PHILLIP CLEMENTS, guest conductor

Phillip L. Clements is the newly appointed Director of Instrumental Activities at Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas. In this role, Mr. Clements serves as conductor of the wind ensemble, teaches courses in conducting, and guides the instrumental area within the Department of Music. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Clements served on the faculties of the University of Miami, University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas and taught in the public schools at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas.

A proponent of new quality music for wind band, he has been involved in commissions by composers such as David Maslanka and Christopher Rouse as well as regional premieres of works by Michael Colgrass and Donald Grantham. He is in continuous demand as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator across the United States. In addition, Mr. Clements has authored articles for the Instrumentalist and Fanfare magazines and lectured at state conferences across the Southwest. He has also contributed to the most recent publication in the GIA series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Mr. Clements has conducted at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, the College Band Directors National Association Conference and in New York's Carnegie Hall. From 2005 until 2008 he served as the Associate Conductor of the Greater Miami Symphonic Band in Miami, Florida.

Also fluent in the area of marching band, Mr. Clements' ensembles have been featured as the exhibition group at numerous Bands of America Regional Contests, State Marching Contests in both Texas and Florida, and at the prestigious Bands of America Grand Nationals Championships. Active as a drill designer he has written over one hundred and fifty commissioned contest shows for marching bands across the country.

He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and College Band Director's National Association and is an elected member of the Phi Beta Mu honorary bandmaster's fraternity.