Rob Chapleau (left)
Mr. Chapleau is currently in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Panhandle Junior High School. The band has continued its tradition of excellence at UIL Contest, and in 2007-2008 earned an "Outstanding" Divison Award at the Greater Southwest Music Festival. In 2004-2005, the band advanced to the state level in the
ATSSB Oustanding Performance Series, placing 8th in the Class "C" Concert March category, the first of its kind in the history of this performing group. Since that year, the band has been a consistently high-placing competitor at the area level of the Outstanding Performance Series Contest.
Mr. Chapleau graduated from Wilmot High School (Wilmot, Wisconsin) in 1987. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of North Texas in 1994.
As a former member/employee of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, TX (1994-1996), he was the Co-Founder of the FRBC Jazz Orchestra.
In New Mexico, Mr. Chapleau was the high school band director at Taos High School from 1996-2001. While at Taos, his students were two-time hosts of the North Central New Mexico Music Educators’ Association Large Group Band and Choral Festival, and hosts of the NCNMMEA District Honor Band and Choral Festival. His parade bands were consistently outstanding community ambassadors throughout Taos County. Professionally, Mr. Chapleau also served the NMMEA as North Central Vice President (1998) and President (1999-2001). He also assisted in the creation of that district’s official website, and was a contributing writer to the New Mexico Musician, the official publication of NMMEA. In 2001, while director of bands at Hobbs High School, the Eagle Marching Band’s Colorguard received Outstanding Auxiliary Performance at Tumbleweed Marching Festival (Denver City, TX). In May of 2003, the Hobbs High School Symphonic Band received a Gold Medal Award for its performance at Elitch Gardens-Great American Parks Festival (Denver, CO). He presently serves the Texas Music Educators' Association as Region 1 Jazz Coordinator.
Mr. Chapleau has been married to his wife Amber for six years. She is currently the Assistant Choir Director at Pampa Jr. High School. "Mr. Chap" and his wife have three children -- Ryan, Aidan, and Autumn.
Jason Jones (right)
Mr. Jones is currently in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Panhandle High School. Under his direction, the Pride of Panhandle Band has received the coveted Sweepstakes award four consecutive years, from 2005-2008. 2008 marked the fifth consecutive sweepstakes for the band, the first time of five consecutive sweepstakes since 1987. In 2007, the band qualified for the UIL State Marching Contest for the first time in school history, advancing to the finals and placing 7th overall. In 2005 and 2007, the band was named the Overall Outstanding Small School Band at the Greater Southwest Music Festival. The band also advanced twice to the state level in the TMEA Honor Band Competition, finishing 12th in 2005 and 11th in 2007. The band advanced to the state level in the
ATSSB Oustanding Performance Series Competition in 2005.
Mr. Jones graduated from Pampa High School in 1995. He attended Angelo State University for two years before transferring to Howard Payne University in 1997. He graduated from HPU with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.
Prior to working in Panhandle, Mr. Jones worked for five years as the Assistant Director of Bands at Pampa High School. During this time, he was in charge of the High School Concert Band as well as the Basketball Band and the award winning Pampa High School Jazz Band. The Jazz Band was selected as the Overall Outstanding Jazz Band at the Greater Southwest Music Festival in 2002 and in 2003, the Jazz Band was given the Best in Class Award at the Alamo Music Festival in San Antonio. He helped lead the Concert Band to the coveted Sweepstakes Award in 2002 and 2003, its first since 1994. He has also led the Concert Band to four consecutive 1st Division ratings in sight-reading competition.
Mr. Jones and his wife Amber were married on June 17, 2000. She is currently working as the Assistant Director of Bands at Panhandle High School. Mr. Jones and his wife have three children: Emileigh Morgan, born 2004; Adyson Kate, born 2006; and Ian Michael, due to be born August 8, 2008.
