Keith Gates: Music
Robert Tucker
Robert Lee Tucker is Dean of Music, Fine Arts, and Extended Education at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. The former director of bands at Howard Payne, he also teaches composition, French horn, score reading, and online music appreciation. He earned his Ph.D. in Fine Arts in 2001 from Texas Tech University, his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting and Horn Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 1985, and his undergraduate degree in music education and theory/composition from Hardin-Simmons University in 1983.
He plays horn with orchestras, and piano with jazz ensembles in the West Texas area. He is an active adjudicator and clinician through the State of Texas as well as other states. His compositions for band have been published by RBC Music and Avalon Press.
Prior to his employment at Howard Payne University, Tucker was Assistant Director and Director of Bands at Stanton High School from 1990-95. From 1985-1990, he was Assistant Professor Music at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was also Part-time Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Brownwood, from 2003-2006.
He has conducted 32 Region Bands throughout Texas. He was Baptist All-State Conductor in 1998, 2001, and 2004, and 2006, and has conducted the Abilene All-City band and orchestra three times. He has led more than 80 Marching and Concert clinics in Texas and Louisiana. He conducted the Oakland Ballet Company, and has been co-director of Howard Payne Marching Band Leadership Camp. He was clinician at the 2001 College Band Directors National Association in Denton, Texas. He assisted Kirke McKenzie and directed the Sweepstakes Bands while at Stanton High School, and the band was the winner of State Wind Ensemble Contest in 1993. He was choir Director at Union Presbyterian Church 1995-2000. He was named faculty Member of the Year at Howard Payne for 2000-2001.
Dr. Tucker has played horn with Abilene Philharmonic, San Angelo Symphony, Midland-Odessa Symphony, Big Spring Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, Rapides Symphony, Lafayette Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Symphony, Kings Brass Quintet, Zephyr Winds, and Midland-Odessa Wind Quintet. He has also played Jazz piano with local bands including Howard Payne Jazz Band, and instituted the Young Person's Guide to the Band series which had more than 1000 children in attendance from 2003 to 2006.
He has performed clinics for a long list of high schools, including: Abilene, Early, Brownwood, Bangs, Ballinger, Burnet, Coleman, Cross Plains, Roscoe, Pampa, Hamlin, Anson, Wall, Iraan-Sheffield, Jim Ned, Stephenville, Dublin, Coahoma, Mineral Wells, Goldthwaite, Hico, Hamilton, Buena Vista, Lubbock Cooper, Alvarado, Grandview, Ranger, Reagan County, Van Horn, Rising Star, Alpine, Shallowater, Roosevelt, Stanton, Midland, Big Spring, Frisco, Marcus, Irion County, Millsap, and Eastland. Dr. Tucker has also been a guest clinician at Hendrix College and Anderson University.