The Westlake Band Program is proud to announce our new Director of Bands - Thomas Turpin!

 

   "I am incredibly excited to join the team at Westlake High School as the next Director of Bands. The band program at Westlake has a tradition of excellence that has continued to set and raise the standard for quality music education in the state of Texas for many years, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the students as we move into the next chapter of the program journey together. I am looking forward to meeting all of you very soon, and making many years of great music and memories with this fantastic and supportive community. Go Chaps!" - Mr. Turpin

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   Thomas Turpin is currently in his 17th year of teaching, 15 of which have been spent at Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands in 2018, he served as both Associate and Assistant Director at Westwood. During his time at Westwood, Mr. Turpin has taught the marching band, all four concert ensembles, and all three symphony orchestras, leading each group to consistent UIL Sweepstakes ratings in Concert and Sight Reading Evaluations. The Wind Ensemble has been named a TMEA 6A Honor Band Finalist, a Mark of Excellence Commended and National Winner, and a performer at the 77th Annual Midwest Clinic. Wind Ensemble members are also a part of the Westwood Symphony Orchestra, and most recently performed at the 2019 Midwest Clinic and were chosen as the 2024 TMEA Honor Full Orchestra. Prior to his time at Westwood, Mr. Turpin served as Assistant Director of Bands at John Paul Stevens High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he coordinated the marching band program and co-conducted all four concert ensembles and the Jazz Band. 

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   Mr. Turpin is a proud native of Alabama, where he attended Athens High School and The University of Alabama for his secondary education, earning both his Bachelors and Master of Arts in Music Education. During his time at The University of Alabama, he served as Section Leader, Drum Major, and Graduate Teaching Assistant of the “Million Dollar Band.” Mr. Turpin was also a member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 and 2005. Mr. Turpin is an active drill designer for marching organizations across the United States, an ensemble clinician, and a leadership consultant. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), the National Band Association, the Texas Music  Adjudicators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu. He has served TMEA as both the Region 26 Band Division Chair and the Region 26 President.

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Please join us in welcoming him to the Chap Band Family!