Alumni
Our youth programs attract some of the most impressive teenagers in the North Texas.
Students who were “kids” in our program are now young adults making their marks as educators and performers. Our students have gone on to prestigious post-secondary programs at Berklee, Eastman, the Manhattan School of Music, the Jacobs School at Indiana, and the prestigious program at the University of North Texas. Two MPYO “pioneers” toured the world as part of the renown UNT One O’clock Lab Band in 2016, while several others have played in the 2 O’clock. Several alumni have gone the military music route.
Not all our graduates are professional musicians. We are equally proud of those pursuing careers in healthcare and in the ministry. Indulge us as we boast on this Where are They Now? page.
Brandon Bingham, Jerry Turner, and Chris Lyman
L.D. Bell graduate Brandon Bingham played lead trombone in the band in 2015-2016. The year before that, Haltom graduate Jerry Turner -- a two-year All State band member -- was a major contributor to an all star trombone section. Grapevine High School graduate Chris Lyman did a great job as our college intern in 2013.
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Demarcus Baysmore
Demarcus Baysmore played in our youth ensembles in 2014 and 2015 when he was a student at Bowie High School in Arlington. He returned in the summer of 2016 as a college intern.
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Myles Blakemore
Myles Blakemore played in the band in 2010 and 2011, his 11th and 12th grade years at Trinity High School. As a distinguished alumnus, Myles returned as a guest soloist in 2014 and performed a duet with Mr. Mario Casanova, who had been his high school band director.
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Kennedy Powers
Kennedy was a 10th grader at L.D. Bell when MPYO started in 2010, and he played in the band throughout his high school career. Kennedy was a featured soloist during the MPYO's first recording session, and that tune is featured on the recent release: "The best of KAYJO."
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Ryan Gilbert
Interned in the MPYO in 2010 while majoring in Music Composition at TCU. He then went on to study theology at Southwestern Seminary, then spent a few years as youth minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis.
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Ryan Brewer
Staff Sergeant Ryan Brewer graduated from Richland High School a year before he launch of our youth jazz programs, but he volunteered as a college intern during summers of 2012 and 2014.
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Jacob Eyler
With a glowing recommendation from his high school band director Jake Eyler was accepted into our youth ensemble at the end of his freshman year at Saginaw High School.
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Ricky D. A. Roshell
Ricky D. A. Roshell played in the all star sax section of 2013 and 2014. He then returned as a college intern when he was home for the summer of 2016.
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Miles Belvin
Miles Belvin is a Jazz Studies major at UTA, expecting to graduate in 2018. He gigs around DFW with his own groups: Ultrahang and The Miles Belvin Quartet, and remains a vital part of our organization as a college intern in our youth bands, and as a player in our adult ensembles.
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DJ Rice
DJ Rice played in our youth ensembles for two years. During high school he was frequently featured as a soloist with the MPYO and with his own band at Rowlett High School.
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