Dr. Scott Anthony Jones, Director of The School of Music and Director of Bands
Dr. Scott Anthony Jones serves as Director of the School of Music (SOM) and Director of Bands at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Dr. Jones oversees all aspects of this acclaimed institution, conducts the premiere Wind Symphony and leads the graduate wind conducting program, which he established in 2018. He also serves as Coordinator of the Music and Culture in Vienna Study Abroad Program. Prior to his 2022 appointment as SOM Director, Dr. Jones also taught courses in music education, undergraduate conducting and wind literature and served as Faculty Facilitator for the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Effective Teaching Practices Course. Dr. Jones is the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Alumni in Music Award from Grand Valley State University and the 2020 William J. Hall Faculty Excellence Award from the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Under his direction, the Wind Symphony has garnered national recognition for its outstanding musicianship, virtuosity and innovation, placing 2nd in the 2020 American Prize Competition, 3rd in the 2020 Ernst Bacon Award for the Performance of American Music Competition, performing at the 2019 Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and giving world premieres by composers Zhou Tian, Roy Magnuson, Jess Turner, Nathan Hudson and Katahj Copley.
Prior to Kingsville, Dr. Jones was Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Georgia, where he worked with the 440-member Redcoat Marching Band, directed Concert Winds and Basketball Band, and taught courses in conducting and orchestration. Dr. Jones has also held positions at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University, Maryland Conservatory of Music, The Peabody Institute, and The Highlands School in Maryland.
Dr. Jones holds the Doctor of Music degree in Wind Conducting from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Master of Music in Saxophone from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, and the Bachelor of Music from Grand Valley State University. Dr. Jones serves frequently as a guest clinician throughout Texas and the United States. He currently holds memberships in CBDNA, NAfME, TMEA, TBA and is an honorary brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Email: [email protected]
Prior to Kingsville, Dr. Jones was Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Georgia, where he worked with the 440-member Redcoat Marching Band, directed Concert Winds and Basketball Band, and taught courses in conducting and orchestration. Dr. Jones has also held positions at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University, Maryland Conservatory of Music, The Peabody Institute, and The Highlands School in Maryland.
Dr. Jones holds the Doctor of Music degree in Wind Conducting from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Master of Music in Saxophone from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, and the Bachelor of Music from Grand Valley State University. Dr. Jones serves frequently as a guest clinician throughout Texas and the United States. He currently holds memberships in CBDNA, NAfME, TMEA, TBA and is an honorary brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. John Lopez, Associate Director of Bands
Dr. Lopez serves as Associate Director of Bands at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where he directs the Pride of South Texas Javelina Marching Band and Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in conducting and music education.
From 2013 to 2022 he served as the Director of Athletic Bands at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA where he was the director of the 200+ member Marching Captains and Pep Band and was the conductor of the University Concert Band. His academic achievements include the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from The University of Georgia, the Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from Ohio University, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Glenville State College. His wind conducting teachers include Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Andrew Trachsel, Mr. Frank Wickes, and Mr. John Whitwell. Prior to his graduate work, Dr. Lopez served as the Director of Bands at Gilmer County High School in Glenville, WV where his teaching earned him the 2007 West Virginia Region 7 Teacher of the Year. During his graduate studies at Ohio University, he earned the 2010 Ohio University Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associate Award and the Ronald Socciarelli Award for Outstanding Service to the Ohio University Marching 110. While at OU and UGA, Lopez routinely conducted all the bands, assisted with, and taught undergraduate conducting, and served as a teaching assistant with the OU Marching 110 and the UGA Redcoat Band.
During his time at Christopher Newport University, The Marching Captains over doubled in size and became one of the largest NCAA Division III athletic band programs in the country. The band was featured in the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland and the 2019 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago. He has been honored twice by the Northeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi with the Outstanding Sponsor Award for his work as the advisor to the Mu Nu chapter of the organization.
Dr. Lopez is also an active scholar on wind band music with extensive contributions to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. He routinely presents at state and regional music conferences and serves regularly as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout the eastern United States. Additionally, Lopez holds professional memberships in Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Email: [email protected]
From 2013 to 2022 he served as the Director of Athletic Bands at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA where he was the director of the 200+ member Marching Captains and Pep Band and was the conductor of the University Concert Band. His academic achievements include the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from The University of Georgia, the Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from Ohio University, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Glenville State College. His wind conducting teachers include Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Andrew Trachsel, Mr. Frank Wickes, and Mr. John Whitwell. Prior to his graduate work, Dr. Lopez served as the Director of Bands at Gilmer County High School in Glenville, WV where his teaching earned him the 2007 West Virginia Region 7 Teacher of the Year. During his graduate studies at Ohio University, he earned the 2010 Ohio University Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associate Award and the Ronald Socciarelli Award for Outstanding Service to the Ohio University Marching 110. While at OU and UGA, Lopez routinely conducted all the bands, assisted with, and taught undergraduate conducting, and served as a teaching assistant with the OU Marching 110 and the UGA Redcoat Band.
