Our History

Founder

Roy McLerran*, originally from San Augustine, TX, holds a degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University (2013) in Nacogodches, TX and a Master's of Instrumental Wind Conducting from the University of Miami (2022). He has seven years of public school teaching experience in East Texas and South Florida and is currently earning a D.M.A. in Instrumental Wind Conducting from the University of Miami. McLerran founded the East Texas Chamber Winds in 2015 in order to give back to the community and to promote the performance of harmoniemusik.

The East Texas Chamber Winds (ETCW) is a Texas ensemble dedicated to the accurate performance of harmoniemusik. The organization’s motto, “Music for the sake of music,” coined by Artistic Director Roy McLerran, is intended to state that the craft is worth practicing for its own merits. The ETCW’s premiere concert took place in San Augustine, TX at the First United Methodist Church in the summer of 2016, conducted by Roy McLerran. Members of the ETCW are mostly current students or recent graduates of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music in Nacogdoches, TX.

In its first five years, the ETCW returned to the First United Methodist Church three more times, performed five additional concerts at the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, and provided the musical entertainment for the Gilbert I. Low Excellence in Education Awards Gala (San Augustine, TX) in both 2018 and 2019. The ETCW were honored to participate in the 2018 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Music Showcase series in San Antonio, TX. The ensemble logo was designed by Kubs Sabsrsula in preparation for this convention appearance. It is meant to represent a golden lyre - small harp or music holder. In January 2019, the ETCW performed the world premiere of “Mountain Songs” by Jack Wilds at historic Mast Hall in downtown Nacogdoches, TX as part of their winter concert series. At the request of their attendees, the ETCW returned to Mast Hall again in January 2020 for their 4th annual winter concert. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ETCW returned to the stage for the summer 2021 concert at Naca Valley Vineyard where they celebrated their fifth anniversary with Mozart’s complete “gran partita” to a record audience turnout.

The ensemble performed their sixth annual summer concert in June 2022 at Millard’s Crossing Historic Village in Nacogdoches, TX with Guest Conductor, Jack Hontz. In the fall of 2022, the ETCW were granted official 501c3 status, making the ensemble an independent non-profit organization. In January 2023, the ETCW returned to Mast Hall with a performance of lesser-known French pieces and the world premiere of an arrangement of Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals” by Roy McLerran. The ensemble performed their seventh annual summer concert at the historic Fredonia Hotel in downtown Nacogdoches, TX in June 2023 and returned to the hotel for the Winter 2024 concert in January (“Music of the 70s”).

In 2024, the ETCW were honored to be awarded second place for The American Prize in the category of Band and Wind Ensemble Performance (community division). The ensemble returned to The Fredonia Hotel for their Summer 2024 Concert, “Falling Colors,” and for their ninth winter concert, “A Night With Pierrot,” the following January.

The ensemble are excited to present their tenth anniversary concert on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at The Fredonia Hotel.