Robin Owens has treasured being the conductor of the Richardson Community Band since June of 2017. Her hope is to continue George’s mission of musical outreach and inspiration that has been the signature of the RCB for over fifty years.

 In 2017 she retired from public school band teaching after 35 years. Robin taught high school and middle school band in Richardson, Plano, Sherman, and Grapevine, including flag corps, jazz bands, concert bands, and beginner bands.

 A member of the Dallas Winds, she plays low clarinet and occasionally saxophone, flute, and clarinet, and conducts.  She has worked hard to become a woodwind expert and enjoys playing whenever possible.

 Mrs. Owens also enjoys arranging music for both advanced and young bands. She has been a judge, region clinician, and band camp clinician in Texas and Oklahoma. Mentors who have inspired her: Richard Floyd, Robert Floyd, Joe Frank, Jr., and Michael Haithcock.

 Mrs. Owens is a graduate of Baylor University, and she received her master’s degree from Texas A&M Commerce. She and her husband sing in the choir at Church of the Transfiguration. Her family is: husband, Mickey, who is a retired band teacher, and he has been the “voice” of the RCB for many concerts; grown children Calvin with spouse, Robin, and Matty, with grand-kitties and a grand-dog.

Jane Chambers first joined the Richardson Community Band as a member of the flute section in the fall of 1977 and has served as Associate Conductor of the Band since 1991. In addition to her conducting duties, Jane also writes the concert program notes and announcer’s scripts for the Summer Series concerts.

Jane is a career music educator and has served as Director of Music at Ursuline Academy since 1984. Active in both instrumental and vocal music, she is also the director of the annual spring musical and faculty sponsor of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas and holds membership in several professional music organizations.

In June of 2014, Jane and a colleague from the Ursuline Academy Mathematics Department were featured presenters at the ISSN National Conference, held in New York City. The duo’s interdisciplinary collaboration called M & M’s: It’s Not Just Candy was selected for presentation at the three-day educator’s conference. The partnership highlights the connection between Mathematics and Music through hands-on activities that transform the language of musical theory into that of contemporary geometry.

Named a Teacher of the Year at Ursuline Academy, she is listed in the Who’s Who of American Teachers and the International Women’s Leadership Association. Ms. Chambers is currently President of the Texas Private School Music Educators Association.

In Memoriam
1955 – 2022

George W. Jones first served as the summer interim conductor for the Richardson Community Band during his first summer in Texas in 1977. He was appointed as Conductor of the Band and conducted his first concert on May 8, 1983. During his 34 years as conductor of the band, the band grew both in size and popularity. He instituted the band’s Summer Concert Series, which became a favorite summer activity for families across the Metroplex. Upon his retirement in 2017, the Richardson Community Band was one of the most accomplished and popular in the Metroplex.

From 1997 through 2018 George served as the Director of Fine Arts for the Garland Independent School District. Prior to assuming this administrative position, he served as a band director in Garland for 18 years.

In 2010, George was presented with the “Real Heroes Award” by the Richardson Coalition for his service as conductor of the RCB. The Richardson Arts Alliance presented him with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2011. In 2012 he was named “Texas Music Administrator of the Year” by the Texas Music Administrator Conference. In 2018 he received the Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA).

George held a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University. He was a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Administrators Conference, and Phi Beta Mu honorary music fraternity.