Dekaney Blue Legion Band

 

Greetings from the mighty Blue Legion Band!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trent Cooper, Head Director of Bands

 

Trent Cooper has been educator in Texas for 25 years.  He began his career in Spring Independent School District at Wells Middle School as an Assistant Band Director and returned to the district to serve on the staff at Westfield High School n the fall of 2003.  That year, the band was selected as the Bands of America Grand Nationals Champion.  He opened Andy Dekaney High School in the fall of 2007.  His bands have won numerous festivals throughout the state and nation.  In addition, to his work in the Spring ISD, he has taught in the Clear Lake ISD and Conroe ISD.

 

Mr. Cooper has had the honor of being a presenter at he TMEA, TBA, and Midwest Clinic and Convention.  He has had the honor of presenting a concert in the Midwest Clinic in 2010 and 1996.

   

Mr. Cooper served on the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List Committee for four years before being asked to chair that committee for four more years.  He has benefited from the mentorship of Eddie Green, Matthew McInturf, Richard Floyd, Philip Gieger, Richard Crain, and Brett Johnson.

He holds an Undergraduate Degree from the University of Houston and a Master’s Degree from Sam Houston State University.  He is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Gregg Rinehart, Percussion Director

Gregg Rinehart is a native of Michigan and has been in local education programs in Texas and Michigan for twenty-five years.  He was the director of percussion studies for the Spring Independent School District for ten years as well as the director of percussion studies and associate marching band director at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Plymouth, Michigan for seven years.  He has also done adjunct teaching in Texas at the University of Houston as well as Stephen F. Austin University. 

 

Mr. Rinehart has also had twelve years of involvement with Bands of America, including numerous regional and national marching band titles, serving as a faculty member on the BOA World Percussion Symposium, and coordinator of the Honor Band of America percussion section.  Mr. Rinehart was also coordinator for the 1996 Summer Olympics opening festival ceremonies.  He also served as the past president of the Michigan Percussive Arts Society.

    

 

 

Solomon Ruth, Colorguard Director

Mr. Ruth is currently in his 4th year as Colorguard Director at Dekaney High School.  Solomon Ruth began his colorguard career as a member of the Avante’ Independent Open winterguard.  He was also a member of The Cavalier Drum and Bugle Corps.  During these performing years, Mr Ruth took a job as a Colorguard Director at Huntsville High School.  While maintaining a position as Colorguard Instructor for Sam Houston State University, Mr. Ruth became a performing member and design consultant in his fifth year of participating with Emblem281. 

 

In Mr. Ruth’s second year as a choreographer and weapon technician, Emblem281 retained 5th place at WGI Championships in the Independent A class.  In 2004, he became the Colorguard Director for Conroe High School where he brought the group their first two wins as the Texas Colorguard Circuit State Champions.  In 2005 Mr. Ruth became the Director of the University of Houston Colorguard and the Fortitude Independent Open Winterguard (who became a finalist at WGI in the Independent Open Class).  Mr. Ruth has choreographed shows for competitive groups all over the state of Texas , including Americas High School, Haltom High School, Klein High School, Rio Hondo High School, Madisonville High School, Robstown High School, MacArthur High School.  Mr. Ruth has the TCGC State Championship five times.  He is active as a design consultant throughout the state.