The Mabank Band Directors
Mr. DuBose | Mr. Kennedy | Mrs. Kennedy | Mr. Johnson | Administrators

Mr. Jeff DuBose, Director of Bands and Fine Arts.

Mr. DuBose is a 1978 graduate of Malakoff High School.  In High School, Mr. DuBose was Drum Major and a three year member of the TMEA All State Symphonic Band of which he was the Principal Trombone two years.  He was also a three year First Division winner at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest and named Outstanding Performer on Trombone his Junior and Senior years.  In 1977-78 he was named to the McDonalds All American Band and performed with the Band in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.  His private teacher in High School was Dr. Neill Humfeld of East Texas State University (Texas A&M Commerce).

Mr. DuBose attended the University of Texas at Austin and Graduated in 1983.   During his time at UT he was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Trombone Choir and the UT Jazz Orchestra.  He was a solo performer with the UT Symphony in 1981 and the Wind Ensemble in 1983.  His trombone teacher at UT was Mr. Donald Knaub. 

Mr. DuBose is now finishing his 22nd year as a Texas High School Band Director and has been a Head Band Director 21 years in Class 2A, 3A and 4A.  During that time he has served as an Assistant in Fredericksburg and Head Band Director in Cross Roads, Luling, Industrial, Santa Fe, Flour Bluff and now in Mabank.  At Industrial High School, his bands made appearances at the State Marching Contest in 1995, 1997, 1998 and were finalists in 1997.  The Industrial Band was also named the TMEA Honor Band Award Winner in 1998 and performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio that same year.  They were also ATSSB Outstanding Performance Winner in 1997.  Mr. DuBose was named Director of Bands at Santa Fe High School in 1998.  The Santa Fe High School Band went on to make the State Marching Contest in 1999 and 2001, as well as UIL Sweepstakes award winners all 3 years.  In Flour Bluff (Corpus Christi), the Band was a consistent winner in UIL and in 2006 all six competing bands received a First Division in their UIL Concert Performances.  Also in 2006, the Wind Ensemble was named Outstanding Overall Performance at the Big D Classic in Dallas.

In the Spring of 2006, Mr. DuBose was named Mabank ISD Director of Bands.  Since that time the Mabank Bands have accumulated 7 UIL Sweepstakes Awards throughout the program.  The Mabank HS Marching Band was also an Area Marching Finalist in Class 3A Area B Marching Competition.  In 2007, the Wind Ensemble was awarded an Outstanding Performance Citation through the National Windband Honors Project.  Only one other band received this honor in High Schools with 1000 students or less.  Mr. DuBose is married and has two daughters.  His wife Nikki is a 4th grade teacher at Central Elementary in Mabank and Kara (9) and Jessica (8) are also students at Central Elementary in Mabank.  The DuBoses are all members of the First Baptist Church in Mabank.

Mrs. Denise Kennedy is Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies for the Mabank Band Program. Mrs. Kennedy is a graduate of Tulsa Edison High School and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Her teaching experience began with a one year assignment to Elk City Public Schools in western Oklahoma, where she was Associate Band Director and Color Guard Instructor. Following her entry year, she moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma where she was Director of Music for three years at the Grove Dependent School District. Her latest teaching assignment was for Bixby Public
Schools in Bixby, Oklahoma, as Associate Director for the Pride of Bixby High School Band, Director of Bands for Bixby Middle School and Director of Jazz and Woodwind Studies. During those seven years, Denise saw the high school band grow from 75 members to 120 members, and is now one of the largest 4A band programs in Oklahoma.

While at Bixby, the High School band received four state Sweepstakes Awards. The 8th grade band received three Outstanding Achievement Awards, as well as numerous Superior ratings in concert and sight-reading contests. The BHS Jazz Program received three Superior ratings at the State Jazz Ensemble Contest and was awarded second place in class 4A twice. Denise also worked with the BHS Woodwind Ensemble, Clarinet Choir and Saxophone Choir each receiving consistent superior ratings. Her private students have consistently achieved membership in All-District and All-State Honor groups.

During the summer months, Mrs. Kennedy actively works at Southwestern Oklahoma State University teaching for the Jazz Camp and the High School Band Camp.

Mrs. Kennedy’s professional honors and awards include being elected as Jazz Chairman for the All-OMEA and IAJE/OBA Jazz Ensembles in 2004; being named Teacher of the Year for Bixby Middle School in 2002; being recognized as School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s “50 Director’s Who Make a Difference” in 2001; being twice named in Who’s Who Among American Teachers (1999, 2000); being named Grove School Teacher of the Year and a Masonic Teacher of Today in 1997. She is also very active as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator and private instructor through out the state of Oklahoma.

