James Bowie Band

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About The Band

The James Bowie band is a well-renowned organization that is made up of a talented team of creative musicians. Based in Arlington, they have a storied history of 1st division awards, Grand Champion awards, national performances, and professional recording sessions. They pride themselves on their technical abilities and musical versatility, breaking boundaries with their unique sound. Explore the site and learn more about the musicians behind the music.

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Behind The Band

Directors

Rumaldo Solis

Director of Bands

This will be Mr. Solis’s 12th year as Director of Bands. Mr. Solis received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from West Texas A & M University and his Master's degree in Woodwind Performance and Education Administration from the University of North Texas. In addition, Mr. Solis has studied conducting with teachers at Texas A & M Commerce, and at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Mr. Solis has performed professionally in Europe, Taiwan, and China. He has performed at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in 1998, 1999, and 2000 in various ensembles. In August of 2000 Mr. Solis placed 2nd on clarinet in the National Intercollegiate Band Competition. Mr. Solis has been a frequent performer with the Metropolitan Winds in Irving, Texas and the Lakeshore Winds in Garland, Texas. Mr. Solis has collaborated with Los Angeles studio musicians such as Wayne Bergeron (Spiderman 2), Andy Martin (Dancing with the Stars), and Paul Salos (America’s Got Talent). Mr. Solis has also recorded with Mark Custom Records, and Titanic Records. Mr. Solis has taught in Sherman ISD and Garland ISD. Mr. Solis’s Jazz Ensembles have successfully performed at the Collin County Jazz Festival, Lake Texoma Jazz Festival, UTA Jazz Festival, and at the prestigious Texas Christian University Jazz Festival placing 1st and 3rd.

Mr. Solis’s wind bands have been named best in class in various festivals held in Louisiana, Colorado, and Texas. Furthermore, they have received first division ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest. Mr. Solis has worked with marching bands who have received first division ratings at UIL marching contest and has placed 3rd in the state at the UIL State Marching Contest in 2005. His wind symphony has been a featured performer in the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington and has been a Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence Project. In 2018, Mr. Solis presented a clinic at the Texas Music Educators Association.

Mr. Solis recently published an article on Band Directors Talk Shop entitled Techniques to Improve Tone Quality in Your Band.

Tessa Farley

Assistant Director

Ms. Farley graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music: All Level Instrumental with a minor in Spanish. While attending SHSU she participated in the Symphonic Band, Bearkat Marching Band, Concert Band, Old Main Brass Choir, and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. In addition she spent two summers marching baritone with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps and two seasons playing in and directing a trumpet ensemble at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival.

Ms. Farley is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, and the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Landon Adams

Director of Percussion

Mr. Adams received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in music performance at Colorado State University. During his time at CSU, he performed with the marching band (including a trip to Ireland to perform in the St. Patrick's Day parade), Symphonic Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and African Drum and Dance Ensemble. Mr. Adams also performed as a percussionist in many choral ensembles, various small string and wind ensembles, and the CSU dance studio. Most notably, he has played in dozens of CSU percussion ensembles and even had an opportunity to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2010. Mr. Adams was able to showcase his solo performances with three full recitals as well as win 1st place in the 2016 Concerto Competition. Outside CSU, Mr. Adams performed all over Colorado in churches, chamber choirs, musical theater, and various orchestras as a substitute or guest artist.

Mr. Adams’ teaching experience stretches through beginning, intermediate, and advanced instruction. In Colorado, he taught private lessons and held master classes in Loveland, Fort Collins,Denver metro, Arvada, Aurora, and Littleton. As a drumline and front ensemble instructor, Mr. Adams took multiple trips to the State Marching Competition with Ralston Valley HS in Arvada (reaching semi-finals) as well as Columbine HS in Littleton.

In 2018, Mr. Adams moved to the DFW area to pursue more teaching opportunities. He had the opportunity to teach as a marching band tech as well as private lesson instructor in Mesquite HS and North Mesquite HS. In February of 2019, Mr. Adams had the honor of teaching as a substitute band director at Bowie HS and as of Fall, 2019, he teaches as a full time Assistant Band Director at Bowie overseeing the Percussion and Jazz programs.