Bill Centera is in his year at Newman Smith and his year of music education. His bands are consistent UIL Sweepstakes recipients and have been recognized as Best-In-Class at regional and national festivals across the United States. In addition, the NSHS Trojan Marching Band qualified for the Texas State Marching Contest in 2000 and the NSHS Wind Symphony performed by invitation at the 2002 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Centera's jazz ensembles have won both the UTA and TCU Jazz Festivals multiple times in addition to winning numerous regional and national festivals. His Jazz Ensemble I at Waxahachie High School was featured on WFAA's Good Morning Texas television show and performed by invitation at the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Mr. Centera was named "Teacher of the Year" in 1997 at Waxahachie High School and currently serves as NSHS Fine Arts Department Head. He also currently serves as Vice-President and Jazz Chairman for UIL/TMEA Region 24. Mr. Centera received a Bachelors Degree in Music from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1983 and a Master of Secondary Education from the University of North Texas in 1991.

Robert Parks is in his is in his year as Percussion Director at Newman Smith High School. Mr. Parks received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Austin Peay State University where he studied percussion with David Steinquest. Mr. Parks is working towards the completion of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kentucky where he studied with Professor James Campbell and received a Master's Degree in Percussion Performance. In addition, Rob has studied various hand drumming techniques with members of the acclaimed Hands ‘On Semble, Michael Spiro, and N. Scott Robinson.

While at UK, his teaching duties included the percussion methods class, undergraduate percussion lessons, arranger/instructor for the UK Drum Line, Director of Blue Steel Professional Steel Drum Band, and Assistant Conductor with the UK Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Parks performed regularly with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra as an extra percussionist and timpanist. As an adjunct faculty member at Centre College in Danville, KY, he directed the percussion ensemble and taught applied lessons. During the summer of 1999 he was a member of the Canton Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and has served as a percussion consultant for Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps.

Robert has been on the percussion faculty at the Bands of America Summer Symposium since the summer of 2001, served on the faculty of Yamaha Sounds of Summer Camps, and has taught and arranged for high schools throughout Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and abroad in Japan. He is also a founding member of the UK Percussion Quartet, which has performed throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, including a performance at the first annual Bands of America National Percussion Ensemble Festival.

Mr. Parks is a Yamaha Performing Artist and an endorser of Innovative Percussion and Evans Drum Heads.

Welcome Mr. Andy Rein to the Newman Smith High School Marching Band!

Mr. Rein's information is coming soon.