During his time at Christopher Newport University, The Marching Captains over doubled in size and became one of the largest NCAA Division III athletic band programs in the country. The band was featured in the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland and the 2019 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago. He has been honored twice by the Northeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi with the Outstanding Sponsor Award for his work as the advisor to the Mu Nu chapter of the organization.
Dr. Lopez is also an active scholar on wind band music with extensive contributions to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. He routinely presents at state and regional music conferences and serves regularly as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout the eastern United States. Additionally, Lopez holds professional memberships in Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. kyle aufderhar, Adjunct Assistant Director of Bands
Kyle Aufderhar currently serves as the Adjunct Professor of Ensembles & Conducting at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He holds the D.M.A. in Wind Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he studied with Dr. Catherine A. Rand and was a Graduate Assistant with the Department of Bands. Originally a Texas native, Kyle attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education, going on to teach both middle and high school band in the Louisiana public schools, where his students enjoyed notable success in local, regional, and state contests. Kyle returned to UL-Lafayette to study with Dr. William J. Hochkeppel, earning his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting, and graduating Summa Cum Laude. At USM, he assisted with the athletic bands and concert ensembles, and was a Teaching Assistant for the undergraduate Instrumental Conducting and Marching Band Methods courses.
In 2022, Kyle had the honor of being selected as 1 of 12 fellows (from nearly 300 applicants) for the 4th annual Reynolds Conducting Institute at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Kyle's most recent research, intended for publication, entails James M. David’s 2022 score, Troublesome Fire, and its bearings in Alexander Scriabin’s Vers la flamme (1914), and Karel Husa’s Apotheosis of this Earth (1970). Kyle also prepared a wind ensemble transcription of Cindy McTee's Einstein's Dream, which received its premiere with the USM Wind Ensemble in March 2024.
In 2022, Kyle had the honor of being selected as 1 of 12 fellows (from nearly 300 applicants) for the 4th annual Reynolds Conducting Institute at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Kyle's most recent research, intended for publication, entails James M. David’s 2022 score, Troublesome Fire, and its bearings in Alexander Scriabin’s Vers la flamme (1914), and Karel Husa’s Apotheosis of this Earth (1970). Kyle also prepared a wind ensemble transcription of Cindy McTee's Einstein's Dream, which received its premiere with the USM Wind Ensemble in March 2024.
Mr. Matthew Gallegos, graduate conducting associate
Mr. Matthew Gallegos is currently earning a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting under Dr. Scott Jones. As a graduate assistant, he regularly works with the various concert bands and the Javelina Marching Band. He is also working on earning a Master of Music in Trombone Performance. He received his bachelor’s in music education, with magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University Kingsville in spring 2023.
As a trombonist , Mr. Gallegos has performed at multiple festivals and clinics with the TAMUK trombone choir, including the International Trombone Festival, the International Women’s Brass Conference, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. He has also performed with various ensembles at TAMUK such as the JMB, jazz band, wind symphony, and the pit orchestra.
As an educator, Mr. Gallegos has worked with the MacArther High School band as a music and visual tech for the marching band. He has also worked as a camp counselor at the TAMUK band camp in the summers of 2022-2023.
As a trombonist , Mr. Gallegos has performed at multiple festivals and clinics with the TAMUK trombone choir, including the International Trombone Festival, the International Women’s Brass Conference, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. He has also performed with various ensembles at TAMUK such as the JMB, jazz band, wind symphony, and the pit orchestra.
As an educator, Mr. Gallegos has worked with the MacArther High School band as a music and visual tech for the marching band. He has also worked as a camp counselor at the TAMUK band camp in the summers of 2022-2023.
Mr. Alex Nava, Graduate conducting associate
Mr. Nava is a graduate of Texas A&M Kingsville, where he received the Bachelor of Music Education degree with Teacher Certification, and the Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance. He is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting under the direction of Dr. Scott Jones. Mr. Nava currently holds a Graduate Assistantship where he assists TAMUK faculty & staff with instructing the Javelina Marching Band and the TAMUK concert bands.
