President - Marci Criswell
Marci Criswell is currently serving her first year as President of the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. Previously she held positions in Recruitment, Public Relations, and occasionally serves as Assistant Director of the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. She has played oboe for the ensemble for 7 years. Marci began playing oboe when she was in 7th Grade, playing all the way through high school. Her Senior year she earned the honor of making the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Band. After high school, she started college at West Texas A&M receiving her Bachelor's in General Studies in 2009. In 2010 she enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate program at WTAMU to become a band director. In 2011 she received her first teaching position at River Road Independent School District. After three years, she changed schools and became the band director at Vega Independent School District where she taught for 8 years. She is currently the band director at Clarendon Independent School District. In 2018 she graduated with her Master's in Music Performance with an emphasis in Conducting.
Marci lives in Amarillo with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. All of those things she can't imagine life without. She has a musically talented, twenty-one year old son that has brought a ton of joy to her life. When Marci is not involved with something music related, you can typically find her in the kitchen cooking, on the back porch listening to music, or at a concert with her better half.
Marci lives in Amarillo with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. All of those things she can't imagine life without. She has a musically talented, twenty-one year old son that has brought a ton of joy to her life. When Marci is not involved with something music related, you can typically find her in the kitchen cooking, on the back porch listening to music, or at a concert with her better half.
Vice President - Susan Nelson
Susan is the oldest clarinet player in the band. She is a retired elementary school teacher who began playing the clarinet 65 years ago. A friend, George Aulbach, invited her to join the Amarillo College band about 18 years ago.
Susan began playing clarinet in Abilene Public Elementary School, and continued through high school, graduating from Cooper High School. She then earned a music scholarship at McMurry College while working on her education degree. She enjoys sharing music with others because it is fun. She feels blessed to share the vice president position with Sherre Brogdon.
Susan began playing clarinet in Abilene Public Elementary School, and continued through high school, graduating from Cooper High School. She then earned a music scholarship at McMurry College while working on her education degree. She enjoys sharing music with others because it is fun. She feels blessed to share the vice president position with Sherre Brogdon.
Secretary - Phyllis Leetsch
Having grown up in an Air Force family, Phyllis has traveled throughout the United States as well as Puerto Rico. She began playing flute and piccolo in the 6th grade and continues to pursue her love of music with the Amarillo Wind Ensemble; being a member since 2011. Phyllis graduated from Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas and continued her education at McMurry College, studying Music Education and Physical Education. Before transferring to Amarillo she was at Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she was a member of the Mesilla Valley Concert Band and the Las Cruces Flute Orchestra. She is currently retired from the United States Post Office after working twenty-three years as a rural carrier. She has two sons and three wonderful grand-daughters. She also enjoys traveling, especially taking cruises to different countries.
Treasurer - James Baker
James was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, graduating with Honors in Music from Tascosa High School. He married at an early age, and gave up his music to become a Dad, coach, and husband.
In 2023 he retired from Amarillo Gear Company working in the CNC Programming, mechanical and industrial engineering industry.
James hails from a diverse musical family. His father was a concert pianist, his mother and her family were fundamental in forming the Harmony Plains Singing School, located in Cone, Texas in 1963. Still today, he is an active participant in the continuing vocal music education programs offered by the school. Additionally, both of his sons are very musically oriented, both performing at the state level. His oldest son, James Lee, is a very well known Americana/Folk singer and his youngest son, Kyle, plays tuba and graduated with honors from WTAMU.
James started playing percussion in 1974, graduating with Honors in Music in 1982. He continues to record as a studio percussionist, as well as performing locally with the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. He played professionally for 18 years, playing in a great number of bands, the last being the most successful named "White Dove." The group toured the Southwest region performing Christian Folk and Rock music for thousands of people before disbanding in 1994. He has said for many years that playing his drums is his "yoga."
James is also is the Pastor of the Borger Primitive Baptist Church. He has pastored the flock since January of 2001, before becoming a fully ordained minister in December of 2001. Singing is a huge part of his family history. Music performance seems to have become a staple for him and his family for generations. He hopes to be able to show people both young and old that music can and does keep you young. Even if you don't think you have it in you to continue to play. You could not be more wrong. All it takes is the desire, and we will help you find your voice again...COME PLAY WITH US!
In 2023 he retired from Amarillo Gear Company working in the CNC Programming, mechanical and industrial engineering industry.
James hails from a diverse musical family. His father was a concert pianist, his mother and her family were fundamental in forming the Harmony Plains Singing School, located in Cone, Texas in 1963. Still today, he is an active participant in the continuing vocal music education programs offered by the school. Additionally, both of his sons are very musically oriented, both performing at the state level. His oldest son, James Lee, is a very well known Americana/Folk singer and his youngest son, Kyle, plays tuba and graduated with honors from WTAMU.
James started playing percussion in 1974, graduating with Honors in Music in 1982. He continues to record as a studio percussionist, as well as performing locally with the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. He played professionally for 18 years, playing in a great number of bands, the last being the most successful named "White Dove." The group toured the Southwest region performing Christian Folk and Rock music for thousands of people before disbanding in 1994. He has said for many years that playing his drums is his "yoga."