Mrs. Kennedy is a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators, Music Educator’s National Conference, Oklahoma Music Educator’s Association, Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Association, Oklahoma Music Adjudicator’s Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association, Texas Music Educator’s Association, and Mu Phi Epsilon. She has also served as chairman for the Eastern District Band Director’s Association. As a clarinetist, saxophonist and jazz pianist, Mrs. Kennedy actively performs throughout Oklahoma. She has performed with jazz greats such as Bill Watrous, Rich Matteson, Lou Fischer, Shelly Berg, Diane Reeves, Paquito d’Rivera, Byron Stripling, Clark Terry, Carl Fontana and Dan Haerle.

Mrs. Kennedy is the wife of Scott Kennedy and has two children: Kaitlyn and Zachary.
Mr. Scott A. Kennedy, Middle School Director of Bands, received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Oklahoma State University. Mr. Kennedy began his teaching career in Shawnee, Oklahoma where he served as director of bands for two years and followed that assignment with an appointment as director of bands in Chelsea, Oklahoma. After two years in Chelsea, Mr. Kennedy went on to Catoosa, Oklahoma as an associate director of bands and middle school director of bands. During Mr. Kennedy's five year tenure with the Catoosa Band Program, the quality of the band program
enjoyed steady growth, consistent superior ratings and he was nominated as teacher of the year twice. The Middle School bands achieved a consistent level of superior ratings, sweepstakes awards, and benefited from more activities than before. His last teaching appointment before coming to Mabank was at East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While at East Central for one year, Mr. Kennedy grew the band from 16 members to 96 and never achieved a rating lower than superior.

Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Association, Oklahoma Music Educator’s Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association, Texas Music Educator’s Association, National Federation of Musicians, International Trombone Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has been active as a trombonist in the Tulsa area with the Starlite Band, Joey and the Jazz Guys, and others. He has served as chairman and Vice-President for the Northeast Band Director’s Association and was named in Who’s Who Among American Teachers in 2005. His private students have consistently achieved All-District and All-State level status. In the summer months, he enjoys teaching at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Middle School Band Camp. Mr. Kennedy has also been active as a clinician, adjudicator, and private instructor throughout Oklahoma.

When free time presents itself, Mr. Kennedy enjoys spending it with his wife Denise, daughter Kaitlyn, and son Zachary.
Mr. Jeff Johnson, Percussion Coordinator, is currently an active performer and teacher in the north Texas area. He has taught at Grapevine and Keller independent school districts. While at Keller, the drumline received a 1st place victory for the first time in the school's existence. Mr. Johnson attended Texas A&M University Commerce where he received a bachelor of science in music performance. While in college, Mr. Johnson was an active member in the Steel band, percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, and drumline. In 2000 The Commerce Drumline received a second place finish at the P.A.S.I.C. drumline competition. Mr. Johnson promotes music for its individual enjoyment and also for it education for all humanity.

Mr. Johnson's professional affliations include The Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.
Mr. Kenn McSperitt, Assistant Director of Bands
Mrs. Marsha Sanchez, Administrative Assistant.

A.K.A. Band Goddess.
Mabank Administration

The Mabank Band Program is fortunate to have loyal and supportive administrators who care about the direction and future of our students.

Dr. Russell Marshall, Superintendent
Mr. Tommy Wallis, High School Principal
 
Dr. Darin Jolly is the Principal of Mabank Middle School. Prior to administrative service, Mr. Jolly was Mabank’s Director of Bands from 2001 to 2005. As a successful Texas director of bands, Mr. Jolly has taught since 1995 in the Westwood (Palestine), Elkhart, Coleman and Mabank Independent School Districts. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Howard Payne University (1995) and Masters Degrees in Music (2000) and Education (2004) from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Mr. Jolly earned Superintendent Certification through the University of Texas at Tyler (2005) and received his PhD in Education in 2008 from SFA. As music educators, Mr. and Mrs. Jolly were directors of the nationally recognized Howard Payne University Band Leadership Camp from 1997 to 2004. As a member of the Texas Music Adjudicator's Association, Mr. Jolly has been a very active Marching and Concert Band Judge in Texas, Colorado, Washington and Arizona. In Texas, Mr. Jolly served the Association of Texas Small School Bands on the state board as AA Representative and President-Elect. In 1998, the Texas Music Educator's Association selected him as their Graduate Scholarship Award Winner, and in 2001 he was named the Phi Beta Mu - Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year. Darin and Cara Jolly and their children, Elizabeth and Aaron Jolly value their family time going to church, fishing, camping and traveling in their spare time.
Mr. Jimmy Cantrell, Athletic Director

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