Don Hanna

Don Hanna was born June 14, 1941 in Alma, Arkansas. He is the third child of Otis and Clemmie Hanna (both deceased). He has an older brother, Joe Hanna and a sister Jane Garrett (deceased). As an infant his family moved to Raymondville, Texas where his father was a farmer and his mother a homemaker who was insistent that her children should have opportunities in the arts.

Don Hanna began piano lessons at the age of ten. He joined the band in the Jr. High School and continued through graduation from Raymondville High School. During his senior year he earned a position as a clarinet player in the Texas All-State Band. He used his keyboard skills as pianist and later organist at First Baptist Church, Raymondville, during his high school years.

Upon graduation from Raymondville High School in 1959, he entered Hardin-Simmons University on a music scholarship majoring in piano and clarinet. He was a member of the Concert Band, World Famous Cowboy Band, played keyboard in the University Combo and was a clarinetist in the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a charter member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Men's Music Fraternity and served as President in his senior year. While at Hardin-Simmons University he met Shirley Blackwell. Shirley was a piano major from Bedford, Texas and played flute in the University Band. It was on a Spring Band Tour that they began to notice each other and they were married July 13, 1963.

In 1964 he was named to the position of Jr. High Band Director in Sweetwater and served as assistant director to Pat Patterson, former Texas Band Masters Executive Secretary. Shirley taught elementary music classes at Southeast and Eastridge Elementary Schools. In 1966 the Hanna's moved to Odessa where he served as the band director at Crockett Jr. High and they became the proud parents of Alan Donald Hanna. In 1969 they moved to Fort Stockton where he assumed the duties as Director of Bands for the Fort Stockton I.S.D. In 1970 both he and and his wife received Master of Music Education Degrees at the University of North Texas. It was during this time that they were blessed with their daughter, Kimberley Joy Hanna. In Fort Stockton he served as organist for First Baptist Church for eight years and later served as Choir Director as well as becoming an ordained deacon and serving on the board of deacons.

In 1979 he was named Director of Bands for the Denton I.S.D. where son Alan (a trumpet player) and daughter Kimberley (an oboe player) were later students in his Denton High School Band. He assumed the duties as organist of First Baptist Church in 1981 and in 1989 became the organist for Grace Temple Baptist Church of Denton. His wife, Shirley moved into a new profession in 1979 as a Mary Kay Cosmetics Consultant and later earned the position of Independent Sales Director.

In 1992 the Superintendent of the Amarillo I.S.D. (a former Phi Mu Alpha brother at Hardin-Simmons University) convinced him to accept the position of Band and Orchestra Director at Amarillo High School as well as Private Lesson Coordinator for the Amarillo Independent School District.

During the thirty years teaching in public schools Don Hanna's bands accumulated 29 consecutive University Interscholastic League Sweepstakes award, qualified for the State Marching Contest every year but one and were in the finals for the State Honor Band Competition four times. In addition to the U.I.L. activities his bands traveled to national competitions and were named outstanding in class twelve times.

In 1994 Don retired from the public schools and was hired as the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Hardin-Simmons University where he taught for eight years and retired in 2002. While in Abilene he served as organist for Westmister Presbyterian Church and served on the board of the Abilene Opera Association.

During his eight years at Hardin-Simmons University his bands averaged 35-40 performances each year. The Cowboy Band made three European tours, were invited to perform at the Gubernatorial Inauguration of Governor George W. Bush and later the Presidential Inauguration of President George W. Bush. The Concert Band received the first invitation in the University's history to perform for the Texas Music Educator's Association Convention.

One year after retirement his love for teaching brought him back into active duty at Pantego Christian Academy in Arlington where he enjoyed teaching students music (grade 5-12). In 2004 a former student from Denton High School who was the band director at Western Hills High School in Fort Worth called to ask him if he would consider teaching beginners at Leonard 6th Grade Center. The idea of teaching for a former student was too much for him to resist and he accepted the position.

He served as Vice President of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association 1990-1992 and served at the region, area and State levels as an officer in the Texas Music Educators. He was the State Band Chairman for the Texas Music Educators Association from 1992-1994 and President Elect, President and Past President from 1994-1997.

His has been honored in his chosen profession many times in his life, beginning with earning a seat in the Texas All-State Band in 1958, his induction into Phi Beta Mu, ordaination as a Deacon at First Baptist Church of Fort Stockton, the dedication of the All-School Sing at Hardin-Simmons University, the induction into the American Bandmasters Association, invitations to present clinics in State Conventions in Texas, Ohio, Mississippi and Oklahoma, serving as guest conductor for the University of Honolulu Wind Symphony, the United States Army Band, National Chrisitan University Band, Texas All-State Band for Private & Parochial Schools, numerous Region bands and countless High School and Middle School Bands.

His adjudication invitations include band events in The Netherlands and England, Band Contests & Festivals throughout the United States, U.I.L Contests at the Region, Area and State levels as well as scores of invitational festivals.

Associations, fraternities and service organizations include the Texas Band Masters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, College Band Directors National Association, American School Band Directors Association, National Band Association, American Band Masters Association (which he regards as his greatest professional achievement), Pi Kappa Lamda, American Guild of Organists, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Lions International.

In 2005 he was the recipient of the Bayard H. Friedman Hummer Hero Award, presented by Score A Goal In The Classroom for the best band director in North Texas during a Fort Worth Symphony concert.

His publications include Scales & Rhythmic Figures for Band, Daily Warm Ups for Middle School Band, Daily Warm Ups for Advanced Band, and Daily Warm Ups for Symphony Orchestra; Articles in the "Southwestern Musician."

He is very proud of his daughter Kimberley Hoyle and son Alan who are both band directors in the Metroplex and his wife Shirley continues to enjoy her association with Mary Kay Cosmetics and Sigma Alpha Iota. A very special gift in his life has been his granddaughter, Laura Jane (not only grandfather's best buddy, she is a musician too!).

Don enjoys playing golf, gardening and travel. He has served as Vice-President of the Greater Fort Worth Community Band and currently serves as Associate Conductor.

He continues to be in high demand for clinics, workshops and adjudication, both here and abroad. His greatest satisfaction is working with students in order that their lives are enriched with music. He has a strong conviction that the disciplines they learn through music prepare them to be more successful in whatever career they choose. After over forty years of teaching, his former students are a testimony to his philosophy of what music can do for an individual. This is why he enjoys teaching his students the joy of making music.