Robert Tucker

Education

Robert Lee Tucker is Dean of Music, Fine Arts, and Extended Education at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. The former director of bands at Howard Payne, he also teaches composition, French horn, score reading, and online music appreciation. He earned his Ph.D. in Fine Arts in 2001 from Texas Tech University, his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting and Horn Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 1985, and his undergraduate degree in music education and theory/composition from Hardin-Simmons University in 1983.

He plays professional French horn with symphonies and piano with jazz ensembles in the West Texas area. He is an active adjudicator and clinician through the State of Texas as well as other states. His compositions for band have been published by [http://www.rbcmusic.com RBC Music] and [http://www.avalonpress.com Avalon Press] .

Prior to his employment at Howard Payne University, Tucker was Assistant Director and Director of Bands at Stanton High School from 1990-95. From 1985-1990, he was Assistant Professor Music at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was also Part-time Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Brownwood, from 2003-2006.

Affiliations

His professional affiliations include the following: Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, Tau Beta Sigma, Texas Bandmaster Association, Texas Music Educators Association, former member of Bangs ISD Board of Trustees, Music Education National Conference, International Horn Society, College Band Directors National Association, and College Music Society.

Conducting and Professional Engagements

He has conducted 32 Region Bands throughout Texas. He was Baptist All-State Conductor in 1998, 2001, and 2004, and 2006, and has conducted the Abilene All-City band and orchestra three times. He has led more than 80 Marching and Concert clinics in Texas and Louisiana. He conducted the Oakland Ballet Company, and has been co-director of Howard Payne Marching Band Leadership Camp. He was clinician at the 2001 College Band Directors National Association in Denton, Texas. He assisted Kirke McKenzie and directed the Sweepstakes Bands while at Stanton High School, and the band was the winner of State Wind Ensemble Contest in 1993. He was choir Director at Union Presbyterian Church 1995-2000. He was named faculty Member of the Year at Howard Payne for 2000-2001.

He has played professional Horn with [http://www.abilenephilharmonic.org/ Abilene Philharmonic] , San Angelo Symphony, Midland-Odessa Symphony, Big Spring Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, Rapides Symphony, Lafayette Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Symphony, Kings Brass Quintet, Zephyr Winds, and Midland-Odessa Wind Quintet. He has also played Jazz piano with local bands including Howard Payne Jazz Band, and instituted the Young Person's Guide to the Band series which had more than 1000 children in attendance from 2003 to 2006.

He has done clinics at the following high schools: Abilene, Early, Brownwood, Bangs, Ballinger, Burnet, Coleman, Cross Plains, Roscoe, Pampa, Hamlin, Anson, Wall, Iraan-Sheffield, Jim Ned, Stephenville, Dublin, Coahoma, Mineral Wells, Goldthwaite, Hico, Hamilton, Buena Vista, Lubbock Cooper, Alvarado, Grandview, Ranger, Reagan County, Van Horn, Rising Star, Alpine, Shallowater, Roosevelt, Stanton, Midland, Big Spring, Frisco, Marcus, Irion County, Millsap, and Eastland. He has also been a guest clinician at Hendrix College and Anderson University.

Compositions

He is a composer of several band fanfares, choral works, and full length band pieces. He has been commissioned to compose a song cycle, instrumental trio, choral pieces and band works. Some of his published and unpublished works include, for concert band, The Call of Significance, Lifeforce Overture, The Wildcat March, Cenotaphography, The Journey, Visions, and Introduction and Allegro.

His choral works include Silent Night, When I was One and Twenty, Deceit and Preservation, Love Never Fails, Celebration and Anticipation, and Blessed are They.

His chamber and miscellaneous works include America Variations—Brass Quintet, Retroiron—Tuba/Euphonium Duet, Hectissimo—Trombone Trio, 5 Songs of E.E. Cummings—song cycle for Soprano, 7 Children's songs—song cycle for Tenor, Softly Falls—song cycle for Tenor, cello, and piano, In Pursuit of…-Trio for Euphonium, Flute, and piano, and Two Horn Quartets.

His marching shows for which he wrote the music include Dublin High School, Irion County High School—State award winning band-2001, Coahoma High School, Iraan High School, Reagan County High School—original music, Wall High School, Coleman High School, Winters High School, Robert Lee High School, Early High School, and Linden-Kildare High School.

He was the sight-reading composer for the University Interscholastic League in 2004 and 2005. He recently completed a commissioned fanfare for orchestra which was premiered at First Baptist San Saba by Danny Ingram for the San Saba Orchestra where he was also guest conductor and horn performer.

Awards and Honors

Winner of Faculty Member of the Year at Howard Payne University, 2001.

Published articles in Brownwood Bulletin on Autism and Arts Reviews.

Published Article in Southwestern Musician, Louisiana Music Educators Journal, and Utah Music Educators Journal.

Member of the Bangs Independent School District Board of Trustees—elected position—2003-2005.

Founder of Young Person’s Guide to the Band—series for children.

Band camp speaker and conductor of Symphonic Band.

Instrumental in securing two endowed scholarships for HPU students.

Fund-raising completed for new uniforms--$25,000 raised.

Founder and Jazz Pianist of Brownwood Big Band. Founder and director of Brownwood Community Concert Band. Directed the San Saba Big Band and Orchestra.

Teaching and Courses

Dr. Tucker has taught the following course topics: Music Education--elementary through secondary, Music Appreciation--on-line course, Music History, Music Theory, Conducting, Composition, Orchestration, Choral Arranging, Band directing at all levels, French Horn, Trumpet, Percussion, Woodwinds, Capstone Course in Musical Thinking. Also experienced in church music, choral music, and hymnology. Published Dissertation: "An Examination of the Hymn Tune 'Ein Feste Burg' in Selected Band Compositions".

External links

* [http://drtucker.blogspot.com/ Tucker's Tidbits]
* [http://www.hputx.edu/howardpayne.aspx?pgID=1068 HPU's School of Fine Arts]