Chapter Profiles
- Founded: 1938 by Colonel D.O. Irons
- Charter members: Carl Cochran; R.A. Dhossche; Walter S. Dickensen; Sanford Eskridge; Joe L. Haddon; Robert McCown; Clyde Rowe; George M. Rucker; Russell E. Shrader; Richard Walker; D.O. Wiley.
- First official meeting: February 1939 at Rice Hotel in Houston, Texas.
- First initiates: Weldon Covington; Jack Mahan; R.C. Davidson; Lyle Skinner; Vergne Adams; Holmes McNeeley; Alfred M. Riley.
- First honorary member: Dr. Cothburn O’Neal; in recognition of his work with Col. Irons in setting up the Fraternity Constitution and Oath. View our full history.
Current Membership:
- 346 active; 163 retired active; two honorary members
- Attendance: 350 to 400
Annual Business Meeting:
- Held during the Texas Music Educators Association conference in February of each year
- New member induction ceremony is at breakfast held on the Saturday of the TMEA Conference
Awards:
- Presented at Texas Bandmasters Association Convention held in July of each year
- Outstanding Young Bandmaster: less than 10 years’ experience
- Outstanding Contributor to Bands: usually given to a music dealer, although others have been recognized.
- Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame: six to ten distinguished directors are honored each year
- Alpha Chapter offers a Directors Reading Band at TBA, previewing new publications at an informal concert during the convention.
News:
In 2013 Alpha celebrated its 75th Anniversary.
Support:
Alpha offers the Band Directors Support Network to any band director in the state. The Network consists of three free services – mentoring, free clinics, or classroom coverage so that a director may observe teaching at another location. Band directors access the Network from our website and select the teacher(s) with whom they wish to work.
Visit Alpha Chapter website.