Donnie Artley, Director click here to email Mr. Artley
Donnie Artley has worked as a band director at Lake Jackson Intermediate since 1992. Prior to coming to Lake Jackson, Mr. Artley taught private trumpet lessons in Lubbock and surrounding communities while attending Texas Tech University.
Mr. Artley graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. While at Texas Tech, he studied conducting with the late James Sudduth and Trumpet with Richard Tolley and Will Strieder. Mr. Artley was a member of the Texas Tech Symphonic Band, the University Symphony Orchestra, The Texas Tech Goin’ Band (marching band), and the Court Jesters (basketball band). While at Texas Tech, Mr. Artley also performed with the Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra.
His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity.
His teaching responsibilities at Lake Jackson Intermediate include directing the Symphonic Band and assisting with Concert Band and Concert Winds. His responsibilities at Rasco Middle School include teaching the beginning trumpet and F-horn classes. He also assists with the Brazoswood High School Buc Band once a week.
Mr. Artley and his wife Abbie have a young daughter named Claire.
Mr. Anderson, Associate Director click here to email Mr. Anderson
Walter Anderson began teaching at Lake Jackson intermediate and Rasco Middle School in August of 2001. Prior to teaching in Lake Jackson he taught the 2000-2001 school year at Sweeny Jr. High as the head director. 1998-2000 was spent at Columbia High School as the first assistant. From 1996 to 1998 Mr. Anderson was the head High School and Jr. High Bands at Graettinger, Iowa. His first year was spent at Maryville High and Washington Middle School in Maryville, Missouri.
Prior to teaching, Mr. Anderson served in the United State Marine Corps stationed at Pearl Harbor Hawaii as a trombone player for the Fleet Marine Force Pacific Band.
Mr. Anderson received his Bachelor of Music degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Mr. Anderson also attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa for two years. Mr. Anderson was the principal trombonist two of three years at Lamar. He was a member of the Symphonic and Jazz Band A while at Lamar. At Drake, he was principal trombonist for Symphonic and Jazz Band I as well as the Orchestra both years.
Mr. Anderson is a current and long term member of Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmaster Association.
His teaching responsibilities include directing the Concert Band while assisting with the Symphonic and Concert Winds as well as teaching Trombone, Baritone, and Tuba at RMS.
He and his wife have been happily married since 1989 and have two children, Christy and Ethan.
Mr. Eric Harper, Percussion Specialist
Teacher, composer, and performer Eric Harper is currently the Director of Percussion Studies for Brazoswood High School and its feeder programs, in the area of Clute, Texas. Eric is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, where he studied with Greg Koyle, Alan Shinn, and Dr. Lisa Rogers. He has performed in master classes at PASIC with Evelyn Glennie. He has also performed in master classes with Leigh Howard Stevens, Michael Burritt, and Nexus. During his last two years in Lubbock, Eric was an instructor for the Texas Tech Drumline and a member of the Lubbock Symphony..
Upon returning to Houston, Eric began teaching Percussion One with Lamar Burkhalter, which performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 1998. In 2000, Eric traveled to Hanover Germany with Percussion One to perform at the World Expo. In 2003, Brazoswood percussion ensemble performed at PASIC in Louisville, Kentucky through the call for tapes process.
In his spare time, Eric performs on tenor drums with the Houston Texans’ Pep Band and is a member of Drum Café in Houston, TX. Eric is also a proud endorser of Promark Mallets.
Mrs. Becky Orr - Woodwind Specialist
Becky Orr has worked as a band director with BISD since 1987. During her years at LJIS, Mrs. Orr led the band to earn many Sweepstakes awards. She moved to Rasco Middle School when it opened in 1995 to coordinate the beginner band program. She is responsible for the woodwind classes and shares percussion responsibilities with Mr. Harper. She also assists Mr. Artley and Mr. Anderson at LJIS with the Symphonic and Concert Bands, clarinet section rehearsals, and assists with concerts and UIL contests.
Prior to coming to Lake Jackson, Mrs. Orr taught two years at Pearland Intermediate School in Pearland, Texas, two years at Mt. Pleasant High School in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and one year as the junior high director at West Rusk Co. CISD.
Mrs. Orr was a 1978 Texas All-State clarinetist. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. While in Commerce, she studied clarinet with Dr. James Deaton and conducting with James Keene and Gary Hill. While attending ETSU, Mrs. Orr was a member of and toured with the East Texas State University Wind Ensemble all four years.
Mrs. Orr‘s professional affiliations include membership in the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Becky and her husband Allan, have been married for almost twenty years. They have twin daughters, Hayley and Meagan who are members of the LJIS Symphonic Band. They enjoy traveling and going to Houston Symphony concerts.