Sheryl Bowhay

PRESIDENT
Phi Beta Mu International
Alberta, CA
Portfolio: Hall of Fame; website committee

Sheryl Bowhay specializes in instrumental music education, and has taught bands, orchestras, and choirs at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels in Alberta and Ontario, Canada. Ms. Bowhay has actively participated on committees and boards at the local, provincial and national level. Sheryl served various roles on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Band Association, including President in 1995-1996, she was the founding President of the Ontario Band Association, and is honored to be the President of the International Music Fraternity Phi Beta Mu. Ms. Bowhay has been acknowledged for her leadership in teaching and the fine arts and was recently honored by the Ontario Band Association with an Honorary Lifetime Membership.

Sheryl is a flautist with the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia. Ms. Bowhay is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor and clinician.

Paul Worosello

VICE–PRESIDENT
Phi Beta Mu International
Texas, USA
Portfolio: Extension; Advocacy/Professional Development

Paul Worosello is in his 36^th year of teaching and is Director of Bands at Klein Forest High School in Houston, Texas, a position held since 1980. For the past 17 years he has also been actively involved with the Klein Forest Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Worosello received Bachelor of Music Education and Master in Clarinet Performance degrees from West Texas State University. Under his baton, the Klein Forest Symphonic Band has been featured at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and received the Sudler Flag of Honor in 1998. Twice selected to the Bands of America Concert Festival, the Symphonic Band has also performed in Carnegie Hall three times.

In 2003 the GRAMMY Foundation selected Klein Forest as the National Signature School for the #1 music program in the country. Paul Worosello has served on the State Board of the Texas Music Educators Association as President of Region IX for the past 20 years. He is a Past President of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu and has twice been awarded the Citation of Excellence from the NBA.

David Lambert

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Phi Beta Mu International
Texas, USA
Portfolio: Documentation & Records; website committee

David Lambert served 33 years in music education in public schools and retired as Director of Fine Arts for the Fort Bend Independent School District in 2004. He holds degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and administrative certification from the University of Houston.

Prior to his appointment as Director of Fine Arts, he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Nacogdoches High School. He also taught at both Dulles Middle School and John Foster Dulles High School. He serves as Executive Secretary for the University Interscholastic League Music Region 17. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Past President of Alpha Chapter, Phi Beta Mu, and is the immediate Past President for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. The Texas Music Administrators Conference named him Texas Music Administrator of the Year for 2000-2001 and the Texas Bandmasters Association presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Music Administration in 2003. He most recently received the Outstanding Music Alumnus Award from the Stephen F. Austin University School of Music.

Keith Bearden

DIRECTOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Texas, USA
Portfolio: Outstanding Bandmaster committee

Mr. Keith Bearden, professor emeritus, retired from Texas Tech University in May 2003 after 23 years as Director of the “Goin’ Band from Raiderland” and Associate Director of Bands. In addition, he conducted the University Symphonic Band, the Court Jesters Basketball Band, played trumpet in the Faculty Brass Quintet, taught classes in conducting, music education and was co-director of the Texas Tech summer camps. During his tenure, Bearden was honored as Outstanding Faculty Member and his “Goin’ Band from Raiderland” was recipient of the nation’s highest award for collegiate marching bands, the Sudler Trophy.

His personal awards include Kappa Kappa Psi’s Distinguished Service to Music Medal, Tech Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award, Tech School of Music’s Distinguished Alumnae Award, and Texas Bandmasters’ Lifetime Meritorious Achievement Award. Prior to his appointment at Texas Tech, Bearden served in the USAF Academy Band and taught in the Texas public schools. He is an adjudicator both nationally and internationally.

Rodney Bennett

DIRECTOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Texas, USA
Portfolio: Constitution & Bylaws

Mr. Bennett holds Bachelor of Music and Music Education degrees from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and the Master of Music degree from Eastern New Mexico University (Portales). Mr. Bennett is a member of Phi Beta Mu (Alpha chapter), and has served as a member of the International Bandmaster of the Year and Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year Selection Committees. Bennett was a clinician as part of a panel presentation on successful small school band programs at the Midwest Clinic in 2000 and 2004, both sponsored by Phi Beta Mu. He also performs annually at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention as part of the Phi Beta Mu Reading Band. Bennett is a member of the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB).

Elva Kaye Lance

DIRECTOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Mississippi, USA
Portfolio: Commission

Elva Kaye Lance is a 35-year veteran music educator. She was appointed to the music faculty at Mississippi State University in 1992 and was named Director of Bands in 2002. Ms. Lance conducts the Wind Ensemble and provides leadership for the Famous Maroon Marching Band in addition to overseeing administrative activities for all aspects of the band program.

Now in her 20^th year at MSU, Ms. Lance teaches methods classes within the Music Department and assist with the supervision of student teachers. She maintains an active schedule as a clinician and adjudicator for both concert and marching bands throughout the country. She serves as the state chair for the College Band Director’s National Association. Additional professional memberships include the National Band Association, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Sigma Alpha Iota and the Music Educators National Conference.