James is also is the Pastor of the Borger Primitive Baptist Church. He has pastored the flock since January of 2001, before becoming a fully ordained minister in December of 2001. Singing is a huge part of his family history. Music performance seems to have become a staple for him and his family for generations. He hopes to be able to show people both young and old that music can and does keep you young. Even if you don't think you have it in you to continue to play. You could not be more wrong. All it takes is the desire, and we will help you find your voice again...COME PLAY WITH US!
Public Relations - Pat Garansuay
Pat Garansuay, plays bass clarinet with the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. She has been a long-time member who stepped away for several years, but has wonderfully returned! Pat's love of music began in the 7th grade while learning the french horn, switching to Bb clarinet as a freshman in high school. As a military dependent, she attended the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Germany. During her junior and senior years of high school, she auditioned for the all-Europe Honors Ensemble and placed second and first chairs, respectively. After graduating high school, Pat enlisted in the United States Army and served honorably during Operations Desert Storm/Shield. At the conclusion of her service time, she went back to school, eventually earning her Master's degree in Nursing Education. It had been 18 years since she had laid down her bass clarinet when she discovered the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. She says returning to music was just like riding a bike..."Your fingers don't forget what to do...but the embouchure needs a little work!" She is thrilled to be back and wants to encourage any and all displaced "band nerds" to join the group. "I cried during my last performance at the all-Europe festival...thinking i'd never play again. Thanks to the AWE, I have a music home again."
Recruitment and Retention Coordinator- Bridget Wheeler
Bridget Wheeler plays the flute with the Amarillo Wind Ensemble. She is one of the newest members having joined in 2023. Bridget began her music career in the 4th grade. She played all through her school years, ending with high school graduation. After high school, Bridget went on to become a nurse, eventually graduating from West Texas A & M University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Bridget rediscovered her love of music following a 33-year hiatus by joining the Amarillo Wind Ensemble in the fall of 2023. It is this unique perspective that makes her the perfect fit to oversee recruitment and retention for the ensemble. “If I can come back after 33 years… anyone can come back!” She is having a great time playing, learning, and developing new friendships!
Venue Liaison - Sherre Brogdon
Sherre plays clarinet for the Amarillo Wind Ensemble and flute for The Church of Quail Creek. Before she started band in sixth grade, she saw a band concert where the clarinet player had a solo. She thought it was the prettiest instrument and knew it was the one for her! She joined the community band at Amarillo College around 27 years ago, and came with the Amarillo Wind Ensemble when it split off. She really enjoys playing and has met many great people along the way who also love music and enjoy playing. She is currently sharing the Vice President position on the band counsel with Susan Nelson. As a side note, she was able to teach one of her grandkids to play clarinet, but after a few years she quit for volleyball. Bummer!! She would really like to see the Amarillo Wind Ensemble grow, believing that we have talent and a fun time, so if anyone would like to play, please join!!
Librarian - Wayne Wiley
Wayne would like to say that he has studied under the best private instructors known to exist and has been formally trained in the finest musical institutions known to exist. Fortunately for us who know better, Wayne is not that big of a liar. Wayne originally started his musical career playing Cello in the 4th grade. He took up the tuba, in addition to the cello, in the 8th grade. He continued both until he graduated high school from Tascosa in 1976. He continued at Amarillo College, playing in their stage band for one year. Shortly, following that time period, he hit a stopping point in his musical career, no longer having an instrument, nor a place to play. Thirteen years later, he got a call from the Rev. Rix Tillman. Rix had heard through the social grapevine that Wayne used to play tuba. Needing to build the sanctuary orchestra he had adopted at San Jacinto Baptist Church, now known as The Church at Quail Creek, he invited Wayne to play in the group. Five weeks later, on March 25, 1998 Wayne moved his church membership and has been there ever since. After a few years, Wayne felt the need to broaden his horizons a bit and joined the Amarillo College Concert Band. There, he had the opportunity to play under the direction of Mo Trout, Alan Wenger, Jim Laughlin, and Scott Beckett. Wayne also has been a key player in the annual Tuba Christmas event in Amarillo and has played in each event held with exception of the very first. He has also been a member of the Amarillo Wind Ensemble since the organization first formed at Amarillo College. Wayne has served on the Amarillo Wind Ensemble board as Vice-President/Personnel Director, President, and currently as Librarian. Wayne wishes to encourage anyone reading "if you are a former band student/musician and still have a desire to play in an organization such as this to please step forward and make your desires a reality by joining this group."
Conductor - Scott Beckett
A native of North Carolina, Scott holds degrees in music performance/music education and conducting from East Carolina University, and matriculated to do his Masters and Doctoral work in music performance at The Florida State University along with a Certificate of Theory Pedagogy. Scott studied extensively with Dr. Britton Theurer (East Carolina University) and Bryan Goff (Florida State University), and has also studied with James Thompson (Eastman), Vincent DiMartino (Centre College), Edward Tarr (Germany/Switzerland), Bill Pfund (University of Northern Colorado), Robert Nagel (New York), Crispian Steele-Perkins (England), and Dr. Steven Jones (Western Michigan University).
