As Lamar University's new director of bands, Scott Deppe plans to draw on more than 20 years of teaching experience to maintain the strong heritage of the outstanding band program at Lamar.

Deppe, a Lamar graduate and Woodville native, assumes duties Aug. 1.

"We're very excited about having Scott join us," said Russ Schultz, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. "He brings a wealth of talent, is a fine musician, and develops a great rapport with students. He will continue the legacy of the strong band and exceptional band directors such as Pete Wiley, Jimmy Simmons, Barry Johnson and Scott Weiss, that we've had at Lamar University."

In addition to overseeing the jazz and pep bands, Deppe will direct student recruitment and teach classes in the music department. He also plans to organize a marching band to perform at future Lamar football games.

"I'm looking forward to developing a greater connection with area schools which will lead us to recruiting more students," he said. "There are a lot of great teachers in Southeast Texas, and I am excited about working with them to take all our bands to a higher level."

Recruiting students and shaping bands is a strength of Deppe's. "He has a great work ethic and has demonstrated a strong desire to recruit the best and brightest to Lamar University," said Schultz.

Deppe earned a bachelor of fine arts in music education with an emphasis on instrumental music from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1985 and a master of music education degree from Lamar in 1990.

His 22 years of teaching experience includes a local connection. He taught band for five years at Bridge City High School. He has also taught in Nacogdoches, Spring Hill, Jasper, The Woodlands and, most recently, at Klein High School in Spring. In Deppe's three years at Klein, the marching band competed at the Texas 5A State Marching Contest, while the symphonic band won the South Coast Music Festival in Corpus Christi.

Additionally, this past spring, the Klein Wind Symphony performed at Symphony Hall in Chicago as part of the Circle of Honor Music Festival. Clinician for the event, Charles Menghini of Vandercook School of Music in Chicago, remarked that "in over 30 years of judging high school bands, this was the most musical high school performance ever encountered."

Deppe will be missed at Klein High School. Jake Watson, a senior at Klein, said, "Mr. Deppe has done so much for us. He raised the bar for our band to a level exponentially greater than where it was. He made an impact on all of our lives."

In addition to guiding and motivating students, Deppe is passionate about reaching people through music. "I love the performance aspect of having students take their individual parts and put them together in a way that is meaningful to other people. To be able to move people to tears, to joy, to nostalgia, that's a powerful experience."

For more information about the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at Lamar University, please visit http://dept.lamar.edu/cofac/deptmtd.