Mike Townsend

DIRECTOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Alberta, CA
Portfolio: Internal and Public Relations; website committee

Mike Townsend, Supervisor of Music (retired) Grande Prairie Public School District, taught music for 40 years. Though principally a “bandsman”, Mr. Townsend was proud to be at the helm of a Total Music Program that gave equal emphasis to band, choir, and orchestra. Mike is presently a member of Alberta Band Association, the World Association of Marching Show Bands, Phi Beta Mu – Mu Alpha, and Regional Coordinator for MusicFest Canada. Mike has served on the board of Canadian Band Directors Association, Alberta Band Association, and Music Alberta. He has been a recipient of the Tommy Banks Jazz Educators Award, the Alberta Band Association’s David Peterkin Award of Excellence, and Vondis Miller Legacy Award.

While directing the Grande Prairie Marching Band for the past 40 years, Mike represented Canada internationally in Alaska, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Brazil, and China. Mike is also active internationally as a clinician, teacher, and adjudicator.

Lois Wiggins

DIRECTOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Kentucky, USA
Portfolio: Projects & Objectives

Lois U. Wiggins, Band Director at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School in Lexington, KY, has taught instrumental music for 26 years in Kentucky, Tennessee & Indiana. Ms. Wiggins received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, a Master’s in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA, and a Rank I in Secondary Education from Western Kentucky University.

Current affiliations include: Psi Chapter Phi Beta Mu, currently serving as  President; Phi Beta Mu International Board Member; Kentucky Music Educators Association. She is the Content Area Leader for Band in the Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky. Lois is an active adjudicator and clinician for concert and marching bands in Kentucky. She is currently a member of the Lexington Brass Band.

Cathy Williams

DIRECTOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Arkansas, USA
Portfolio: Outstanding Contributor committee

Cathy Williams is the Head High School Band Director and Instrumental Music Administrator for the West Memphis School District. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1991-92. Cathy received her B.M.E. in 1979 from Arkansas State University and a M.M.E. from the University of Mississippi in 1981. The West Memphis High School Band represented Arkansas in the 60^th Anniversary commemoration of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 2001. Mrs. Williams had the honor to represent ABA in 2002 at the All-Japan Band Contest in Tokyo, Japan.

Cathy has served on various Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association committees as Region Chairman and is currently serving on the ASBOA Board. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Dixie Band Camp, and is the founder and director of the Spirit of Arkansas Honor Band and Choir. Professional memberships include Omicron Chapter Phi Beta Mu, currently serving as President, ASBDA past state chairman, and Arkansas Bandmasters Association Past President. Mrs. Williams has served as a clinician and adjudicator in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.

David Willson

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Phi Beta Mu International
Mississippi, USA
Portfolio: Hall of Fame

David Willson is a “band director’s band director.” His teaching at all levels has been the catalyst for his mission to serve others through directing bands and bettering his profession. He is in his 21^st year as Director of Bands at the University of Mississippi where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2007. In 2010 Willson was honored by Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity Delta Chapter with the Outstanding Contribution to Bands Award. The Pride of South Marching Band, while under his direction, has more than doubled in size, performed in nine bowl games, and made the Grove Routine part of the Ole Miss Tradition.

Willson is Past President of Phi Beta Mu International, the Mississippi Bandmasters Association and the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, state chairman for CBDNA, NBA, and served for four years on the National Federation of Music committee. Professor Willson has always put a strong emphasis on training students fundamentally and has been equally concerned in developing students as well-rounded citizens through his philosophy of being all superior “Every day in every way.”

Robert Eklund

WEBMASTER
Phi Beta Mu International
Alberta, CA

Robert Eklund is the President of the World Association of Marching Show Bands. He is an internationally recognized adjudicator. Recently he was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity Mu Alpha Hall of Fame. He is a continuing jury member of the Sudler Shield Competition for Marching Bands in the United States of America and twice a jury member of the Kerkrade World Music Contest competitions in the Netherlands.

A recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor Award, he was also presented with Band World’s prestigious Phoenix Award as one of the ten best North American Band Directors in Music Education. He was presented with the Canadian Band Association’s International Award for best representing the ideals of their association around the world. Mr. Eklund is a life member of the National Band Association, a life member of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, a Past President of the Canadian Band Association and twice Chairman of the North American Band Directors Coordinating Council.

He was instrumental in developing a website for Phi Beta Mu years ago. Mr. Eklund remains the chief advisor to the website committee.

Dr. Alfred N. “Buzzy” Green

NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Phi Beta Mu International
Texas, USA

Dr. Alfred N. “Buzzy” Green enjoys forty years of career activity in music education. From work as Director Bands at public school and university levels to his most recent position as Director of Fine Arts for the schools, Dr. Green has shown conspicuous talent for innovation and creativity.

Since retiring from an official position in 2009 he has continued to create and manage RhythmBee, an online resource for school band, choir, and orchestra teachers. He also serves as the present editor of the Phi Beta Mu newsletter. If you have something in/with/about band to share, please send him an email.