As an active performer/clinician, Scott has performed and lectured at such places as the Juilliard School, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Eastman School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Carnegie Hall, the Peabody Conservatory, West Texas A and M University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Western Carolina University, Bowling Green State University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Ithaca College, University of Illinois at Champaigne-Urbana, Temple University, Emory University, The Ohio State University, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, MENC conferences, International Trumpet Guild conferences, Williams College, National Association of College Wind & Percussion Instructors conferences, Florida Music Educators Association conferences, Wyoming Music Educators Conference, Texas Music Educators Conference, and was an Artist in Residence at “Sudler Flag” Award-winning Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida, and at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts for composer Robert Suderburg.
As a seasoned performer and soloist, Scott has performed with the East Carolina Brass, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, Albany Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Denver Symphony Orchestra, Carolco Motion Picture and Television studios, The Moody Blues, Three Mo’ Tenors, Mulgrew Miller, Grady Tate, Christian McBride, the Canadian Brass, Vennessa Rubins, Bob Mintzer, Maceo Parker, the Yellowjackets, Wynton Marsalis, and Vincent DiMartino.
Awards to his name include the John Thomas Boone Cultural Arts Award, the Marine Corp’s Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence, First Prize at the ITG solo competition (1999), co-winner of the Adolf “Bud” Herseth mock orchestra trials, Finalist at the NTC National Competition, two-time winner of the East Carolina Concerto Competition and The Florida State University Graduate Concerto Competition.
His discography includes several recordings with The Florida State University Wind Orchestra, Jazz Directions II with the East Carolina Jazz Ensemble, numerous American and German television and film scores, and recorded three Concertos by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taffe Zwilich on the Koch label, and recorded for NPR as trumpet soloist for “Story Time” with Angela Landsbury and John Lithgow.
In his pursuit of applying current technology to students for use in their careers and goals, Scott is an AVID Expert Instructor (ACI) for Pro Tools, the industry standard in the recording and live sound business, and has taken over 50 post-Doctoral courses in the field of audio, acoustics, audio for video, and live sound applications. In this pursuit of this area of study, Scott has been involved with the renovation and implementation of new recording equipment in various business and Religious spaces, changes in acoustic environments, and production of many albums that all involve student learning and engagement.
Currently, Scott is a the owner of Blessed Dynamics, a boutique microphone and cable company specializing in hand-made products, and part of the owner duo team and the Lead Instructor of courses for Pro Tools Certified Training Company.
As an active performer/clinician, Scott has performed and lectured at such places as the Juilliard School, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Eastman School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Carnegie Hall, the Peabody Conservatory, West Texas A and M University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Western Carolina University, Bowling Green State University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Ithaca College, University of Illinois at Champaigne-Urbana, Temple University, Emory University, The Ohio State University, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, MENC conferences, International Trumpet Guild conferences, Williams College, National Association of College Wind & Percussion Instructors conferences, Florida Music Educators Association conferences, Wyoming Music Educators Conference, Texas Music Educators Conference, and was an Artist in Residence at “Sudler Flag” Award-winning Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida, and at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts for composer Robert Suderburg.
As a seasoned performer and soloist, Scott has performed with the East Carolina Brass, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, Albany Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Denver Symphony Orchestra, Carolco Motion Picture and Television studios, The Moody Blues, Three Mo’ Tenors, Mulgrew Miller, Grady Tate, Christian McBride, the Canadian Brass, Vennessa Rubins, Bob Mintzer, Maceo Parker, the Yellowjackets, Wynton Marsalis, and Vincent DiMartino.
Awards to his name include the John Thomas Boone Cultural Arts Award, the Marine Corp’s Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence, First Prize at the ITG solo competition (1999), co-winner of the Adolf “Bud” Herseth mock orchestra trials, Finalist at the NTC National Competition, two-time winner of the East Carolina Concerto Competition and The Florida State University Graduate Concerto Competition.
His discography includes several recordings with The Florida State University Wind Orchestra, Jazz Directions II with the East Carolina Jazz Ensemble, numerous American and German television and film scores, and recorded three Concertos by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taffe Zwilich on the Koch label, and recorded for NPR as trumpet soloist for “Story Time” with Angela Landsbury and John Lithgow.
In his pursuit of applying current technology to students for use in their careers and goals, Scott is an AVID Expert Instructor (ACI) for Pro Tools, the industry standard in the recording and live sound business, and has taken over 50 post-Doctoral courses in the field of audio, acoustics, audio for video, and live sound applications. In this pursuit of this area of study, Scott has been involved with the renovation and implementation of new recording equipment in various business and Religious spaces, changes in acoustic environments, and production of many albums that all involve student learning and engagement.
Currently, Scott is a the owner of Blessed Dynamics, a boutique microphone and cable company specializing in hand-made products, and part of the owner duo team and the Lead Instructor of courses for Pro Tools Certified Training Company.