and the UIL Sight-Reading process, the latter with a demonstration band of students from Leander Middle School. Ms. Love received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. She has performed and recorded extensively on flute, clarinet, and saxophone at both schools and counts Susan Scarborough, Jerry Junkin, Jeff Hellmer, Harvey Pittel, and Carolyn Barber as her principal mentors. Liz attributes her passion for music and education to her incredible music-teacher parents, Ed and Loretta. Teaching middle school kids how to play their instruments and be better people is her JAM. She lives in Cedar Park, Texas with her ridiculously supportive and adorable husband, Walter.