Currently leading University of Texas Permian Basin’s marching band, Tim Feerst has 74 members.
The group, called the Spirit of the Permian Basin, was practicing Wednesday on the practice field near the D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center.
“(The) band’s a great size; they’re producing a great sound. They were very well received at the football games and events that we’ve played out so far this year,” Feerst said.
The band usually performs at home football games and they are sometimes asked to play at events on campus and off.
“We will also be giving two exhibition performances this fall. The first is at a UIL marching competition on Oct. 16, and then again at a UIL area marching contest on Oct. 23,” Feerst said.
Those will both be at Ratliff Stadium.
Last year was Feerst’s first year with the UTPB music program. He was director of percussion studies, and this year, he is serving as director of percussion studies and interim director of bands.
Taking over the band was great because the student leadership is so strong, he said.
“They are very proactive. They are extremely professional. I mean, if you look right now, they’re warming up and I’m not even over there. We’ve had a lot of success so far this year and there have been no problems. There have been challenges, but there have been no problems and I’m extremely proud of all of them,” Feerst added.
Originally from Vienna, Va., he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from George Mason University and his master’s in percussion from the University of Texas at Austin and a doctorate in percussion performance with a related field in wind band conducting from University of North Texas.
“The most influential teachers that I have had have been band directors. And you always see a lot of percussion in band as opposed to string orchestra, although there was a lot of percussion in orchestra as well. So when they asked me to step in to serve as interim director of bands this year it didn’t really feel like it was something that was completely out of my purview,” he said.
Aside from the fact that he gets to strike things for a living, Feerst said he likes the variety of percussion.
“It covers so many musical styles for instance marching band. It also covers orchestra, contemporary music, jazz, pop, rock; you name it,” he added.
He also likes knowing that he can be part of many musical styles.
“… One day I could be playing drum set; on another day I could be playing xylophone and another day I could be playing timpani. It’s that variety that I just absolutely love about playing percussion,” Feerst said.
Students audition individually for band just so directors can see where they are musically.
But most of them have been in band in high school. Band and football have always been bound in the Lone Star State.
“I’ve always known that Texas high school bands have been very much a force to be reckoned with. And a large part of that is just because football is a large part of the culture in high schools out here in Texas. I’m of the opinion that football and band have sort of this symbiotic relationship and that they help each other grow. I’ve always wanted to come to Texas because of that, because of how strong music education is in this state. I have lived here for a number of years in various areas and I absolutely love it,” Feerst said.
He added that the students’ level of dedication and willingness to work hard are remarkable and some of the best he has ever seen.
“You can hear right now how the student leadership is working with our sections right now. Right now, we are working on marching fundamentals and the leadership is running those sectionals … as we call them; these little mini rehearsals that are divided up by instrument. … We really pride ourselves at UTPB on enhancing that leadership and enhancing that music teaching quality,” Feerst said.
Brandon Lippert is in this third year with the Spirit of the Permian Basin. He is a drum major, trombone player and trombone major, “So I’m playing all day long.”
Lippert, who is from Smithville about 45 minutes outside of Austin, started in band in sixth grade.
“It’s just a really nice family atmosphere with one another. … It’s not just come and play with each other and go home, but we try and do things outside of band and just enjoy our time while we’re here,” Lippert said.
He said the band has grown and improved.
“… COVID put a damper on things, but even compared to my first year here, the band has just been getting exponentially better every year … as it grows and new people come in … they buy into the same kind of process, too,” Lippert added.
After graduation, Lippert plans to go into music education.
“… Everybody’s been through so much and I’m just really excited and glad that we’re able to come back together again and actually perform the way that this group is intended to. I’ve been really excited to be a part of that this year,” Lippert said.
Tabitha Blain, a senior music education major (kindergarten through 12), said band has always been a big part of her life. She plays trumpet and occasionally other instruments in the concert band such as French horn. Blain, who went to Crane High School, also plays with the mariachi group and sings in the concert choir and women’s choir.
Like Lippert, Blain said the family and community atmosphere is something she enjoys. She said they help each other through struggles and work together to push through them.
Blain arrived for the first ever marching band at UTPB.
“… It was a great opportunity to just see such a small program and then as it goes it just grows tremendously,” Blain said.
People seeing the band perform helps recruit students.
“It shows people that band can still be exciting, even in college. It’s not always about playing super hard, but having fun and learning things to be better as players,” Blain said.
Emily-Ann Brito is in her first year as the twirling coach. Brito started competing when she was 3.
“It’s just so fun and it combined so many different elements like there’s a little bit of dance, there’s a little bit of … agility and like having to be coordinated, which I’m not sometimes, but I think it was just a combination of everything. And all the competitions, being able to travel also,” Brito said.
She was one of the first twirlers in the band and was in the group all four years of college.
“… I had an awesome experience when I was here as a student and so when I was offered this opportunity, I just knew I couldn’t turn it down and I was just so excited to do it,” Brito said.
She added that the twirling talent is very good at UTPB. She only has two girls.
“I do hope to grow the program. … Sometimes I’ll tell them a trick that I can’t do and they’ll be able to do it …,” Brito said.
Brito has a degree in mechanical engineering from UTPB.
She said watching the group grow has been gratifying. She has watched the number of students who want to go to the university increase with all the new facilities and offerings it has.
