Fwd: regarding memory of Darin Johns

Dear TMEA Region 6 Band Colleagues,

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Andrews Band family and all those affected by the devastating events on Friday. It warms my heart to see how folks in our region are coming together to support each other and offer assistance where it is needed. As you have heard, there is much interest in having a piece(s) of music commissioned in memory of our colleague Darin Johns.

John Carroll sent out an email this morning detailing a few ideas. I am forwarding his email to all persons on my TMEA Region 6 band roster to ensure all TMEA band directors in our region see it. Please read John's email below, and if you are interested in being a part of this project/consortium, please email John at john.carroll@ectorcountyisd.org.

Thank you for your time, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Steven Dojahn

Legacy High School Director of Bands

Region Band Chair, TMEA Region 6

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: John Carroll <John.Carroll@ectorcountyisd.org>
Date: Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 8:29 AM
Subject: regarding memory of Darin Johns

Dear Colleagues,

 

I know we are all hurting over the tragedy of the Andrews Band, and the loss of our friend Darin Johns. May God bless his family, students, and friends (us) as grieving takes place.

 

There is an interest in having a piece commissioned in memory of this terrible event, and in memory of Darin.  I know Chuck Wilson posted about this on Facebook yesterday, and Josh Bailey also stated he had something going. I also know that Jeff Whitaker had thought of something. I don't think anybody knows for sure yet exactly how this will materialize—what kind of performance, how long of the piece, more than one composer composing more than one piece, for performance at an ATSSB performance, etc. I visited with Josh Bailey about this yesterday, as well as Matt Knight (president of ATSSB). Matt Knight was going to check with ATSSB Executive Director Kenneth Griffin. The specifics are not set yet, at least not all of them.

 

I have called a few of you, and I am now writing you to ask you to consider being part of this project/consortium. I know that I saw many, many familiar names on Chuck's Facebook post yesterday of affirmation, and I think this is typical of Region 6 band directors—a close-knit family.

 

Many of you are already ahead of this letter, and are to be commended for that. If you know of someone who possibly who is not aware of this thought (perhaps  by not being on social media), please reach out to them and ask them what they think.

 

Some of us are still traveling with our students. I wish you the best travel experiences with your students.  For the first time ever, I wore my charter bus seat belt on Saturday for our game to Abilene, and will continue to do so.

 

We will miss Darin so very much. He was truly one of the good guys in our profession

 

Please contact me with any questions or ideas or concerns.

 

 

 

John Carroll

Associate Band Director

Permian High School

TMEA President

432-553-2780