concertbanddirectors.html

Concert Band
and
UpSwing Jazz Orchestra
Directors

Lorenzo Parker
Concert Band Director

Mr. Parker was born in Newport News, Virginia and raised in Hampton, Virginia. He graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton. While attending middle school he realized he wanted to be a band teacher. Lorenzo enjoyed watching his middle school and high school director work with students and help them to reach their musical potential.

After graduation from high school he attend Chowan College, a Junior College in Murfreesboro, NC. There he majored in Music Education as a saxophone player. During that time Lorenzo met Mr. Joe Brown who inspired him to also play the flute. He graduated from Chowan College with honors, including making the president's list and being named to Who’s Who in Junior Colleges.

After his two years at Chowan Lorenzo transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. While at VCU he had several opportunities to perform with musical groups on campus and in the Richmond area. Upon graduation from VCU he began working in Virginia at several high schools.

One day while on the campus of VCU, he attended a job fair. There he met a recruiter from the Dallas ISD, who offered him a job. Lorenzo accepted and has been teaching in DISD since. His first job was band director/music teacher at Withers Elementary School in Dallas. This was a wonderful experience for Lorenzo, where he met many wonderful parents, students and co-workers. Musically his band performed many wonderful concerts.

Following Withers Elementary he became a band director for schools in the Hillcrest High School Cluster. He spent most of his time at Franklin Middle School and Hillcrest High School. While there his bands received superior and excellent ratings in competition.

Most recently Lorenzo was the band director at Molina High School. He enjoyed working with his students in both marching and concert band, achieving Superior and Excellent ratings in state and local competition. He retired from public school teaching in May 2018. He enjoyed it, learned from it, and misses it, but he looks forward to continue growing musically, enjoying and appreciating music as the director of New Horizons Concert Band Dallas.

Mr. Parker has also participated in the following musical ensembles: Dallas Czech Band (Conductor), Frohsinn Kapelle Band, North Community Band, Town North Concert Band, Heritage Brass Band and Lovers Lane Jazz Band. Musical organization memberships include Dallas Music Educator Association, Texas Band Director and Texas Music Education Association.

Joe Mehling
UpSwing Director
Trombonist

Joe Mehling was born on Long Island, NY and enjoyed his childhood in Doylestown, PA. He became interested in band in 7th grade and started playing Trombone. Joe went to LaSalle College High School in Philadelphia where his musical activities included Concert Band, Jazz Band, various instrumental Ensembles and performing in the pit orchestra for award winning high school musicals. Then he heard about TEXAS and got here as fast as he could!

His musical interests led him to attend North Texas State University where he earned a Bachelor’s in Music Education degree and, subsequently, a Master’s of Music Education. While at North Texas, Joe performed in the Symphonic Band and several Lab Bands. After graduating, Joe was a band director at Van Vleck ISD for 2 years before moving back to the Dallas area and taking a job as a band director (high school and middle school) in Coppell ISD. While in Coppell, Joe’s bands earned consistent Division I ratings in U.I.L. and other contests. On his own time, Joe started a middle school jazz band. Over the years, his groups were awarded first-place honors and invitations to travel to Florida, California, and other areas. Joe was also the pit orchestra conductor for the Coppell Summer Musicals for several years.

After spending over 30 years in education, Mr. Mehling retired from teaching in 2012 and got back into performing. Currently, his performing responsibilities include playing in the Praise Team at Hackberry Creek Church, where he also writes instrumental arrangements for harp, violin, wind, and brass instruments. For many years, he has been a member of the Brookhaven Jazz Band and various ensembles and orchestras at Stonebriar Community Church. Joe often performs with the Joshua Experience Big Band and the Texins’ Big Band. He is currently directing and playing bass trombone in the UpSwing Jazz Orchestra.

Mr. Mehling and his wife, Betty reside in Lewisville, TX.

Dr. Bob Austin
Director Emeritus

The New Horizons Concert Band and UpSwing Band lost Bob Austin on Saturday, April 19, 2008, following a massive heart attack. Bob was so instrumental in making vast improvements in the performance of both bands. He loved music and he loved the bands. He will be sorely missed both as a director and as a player in the UpSwing Band by all members of both bands.

Bob was born in Houston, TX. and raised on a ranch in Northern Kansas. He received his BA in piano at Wichita State University, his MA in saxophone and his ABD in Coral Conducting at the University of North Texas.

In his musical performance career he played with the last of the "Big Bands" on the road, including Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Larry Elgart, and Buddy Morrow!

Bob's conducting experience included directing the International Ice Capades. He was well known in the area for his musical performance and directing in local musicals and recitals for public benefits.

Bob was also Choirmaster/Organist at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Fort Worth.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Hallie Austin; his parents, Loren and Vivian Austin of Salina, Kansas; his "children" Scott Uhrig, Robin McBride and Warren Spiker; and his grandchildren, R. Ryan McBride and Emerson Spiker.