Music Program to Expand Under New Director of Bands Austin Seybert
Arts on Campus
NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR: Austin Seybert plans to expand the music ensembles at UT Tyler. Courtesy austinseybert.com
By PAULINA MATA/Staff Writer
Austin Seybert, Ph.D. in Musical Arts and Trombone Performance, has big plans for the music program as the new director of bands.
The School of Performing Arts held a national search last year for someone to run the ensembles and recruit musicians and landed on Seybert. Coming from West Virginia, UT Tyler felt like home to the trombone player.
“I needed UT Tyler, and to be honest, I think UT Tyler needed me,” Seybert said.
Growth has been “pretty obvious” according to Seybert, and the ensemble started the semester with almost twice as many music majors as last year. By next fall, he hopes to have a larger number of non-music majors involved.
“It’s been small for a long time,” Seybert said. “We, as an institution, and a department, haven’t put enough focus on getting non-majors on campus involved and excited about our program.”
In a school of about 10,000 students, Seybert said he believes the music program should have at least 1 % of the UT Tyler enrollment. Engaging with the community on campus is one of Seybert’s biggest goals to expand the program. In the next three to five years, Seybert plans on having two additional ensembles and possibly an athletic pep band.
“My job is going to be to mentor students and be a great leader for artistry.” Seybert
“You’re a music person? Great, come play in band,” Seybert says to any student interested in wind ensemble.
Besides being a part of the growth for the music program, Seybert also has goals for the type of educator he wants to be.
“My job is going to be to mentor students and be a great leader for artistry,” Seybert said. “That’s all I want for my students. I want them to know that when they walk into my classroom, they have a mentor to become better musicians, they have someone they can come talk to, someone they can trust. To me that is what a true college experience is. You walk onto campus and you’re not just a numbered student. You are someone that I am desperately trying to help realize your potential – not just as a musician, but as a person.”
Freshman and euphonium player Ajani McKentie is a recent recruit for the wind ensemble and said Seybert has “already done so much for the program” and “made me feel welcome.”
McKentie said he is “really excited” to seeing all the progress made in the next few years. The music department staff takes the time and care to “want you to succeed” and that he “wouldn’t have it any other way”.
“I absolutely adore my colleagues. I think they’re fantastic musicians and educators. I’m just so excited for the progress that we can make in growing this program,” Seybert said.
UT TYLER WIND ENSEMBLE PRACTICING: Seybert directs the wind ensemble’s practice Sept. 23, 2022 in UT Tyler’s Center for Musical Arts. Photo by PAULINA MATA/Staff Writer.
The wind ensemble will have its first concert of the semester 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at at the Cowan Center. The band will be playing five pieces written by prolific composers, such as John Philip Sousa and Samuel Hazo.
“It’s going to be a really good concert,” Seybert said. “Once we get through this concert and put on a great performance, then we’re going to start really upping the literature.”
New to the players and school, Seybert says he chose “tame” but “fun” music for their first performance. This year will be the first year that instructors are not playing within the band during performances, as well.