As an educator, Mr. Nava has been a music technician and clinician for Robstown ISD and Laredo ISD. Mr. Nava led small and large ensemble rehearsals, gave private lessons to low brass students, and assisted with summer band camps and marching band. He currently gives private lessons to students around the area and Corpus Christi.
As a trombonist, Mr. Nava has performed in a variety of classical, jazz, and other popular music settings. While attending TAMUK, Mr. Nava performed with premier ensembles such as the Wind Symphony, the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, the trombone studio’s top octet (also known as The South Texas Trombone Sound), Jazz Combo I, and Jazz Band II. As a member of these ensembles, Mr. Nava had the opportunity to perform at prestigious events like the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, The Chicago Midwest Clinic, and the International Trombone Festival (ITF). Mr. Nava has also shared the stage with artists such as Joe Alessi, Marshall Gilkes, and Zoltan Kiss while at TAMUK. Outside of school, Mr. Nava has been an active trombonist in Laredo performing with groups of different genres such as Salsa, Blues, Tejano, and variety music/pop bands, even doing double duty with some of these groups as a singer.
Several note-worthy moments for Mr. Nava while at TAMUK include being selected for a drum major position in the 2018 marching season, getting a chance to conduct the Wind Symphony after winning the 2018 – 2019 Conducting Competition, and recording an album (Dendrology) while being a member of Jazz Combo I.
As an educator, Mr. Nava has been a music technician and clinician for Robstown ISD and Laredo ISD. Mr. Nava led small and large ensemble rehearsals, gave private lessons to low brass students, and assisted with summer band camps and marching band. He currently gives private lessons to students around the area and Corpus Christi.
As a trombonist, Mr. Nava has performed in a variety of classical, jazz, and other popular music settings. While attending TAMUK, Mr. Nava performed with premier ensembles such as the Wind Symphony, the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, the trombone studio’s top octet (also known as The South Texas Trombone Sound), Jazz Combo I, and Jazz Band II. As a member of these ensembles, Mr. Nava had the opportunity to perform at prestigious events like the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, The Chicago Midwest Clinic, and the International Trombone Festival (ITF). Mr. Nava has also shared the stage with artists such as Joe Alessi, Marshall Gilkes, and Zoltan Kiss while at TAMUK. Outside of school, Mr. Nava has been an active trombonist in Laredo performing with groups of different genres such as Salsa, Blues, Tejano, and variety music/pop bands, even doing double duty with some of these groups as a singer.
Several note-worthy moments for Mr. Nava while at TAMUK include being selected for a drum major position in the 2018 marching season, getting a chance to conduct the Wind Symphony after winning the 2018 – 2019 Conducting Competition, and recording an album (Dendrology) while being a member of Jazz Combo I.
mR. Bryson Ward, GRADUATE cONDUCTING Associate
Mr. Bryson Ward is a graduate of Texas A&M University Kingsville where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Music Education. Mr. Ward is currently studying under Dr. Scott Jones to earn his Masters in Wind Band Conducting. As a graduate assistant, he works closely with the TAMUK band staff and faculty in directing the Javelina Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and University Band.
As a tuba player, Mr. Ward has participated in the TAMUK Javelina Marching Band where served in leadership for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He performed with the TAMUK Concert bands and was a member of the TAMUK Tuba-Euphonium studio. During his undergraduate degree, he served as the president of the TAMUK Chapter of the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA) from 2021-2023. He was the 2023 TAMUK conducting competition winner where he served as guest conductor with the TAMUK Concert Band. Mr. Ward also composed a tuba-euphonium quartet which won 3rd place in the TMAUK Re-Imagine Music competition. He conducted his premiere at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and later performed at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Tempe, Arizona.
As a tuba player, Mr. Ward has participated in the TAMUK Javelina Marching Band where served in leadership for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He performed with the TAMUK Concert bands and was a member of the TAMUK Tuba-Euphonium studio. During his undergraduate degree, he served as the president of the TAMUK Chapter of the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA) from 2021-2023. He was the 2023 TAMUK conducting competition winner where he served as guest conductor with the TAMUK Concert Band. Mr. Ward also composed a tuba-euphonium quartet which won 3rd place in the TMAUK Re-Imagine Music competition. He conducted his premiere at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and later performed at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Tempe, Arizona.
