Don T. Haynes - Coastal Carolina University
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Don T. Haynes, Jr.

Coastal Honor Band Conductor

Don T. Haynes, Jr, served as Director of Bands at LBJ High school of Austin, Texas for 39 years. He began his music career at the age of six, tutored by his father, who was band director at Solomon Coles High School in Corpus Christi, and his mother, who studied voice at both the Julliard School in New York and The University of Texas. As a child, he studied piano, trumpet, French horn, flute, clarinet, and cello. Following graduation from Roy Miller High School (Eddie Galvan, Director), he studied at the Del Mar College School of Music in Corpus Christi, and then transferred to The University of Texas, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 1973 and was a member of the Longhorn Marching Band (Vincent R. DiNino, Director). In 1978, he completed a masters’ degree at UT, specializing in instrumental music conducting. He was the Assistant Band Director at Anderson High School for two years (1973-1975, Verda Herrington, Director), before being named Director of Bands at LBJ High School in August 1975.

Mr. Haynes was awarded the prestigious, statewide Denius Award in 1994, presented to Texas’ top University Interscholastic League (UIL) educators. At LBJ High School, his colleagues selected him Teacher of the Year four times. He is frequently invited to conduct region bands in Texas, and has made guest appearances in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida. An active UIL adjudicator for concert and marching bands at all levels, Mr. Haynes  held region 18 positions in the Texas Music Educators Association, the TMEA Advisory Board, and served on the UIL State Sightreading Advisory Committee. He is past President of the Board of Directors for the Texas Bandmasters Association.  On several occasions, Mr. Haynes has served as clinician at the Texas Music Educator’s Association convention, and the Texas Bandmasters Association on a variety of topics.

Under his leadership, the Jaguar Band’s awards and accomplishments are numerous—proudly representing Texas and the United States in 1996 in the New Year’s Day Parade in London and toured Paris, France in 2000. The Band served as ambassadors of music in a tour of Beijing, China in 2007 with the American-Chinese Cultural Exchange Committee. The LBJ Bands have won many first place honors at band festivals in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, California, and Colorado. The band consistently wins Division I and sweepstakes honors at UIL marching and concert performances. The LBJ Marching Band has made five appearances at the UIL State Marching Band Contest.

More than a decade ago, Don Haynes had a vision for a marching band festival in Austin. His dream became reality in 1993 when the Capital City Marching Festival (CCMF) was born as a joint project of the band parent groups at Crockett High School and LBJ High School. The CCMF philosophy is that all high school bands deserve support and opportunities to showcase their talent. Each year, marching bands come from all areas of Texas to participate in this pre-UIL event that builds student confidence and fosters band unity with great feedback from qualified adjudicators. The Capital City Marching Festival is now one of the premiere UIL –prep festivals in the state.

In 2007, a gorgeous new 500-seat theater was built on the LBJ High School campus. The Austin Independent School District voted to name the new performing hall "The Don Haynes Theater".

Since his college days at The University of Texas, Mr. Haynes has enjoyed officiating high school basketball. He served the Austin Basketball Officials Executive Board as President in 1995. He was selected by the state UIL committee to be “head official” for the 5A UIL State Girls Basketball Tournament championship game in 1999. He officiated the UIL Girls State tournament in 1997 and 1998 as well. 

Haynes’ future plans include inspirational and motivational speaking to audiences and organizations, as an advocate for the powerful benefits of music education; relationship development; getting people in touch with their passions; extracurricular participation and how it changes lives; conflict resolution; leadership tips; how to build one's confidence, among other topics.

No resume, however, can capture Mr. Haynes’ greatest accomplishment over his 39 years—influencing thousands of young people through his love for music, solid leadership, his dedication to excellence, and his commitment to creating a "band family" at LBJ High School, known as The One, The Only, LBJ Jaguar Band.