Band Directors

Director of Bands - Angela R. Caviness           

Ms Caviness is in her 13th year of teaching.  Prior to becoming the Director of Bands at R. L. Turner, Ms Caviness taught 8 years at Lamar High School, Arlington.  While at Lamar she assisted the Wind Symphony, conducted the Symphonic Band, taught the Woodwind Ensemble Class, co-directed the Viking Marching Band, directed the color guard, and taught Advanced Placement Music Theory and International Baccalaureate World Music.  In 2010. Ms Caviness became a reader for the AP Music Theory Exam.  Before joining the Lamar staff in 2002, Ms Caviness taught in Lewisville ISD.                                                 

Ms Caviness holds a Bachelor of Music from East Texas Baptist University and a Master of Music from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  Prior to her teaching career, Angela was a teaching assistant at TAMUC as a conducting associate of Mr. Bobby Francis. 

       Ms Caviness is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternity and Alpha Chi Honor Society.  Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Angela is active in local adjudication.  In addition, Ms Caviness is a staff member for the Texas "Lone Star" Ambassadors of Music.  Angela just completed her sixth European tour with the Lone Star Ambassadors of Music.  Angela has one dog, Chocolate.

Angela Caviness, office 972.968.5512

 

Director of Percussion - Paul Ailey

    Mr. Ailey returns for his sixth year as Director of Percussion/Associate Director at RLT.  Mr. Ailey supervises all aspects of the percussion program for the Turner Band Cluster, as well as sharing conducting duties with the concert band.  Mr. Ailey brings 15 years of teaching experience to the Turner staff, having been a member of several highly successful band programs throughout the DFW Metroplex.

    Mr. Ailey received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1991 and spent 2 years teaching in Oklahoma, then continued his studies at Oklahoma State University.

    Mr. Ailey holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association and Kappa Kappa Psi Music Fraternity.

    Paul Ailey, office 972/968-5514   

    Associate Director of Bands - Jesse Showalter

Jesse Showalter begins his third year as the Associate Director of Bands for R. L. Turner High School.  Mr. Showalter serves as the primary director of the RLT Symphonic Band, as well as assisting with all aspects of the RLT Band Program. 

Mr. Showalter attended high school in Midland, TX at Robert E. Lee High School.  While at Lee, he was a member of the Honor Band under the direction of Mr. Randy Storie, a two time All-State Euphonium player and finished his senior year as 3rd chair overall in the state. 

    After graduation from high school in 2002, Mr. Showalter attended Texas Tech University to study Music Education.  While at Texas Tech, he was a featured soloist and performed with the nationally recognized Sudler Trophy-winning Goin' Band from Raiderland.  In his four years at Tech, he performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble directed by Dr. John Cody Birdwell and Dr. Sarah McKoin; and the Symphonic Band directed by Mr. Keith Bearden and Mr. Christopher Anderson.  Mr. Showalter studied Euphonium with Dr. Kevin Wass and was a member of the Tech Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble.  He studied conducting with Mr. Gary Lewis. 

    Mr. Showalter is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Jesse Showalter, office 972/968-5513

 

    Color Guard Director - Ashley Tran

Ashley Tran is a new addition to the RLT staff this season as the colorguard director. She has studied under the instruction of Mykail Costner as a two-year veteran at the Crossmen. 

                                                                                                She is a also a returning member to the Ars Nova Independent Winterguard program from Dallas/Ft. Worth, which took home the WGI silver medal and NTCA gold medal l in 2010. She graduated from James Bowie High School in Arlington, TX, where she also earned an NTCA gold medal in 2006, and served as lieutenant and captain for her junior and senior year. She is currently attending Texas Woman's University as a dance major. She hopes to reach out to people through the education of the arts and fitness.