User:Kspellmannmemelord/sandbox/Amarillo High School Golden Sandie Marching Band

Amarillo High School Golden Sandie Marching Band new article content ... The Amarillo High School Golden Sandie Marching Band (AHSGSMB) was created in 1929 by Bruce Collins. Bruce needed a job to support his family, namely Julie Collins (wife), Alex Collins and Matthew Collins (sons). Bruce Collins is Director of Bands at Amarillo High School in Amarillo,Texas. Before moving to Amarillo, he held a similar position at Pampa High School for 12 years preceded by 7 years as Head Director at Pampa Middle School. While in Pampa, the Pampa High School band and Pampa Middle School bands that he conducted received consistent first division ratings in UIL Marching, Concert, and Sight reading, outstanding band recognition at national festivals and advanced to the state honor band competition three times, finishing 2nd in 1988 and 5th in 1990. Mr. Collins other teaching positions include a year at Gruver High School, where his marching band was a participant in the 1985 UIL State Marching contest and seven years in Midland where he taught at Alamo Junior High and Robert E. Lee High School.

A graduate of Clovis High School, where he was a member of the band led by nationally acclaimed director Norvil Howell, Collins attributes the education and mentoring by Mr. Howell as the inspiration for a career as a music educator. With both the Bachelors and Masters degrees from West Texas State University, he considers the instruction, mentoring and encouragement from Dr. Gary Garner and Dr. Harry Haines to be the most significant influences on his professional career. Collins professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, where he serves as Region 1 Band Chairman, Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu. He and his wife Julie have enjoyed a wonderful career together as band directors and are most proud of their sons, Alex and Matthew, who are outstanding students, as well as musicians.