East Texas Symphonic Band

 The ETSB is made up of approximately 70 volunteer musicians from the East Texas Area. This group consists of adults, many of whom are band directors from area high schools, as well as high school and college students. Dr. James Snowden continues to lead the band as its Director and serves as a great role model for all the musicians as is proven by being a past recipient of the Texas Music Educators Association’s Leadership and Achievement Award, being inducted into the TMEA’s Hall of Fame and receiving Outstanding Music Alumnus from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dr. James Snowden

Dr. Snowden received his bachelor's and master's degrees from SFASU in 1965 and 1968 and his Ph.D. in music from the University of Colorado in 1975. He studied conducting with Elizabeth Green, Richard Burgin and Franco Autori (both assistant conductors of Toscanini), and Anshel Brusilow. His advanced conducting study was with Fritz Reiner of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted the Symphonies of Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Fla. and the Houston All-City Symphony, and was founder and conductor for 10 years of the Longview Symphony Orchestra.

He served for 10 years as music director of the Longview Community Theatre and coordinator of orchestras of the Longview Public Schools, established the Longview High School Orchestra and subsequently took it on a 10-day European tour, founded the Lubbock All-City Orchestra and originated the “Music and Architecture” series as conductor of the University of Tulsa Orchestra. Also at Tulsa, he established the first music literature courses and served as supervisor of student teachers in the public schools. His band at Judson Jr. High received the “Texas Honor Band, Class CC Award”, the first east Texas band in history to achieve this. As music director of the Longview Community Theatre, he conducted “Fiddler”, “Camelot”, “Sound of Music”, “My Fair Lady”, “South Pacific”, “Annie, Get Your Gun”, “Brigadoon”, and “Carousel” among others.

Dr. Snowden founded the Longview Symphony Orchestra and conducted it for ten years, growing it from a group of local musicians to full symphonic status including collaboration with area and nationally recognized guest artists, initiated the LSO Concerto Competition, and joint performances with the Kilgore College Chorale, the Longview Civic Chorale, the Longview Ballet Theatre and fully staged productions of “Peter and the Wolf” with the Longview Jr.League.

He also founded and served as director of the Torchlight Music and Ski Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado for ten years—a competition for high school bands, orchestra and choirs. In 1999 he founded the Tyler Homeschool Band at the request of a large group of parents, and served as board member of Opera Longview.

After retiring as director of bands for 10 years at Pine Tree ISD where he won numerous Sweepstakes Awards and placed a school record for the number of students winning regional, area and All-State honors, he served as music prof. with the U.T. Tyler and East Texas Baptist University. He also served as music director of the Artsview Childrens’ Theatre.

As an avid scuba diver—holding the certification of PADI Divemaster, he pursues hobbies of big game hunting (published an article on the Swedish Mauser rifle), skiing, mountain hiking, world travel, and canine obedience training. More recently, he served as President of the Judson High School Alumni Association.