Directors of the Horned Frog Band

Bobby R. Francis, Director of Bands

Mr. Francis is the Director of Bands at Texas Christian University and the Conductor of the TCU Wind Symphony. Mr. Francis serves as conductor of the TCU Wind Symphony, teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting and is responsible for the supervision of all aspects of the TCU Band program. Mr. Francis was recently inducted into the American Bandmasters Association and was guest conductor of the US Army Band "The Pershings Own".

The TCU Wind Symphony performed at the prestigious American Bandmasters Association 75th Convention in College Station, Texas in March of 2009.  The ensemble recently performed concerts at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio and the College Band Directors National Conference Convention in Ann Arbor Michigan. In recent years, Mr. Francis' ensembles have performed at many national, regional, and state conferences including a performance at the College Band Directors National Conference (CBDNA) in Athens, Georgia, and Houston, Texas, as well as at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC) in Dallas, and have accepted invitations to perform at upcoming conferences of the International Tuba-Euphonium Regional Conference and the International Trumpet Guild (ITG). The TCU Wind Symphony has performed with guest artists such as Patrick Sheridan, Brian Bowman, Allen Vizzutti, John Lewis, and Markus Theinert. His ensembles have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, and the Bass Hall in Fort Worth. The TCU Wind Symphony has released one compact disk under his direction entitled: “Testament -Music for a Time of Trial" and has 3 new CD's in production.

Mr. Francis has given several clinic presentations at various state events such as the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. The most recent presentation was at the 2005 TBA conference where he was a part of a three-person panel presenting a clinic entitled: "Advancing Musicianship Through Aural Skills - A Journey Into The Mind's Ear".  Mr. Francis recently conducted research on regional wind band repertoire at the Pannonische Forschungsstelle Kunstuniversität Graz / Expositur Oberschutzen in Oberschutzen, Austria. Mr. Francis is in constant demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician, and educational advisor across the U.S. Mr. Francis has produced seven compact disk recordings of his ensembles. Recordings of the TCU Wind Symphony recently have been broadcast on WRR - Dallas-Ft. Worth's Classical Radio station.

Brian Youngblood, Associate Director of Bands

Mr. Youngblood is the Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Horned Frog Marching Band at TCU. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Abilene Christian University and his Master of Percussion Performance degree from East Texas State University. Before coming to TCU, he taught in the public schools for twelve years. He began teaching in 1987 and spent his first ten years teaching at L.D. Bell High School, where his groups received recognition for outstanding performances at festivals throughout Texas. His ensemble responsibilities at TCU include the Horned Frog Marching Band, the Symphonic Band, and assistance with the Men's and Women's Basketball Bands. In addition to his work with the bands, he also teaches music education classes and surpervises student teachers.  He is leading drill designer and arranger for marching band. He regularly consults with and writes shows for high school bands across the nation. His drills have won six state championships, a BOA National Championship and placed in the finals of numerous competitions.

Mr. Youngblood is a product of public school music education in the state of Texas. Before playing in the L.D. Bell High School Band under the direction of Roger Winslow, he was in the junior high bands of Marion West, Earnest Repass and Danny Prado. His undergraduate studies with John Whitwell and Gary Lewis, then at Abilene Christian University, furthered his training in Music Education. His percussion training began with Jim McGahey and Warren Dewey and continued with Allen Teal at Abilene Christian University.  His percussion professors at East Texas State University were Robert Houston and Jimmy Finney.

Mr. Youngblood is a frequent clinician and adjudicator in Texas and the Southwest. He enjoys working as a clinician with bands from every age level.

Jeremy M. Strickland, Assistant Director of Bands

Mr. Strickland is currently in his first year as the Assistant Director of Bands at TCU where he is the Director of the Basketball Band, the University Concert Band and assists with the Marching Band, Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band.  Before coming to TCU, Mr. Strickland was the Director of Bands at Springtown High School in Springtown, Texas.  Bands under his direction consistently received superior ratings at concert contests and appeared at the UIL State Marching Contest in 2003 and 2005. The “Sound of Springtown” received recognition for their performances at festivals across the North Texas area as well as performances for audiences at Walt Disney World, the Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio and the Bobby Vinton Theatre in Branson.  Several of the students in Mr. Strickland’s bands have gone on to major in music and now hold positions as successful music educators across the state of Texas.  He earned his bachelors degree in Music Studies from The University of Texas at Austin in 2002 where he was a member of the Wind Ensemble and the “Showband of the Southwest”.

Mr. Strickland is an active member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and the College Band Directors National Association.

Mr. Curtis Wilson, Director of Jazz Studies

Mr. Wilson has been at TCU since 1976. Prior to that, he served as Director of Bands at Ashland College; Ashland, Ohio (1972-1976). From 1968-1972 he was on the music faculty of Valley City State College; Valley City, North Dakota. As a professional woodwind performer he has played with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, Glenn Miller - Tex Beneke Orchestra, and many others. His conducting experience ranges from marching band to the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra. He has music published for the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensembles. The TCU Jazz Ensemble has performed at the Montreux jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland along with performances in Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Soviet Union and Italy.