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Time:

Friday
December, 22, 2023
01:30 PM - 02:30 PM

Location:

W375AB

Category

High School Concert Band

Conductor

Conductor Thumb
Thomas Turpin

Program

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Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Westwood Wind Ensemble is the Varsity Level wind performance ensemble at Westwood, comprised of the top wind and percussionists in the band program. Students place into the ensemble by means of a yearly audition process in the spring, and are given a comprehensive musical experience focusing on the performance of a variety of repertoire from the history of the wind band, and also a diverse representation of composers. The Wind Ensemble meets daily and prepares an average of five concert performances throughout the academic year. As members of the Wind Ensemble, students also have the opportunity to perform with the Westwood Symphony Orchestra, a state and national award-winning ensemble that performs the highest levels of orchestral literature. In addition to their ensemble opportunities, Wind Ensemble members develop their individual musicianship through active participation in the TMEA All-State audition process, UIL solo and ensemble contests, and the Westwood Solo Contest. The band department at Westwood is thrilled to share in this performance honor alongside their colleagues and students in their feeder middle school, the Canyon Vista Middle School Honors Band!

Westwood High School Wind Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Thomas Turpin is currently in his 17th year of teaching, 15 of which have been spent at Westwood High School. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands in 2018, he served as both Associate and Assistant Director at Westwood. During his time at Westwood, Mr. Turpin has taught the marching band, all four concert ensembles, and all three symphony orchestras, leading each group to consistent UIL Sweepstakes ratings in Concert and Sight Reading Evaluations. The band department at Westwood has enjoyed perennial success at UIL Concert and Sightreading evaluations, with all four ensembles earning consistent Sweepstakes ratings. The Wind Ensemble has been named a TMEA 6A Honor Band Finalist and a Mark of Excellence National Winner. Wind Ensemble members are also a part of the Westwood Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble which has been named as a TMEA Honor Full Orchestra four times, and has performed at the Midwest Clinic twice. Prior to his time at Westwood, Mr. Turpin served as Assistant Director of Bands at John Paul Stevens High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he coordinated the marching band program and co-conducted all four concert ensembles and the Jazz Band. Mr. Turpin is a proud native of Alabama, where he attended Athens High School and The University of Alabama for his secondary education, earning both his Bachelors and Master of Arts in Music Education. During his time at the University of Alabama, he served as Section Leader, Drum Major, and Graduate Teaching Assistant of the “Million Dollar Band.” Mr. Turpin was also a member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 and 2005. Mr. Turpin is an active drill designer for marching organizations across the United States, an ensemble clinician, and a leadership consultant. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu. He has served TMEA as the both the Region 26 Band Division Chair and the Region 26 President. Mr. Turpin lives in Austin with his husband Dean and their dog Tucker.

Additional Directors

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Brittany Dacy

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Brandon Winters

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Mikey Sheeran

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