Conductors
Clarence Frank, jr. conductor
fall 2020 - fall 2024
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Clarence Frank was born and raised in Baytown, Texas, and started his musical journey in the 6th grade at Cedar Bayou Junior School playing cello in the orchestra. He continued playing all through high school, graduating from Sterling High School, and then receiving his Bachelor of Music Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. While at NSU, he studied cello with Richard Rose and conducting with Dr. George Adams. After graduating with honors, he began teaching orchestra in the Goose Creek public schools. He taught for 16 years and then desired to transition to higher education. He received a Master of Music Degree in Conducting from Sam Houston State University studying with Dr. Jacob Sustaita and Dr. Daniel Saenz.
Clarence continues to teach eager students through private cello studies and as the Director of Performing Arts for Baytown Christian Academy serving as the orchestra and choir director for the school. In his young conducting career, he had the privilege of leading the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, Sam Houston State Symphony Orchestra, the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. When not on the podium, Clarence enjoys outdoor sports and is a major Dallas Cowboys fan (but we won't hold that against him). He also enjoys playing in the orchestra at Houston’s First Baptist Church and the band at Old River Baptist Church. He also continues to freelance around the Houston area for various events. |
Pierre-Alain Chevalier, dma conductor
spring 2017 - fall 2020
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An active performer and educator, Pierre-Alain Chevalier has conducted orchestras across the country and has taught students of all ages. Most recently, Chevalier served as Music Director of the Baytown Symphony Orchestra (2017–2020) and as an adjunct faculty member at Lee College and in the Lone Star College System in Houston. His work with the BSO has been recognized in the Houston Chronicle and, most recently, by the American Prize, winning third place in the 2018-2019 contest in Orchestral Conducting.
Formerly Chevalier served as Interim Director of Orchestral Activities at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) and has taught at San Jacinto College, Houston Community College, the American Festival for the Arts, Sam Houston (MSTC) High School, as well as in elementary and middle schools in Houston and Oregon. An active orchestra clinician, Chevalier has worked with students in the Goose Creek Memorial, Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring, Klein, Katy, and Houston independent school districts. In concert Chevalier has conducted the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont (TX), Coeur D’Alene Symphony (ID), Rainier Symphony (WA), the Gwinnett Symphony Chamber Orchestra (GA), the Bayou City Symphony (TX), the Rose City Chamber Orchestra (OR), Orchestra of the Pines and SFA Opera Theater (TX), the Hartt Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Players (CT), the Moores School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras (TX), Houston Community College’s Southwest Choir, the Houston Cecelia Chamber Choir, 
Willamette University’s Dramatic Vocal Arts Ensemble (OR), musical theater and opera productions, and student choirs and instrumental ensembles in primary and secondary schools and colleges.
Chevalier was a winner of the International Conductors Workshop and Competition in Atlanta, Georgia in 2016 and holds degrees from the Moores School of Music (Doctor of Musical Arts: Orchestral Conducting), The Hartt School (Master of Music: Orchestral Conducting) and Willamette University (Bachelor of Music: Music Education). He currently lives in the Portland, Oregon area with his wife, Jessica, and their two pugs, Charlie and Betsy. |
DENNIS EICHLER CONDUCTOR
Fall 2003 - Spring 2017
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Dennis was born and raised in Alice, TX where he had the opportunity of playing in one of the finest high school bands in the state. He received his Bachelors degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and a Masters in Education from the University of Houston. He started his career as an assistant band director at W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi. In July of 1978, Dennis took the position as band director at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown. While at Lee, his bands won numerous awards from contests and festivals throughout the Southwest. Dennis was promoted to Head of the Music Department at Ross Sterling High School where his responsibilities included conducting the full orchestra, band and marching band. While at Sterling, Mr. Eichler’s organizations won acclaim from countless educators and adjudicators. The Sterling Symphony Orchestra was a consistent UIL Sweepstakes winner and was awarded “Outstanding Orchestra” at various festivals. The Sterling High School Band was also well respected in state and national competitions. Under Dennis’s leadership, his groups have won a total of 33 UIL Sweepstakes awards.
Mr. Eichler also served as Director of Instrumental Music Ensembles at Lee College in Baytown. During this time, he was the conductor of the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, the Baytown Concert Band, and the Lee College Jazz Ensemble. Dennis Eichler is also an active adjudicator, clinician and performer. He is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and has conducted many All-Region Bands and Orchestras in the Southeast. He has also conducted bands and orchestras in Europe and Mexico on several occasions. Mr. Eichler is founder and director of the Bayou Big Band, a professional jazz band that performs throughout the Houston area. He is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu Fraternity, Texas Band Masters Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, National Association of Jazz Educators, and Houston Professional Musicians Association. He and his wife Lynda reside in The Woodlands, Texas. He is currently the Director of Bands at Lone Star College-North Harris. He teaches Music Theory as well as conducts the Gale Force Jazz Ensemble, the Hurricane Jazz Orchestra, the Bayou Big Band and the North Star Wind Symphony. |
David Corder, Ed.d Conductor emeritus and Founder
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For many of us, Dr. David Corder is synonymous with the BSO. Looking to entice more college professors and teachers to come to Lee College, Dr. Corder founded the orchestra over fifty years ago. He had hoped that the prospect of teaching and then playing in the group would help bring talented musicians together in Baytown. For 38 years, he led the group and has become part of the fabric of the community. Thank you Dr. Corder for giving your heart and soul to the organization for over the last fifty years.
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