The Bryan school board has hired a new band director at Bryan High School.
Jason Noyes (pronounced NOISE) has been the associate director of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler since 2006. Before that, held a similar position in Seminole ISD between 2004 and 2006.
Bryan High principal Lane Buban says Noyes was one of five finalists who were interviewed from a pool of 20 applicants.
Also involved in the interview process were superintendent Dr. Tommy Wallis and the district’s fine arts director, Nick Luggerio.
The only board member to offer comments, Doug Wunneburger, was familiar with the success of the band program at Tyler-Lee.
Monday’s board vote was 4-0. No explanation was given during the meeting for the absences of Tommy Bosquez, Felicia Benford, and John Street.
Noyes takes over for Robert Towell, who was involuntarily reassigned in May after 19 years in the position.
Click below for a summary of comments made at today’s Bryan school board meeting, reported by WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
According to a Bryan ISD news release, Noyes directed the Tyler-Lee high school’s non-varsity concert band, co-directed the marching band, directed jazz ensembles and also taught beginning trumpet and horn for Moore MST Middle School. Under his leadership, the Robert E. Lee High School band achieved consistent superior ratings at University Interscholastic League (UIL) Marching Contests and Concert & Sight-reading Contests. He helped grow the jazz program to include two big bands and one combo band.
The jazz bands received consistent superior ratings at jazz festivals with 55-60 students being accepted into the high school Texas Music Educators Association all-region band each year. During his tenure, an average of 120 students annually received superior ratings at the UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest. His bands consistently achieved top 10 finishes at the Area C Marching Contest (6A).
Noyes also led band-related social media endeavors, banquet programs, fundraisers and other administrative functions at Lee.
The Bryan ISD news release also noted Noyes personal accomplishments of serving as the past Region 21 Jazz Chair, member and section leader of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland, principal chair of Symphonic Winds, performing with the Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra and marching with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (DCI World Champions in 2003). He performed with the Texas Tech Jazz Ensemble and received the James Sudduth Outstanding Music Education Student Memorial Scholarship in 2002).
Noyes earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Texas Tech University in 2004 and possesses an all-level teacher certification.