ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

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.

MEET THE MUSICIANS FOR THIS SEASON

SUMMER 2024

*denotes an original member

FLUTES

Callie DeJesus is originally from Rockwall, TX and holds a degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is an Assistant Band Director for Marshall ISD.

Christina Smith is from Center, TX and has a degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is currently the Head Middle School Band Director for Center ISD.

Jessica Monasmith is an Assistant band director for Red Oak Middle School. She graduated from Baylor University (2021) with a degree in Music Education and an emphasis on flute. She currently lives in Arlington, TX with her husband, Chris, dog Pazu, and cat Grey Kitty.

OBOES

BreiAnn Gee* is originally from Lufkin, TX. She earned a degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is currently an Assistant Band Director for Jacksonville ISD.

Christopher Monasmith is a native of Harlingen, TX and holds a degree in Music Education from Baylor University. He is currently an Assistant Band Director for Mansfield Legacy High School.

CLARINETS

Gary Jones, from Houston, TX, serves as the Director of Bands at Galveston ISD and on the Music Faculty at Galveston College. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in music education in 2017 and a master’s in conducting in 2019. He has also earned an Artist Diploma in clarinet performance. Jones also serves as the Music Director of the Houston Chamber Music Society.

Dr. Marina McLerran* is originally from Austin, TX. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2014 and served as a band director in East Texas for five years. She earned a Master’s of Music Education (2021) and a Ph.D. in Music Education (2024) from the University of Miami, where she also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for five years. Marina is a nationally-published researcher and currently serves on the faculty at Towson University in Maryland.

Cesar Montelongo is originally from Dallas, TX and is currently a band director in Duncanville ISD. He holds a degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.

FRENCH HORNS

Ismael Mendoza*, from Dallas, TX, graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2017 with a degree in music education. He will be entering his 8th year of teaching in the fall of 2024 in a new role as the Head Band Director for W.T. White High School in Dallas ISD.

Quentin Fisher is from Tyler, TX and is graduate with a BM in Music Education from SFASU in 2023. He is currently earning a Master’s degree in Horn Performance from Arizona State University.

Abbigail Ramsey-Jones is from Prosper, TX and currently serves as a band director in the Houston, TX area. Abbigail received her Master’s in Wind Conducting (2022) and Bachelor’s in Music Education (2020) from Stephen F. Austin State University. She also plays horn with the Lone Star Symphonic Band in Katy, TX.

Tyler Autin, originally from Tyler, TX, graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in music education in 2022. Currently, he is earning a Master’s in conducting at SFASU, where he is also serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

BASSOONS

Brandon Beavers* is from Livingston, TX and holds a degree in Music Education (2016) and a Master’s in Instrumental Conducting (2018) from Stephen F. Austin State University. Currently, he is an Assistant Band Director for Lufkin ISD and the Contemporary Worship Leader for the First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches.

Marilyn Holcombe is originally from Houston, TX and earned a degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2020. She is currently the Assistant Band Director at Creekside Park Junior High in Tomball ISD.

TRUMPET

PJ DeJesus is originally from Lufkin, TX and graduated with a degree in music education from SFASU in 2015. He has recently earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Tyler (2024) and lives in Longview, TX.

Wade Russell, from Gladewater, TX earned a degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2014. He is currently an Assistant Band Director for Charlene McKinzey Middle School in Mansfield, TX.

TROMBONE

Chris Smith is from Pittsburg, TX and graduated with a degree in music education from SFASU. He currently serves as the Head Band Director for Center ISD.

DOUBLE BASS

Mason Poirer is originally from Dallas, TX and is currently serving as an Assistant Orchestra Director for Liberty Junior High in Richardson ISD.

PERCUSSION

Juwan Blanton is originally from Lufkin, TX and graduated with a degree in Music Education from SFASU. He is currently the Percussion Director at Westside HS in Houston ISD.

OUR HISTORY

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.