Houston, Texas – April 3, 2023—Symphony North of Houston announced guest conductor, Darla McBryde.
Symphony North of Houston is delighted to introduce Darla McBryde as our guest conductor for its Late Spring Concert. Ms. McBryde will conduct this concert on May 14, 2023, at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas. Admission to our concerts is by donation at the door, or you may donate online.
Darla McBryde is the Assistant Director of Bands at Sam Houston State University where she teaches Concert Band, Conducting, the Bearkat Marching Band, and the Master of Arts in Band Studies summer intensives. In addition, she assists with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra. Prior to her appointment at SHSU, Ms. McBryde served as the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at Timber Creek High School in Keller ISD, as the Assistant Band Director at Keller High School, and as the Assistant Band Director and Colorguard Director at Flower Mound High School in Lewisville ISD.
During her seventeen years of teaching high school concert bands, her ensembles earned twenty-two consecutive UIL Concert and Sight-reading First Division awards. In 2016, the Timber Creek High School Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. Other career highlights include the Timber Creek High School Saxophone Ensemble Showcase performance at the 2019 Texas Music Educators Association Conference and the Keller Chamber Winds Performance at the 2012 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
Ms. McBryde has enjoyed sharing her love of the marching arts with her students. Under her direction, the Timber Creek High School Marching Band flourished, earning Superior Ratings at all UIL Marching Contests and becoming consistent finalists at Bands of America Texas Regionals and at UIL Area Marching Contests. Her JV and Varsity colorguards at Flower Mound High School were perennial medalists at the North Texas Colorguard Association Championships from 2002 to 2008. They were regular Scholastic A finalists and medalists at Winterguard International Regionals. In 2008, the Flower Mound High School Colorguard earned fifth place in Scholastic A at the Winterguard International World Championships.
Ms. McBryde is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University. She holds a master’s degree in instrumental conducting from Stephen F. Austin State University and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Baylor University, where she also studied bassoon. Her performance experience includes playing bassoon and contrabassoon in the Baylor University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, Chamber ensembles, and Waco Symphony. Ms. McBryde also performed with the 1999 Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps as a colorguard member.
Ms. McBryde enjoys serving as an honor ensemble, marching band, concert band, and chamber ensemble adjudicator and clinician. Recently, she served as guest conductor for the Conroe Symphony’s 2022 February “Love Story” concert. In addition, Ms. McBryde has presented clinics at the Texas Bandmasters Association convention, the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Music Educators Association convention, the College Band Directors National Association Athletic Bands conference, and the Women Band Directors International convention. Her favorite research and clinic topics include embodied music cognition, music in prisons, Social Emotional Learning, self-care strategies for band directors, and colorguard and movement basics for band directors.
Her accolades include a Citation of Merit from Women Band Directors International, induction into Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, Timber Creek’s Creative Impact Award and Fine Arts Teacher of the Year, Flower Mound High School’s Teacher of the Month and Principal’s Shining Star, and Lewisville ISD’s Golden Apple Award.
Ms. McBryde’s professional affiliations include Women Band Directors International, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, and Texas Association of College Teachers.
For More Information:
| Email: | |
| Phone: | (281) 803-9127 |
| Mail: | 21175 State Highway 249 No. 222 Houston, TX 77070-1655 |
| Web: | https://symphonynorth.org |
| Concert Venue: | Salem Lutheran Church 22601 Lutheran Church Rd Tomball, TX 77377 |
| Follow Us: | https://symphonynorth.org/follow-us/ |
