Arkansas Tech University

About Arkansas Tech University

The music program at Arkansas Tech is one of the most recognized music programs in the state, and many members of the Tech band graduate and begin teaching high school band programs across the state. Several Tech alumni are leading hundreds of students in the band room each day.

Arkansas Tech graduate Dewayne Dove graduated in 1987. Dove says he went – more... "straight to graduate school," and he graduated in 1989 with a Master of Music in Trombone Performance. Upon returning to Arkansas, he served as band director at Greene County Tech in Paragould. Dove moved to the Russellville School District in 1990 and says he's "been here ever since. Dove's favorite part of his job is "working with the students. He says his biggest accomplishment is being named "American School Band Director Association's Outstanding Young Band Director for the State of Arkansas and Region Winner in 1997."

Joe Trusty graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1981, and he has been with the Cabot Public Schools for 27 years. Trusty says the band, school and community have grown significantly during his time in Cabot, and he's proud of "keeping the band program to a high level of performance while going through a tremendous growth. Currently, the Cabot High School band has more than 200 students, and there are more than 800 students in the district involved in band. Trusty says his favorite part of the job is "working with the students. He adds, "They keep me busy, they keep me young and I love my job more every year."

Tom Chentknik graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1992 and is currently in his 17th year of teaching. After teaching in Texarkana and Russellville, he's been the director of the Mountain Home High School Band the past seven years. Chentknik says one of the highlights of his career was "taking the MHHS Band to march in the 2006 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Chentknik says his band performs yearly in Branson "as part of the Branson On Stage Live Educational Program. Chentknik says his favorite part of the job is "working with young people, starting a project, then ending with a top-notch performance and seeing the students succeed."

Brad Coffman graduated with his music degree from Arkansas Tech in 2000. He leads the Sophomore Band and the Jazz Band at Russellville High School, and he has been teaching in Russellville for seven years. In 2006, Coffman received a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Arkansas Tech. Coffman says he enjoys working with "the young people of Russellville. He adds, "I get to travel to all three buildings to teach band. I get to work with students of all levels of our program on a daily basis."

Steven Kesner graduated from Arkansas Tech with a music degree in 1977. He's in his 31st year as a high school band director in Arkansas. Kesner is currently the director of bands at Fort Smith Southside, and he directs the Wind Symphony, the Jazz Band and the Rebel Marching Band. Kesner says he's proud the group has been asked to travel all over the United States to perform. The biggest accomplishment for Kesner is "the growth of our band program. He adds, "We have grown from an enrollment of 118 in the 2002-2003 school year to 220 who are presently in our program." – less – More from ZoomInfo »

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