The Band was originally formed in 1993 as the West Houston Concert Band under the direction of Tom Stuchbery. Over the course of its existence the Band has rehearsed at various churches and school locations throughout the Houston area in Katy, Alief, and Spring Branch. Previous conductors include Joe Williams, Terry Crummel, Dale Koran, Phillip Hatton, Ken Henderson, Robert McElroy, Jon Fisher, Steven Levenson, and Dr. Clancy Weeks.

In late November 2002 the West Houston Concert Band reorganized as the Lone Star Symphonic Band in an effort to reach out to a broader geographical range of listeners and patrons in the Houston Metropolitan area and the State of Texas.

From 2005 through 2011, the Lone Star Symphonic Band entered into a joint venture with Houston Community College – Spring Branch Campus whereby registered music students of the college would be able to sit in and play in the Band for course credit and fill needed sections. In return, the Band would be allowed to rehearse and perform concerts at the college auditorium.

In the Spring of 2007, the Band partnered with 5 other community bands as a founding member of the Houston Area Community Music Association. Membership in this association brought the Band performances in the 1st and 2nd Annual Houston Area Community Music Festivals. The 2007 Festival was held at the Stafford Centre and the 2008 Festival was held at The Centrum. Both festivals featured a joint community band conducted by prominent conductors Robert McElroy and Eugene Corporon, respectively.

In August 2007, the Band hired Mr. Bob Bryant as its 11th Music Director. Upon his arrival, Mr. Bryant brought longtime colleague and friend Mr. James Morris to serve as the Band’s announcer. Since 2007, the Band has grown from about 50 musicians to over 75 and has seen attendance at performances surpass all-time highs.

In April of 2009, the Band, in partnership with the Woodlands Concert Band and Houston Concert Band, co-hosted and performed at the Association of Concert Band’s annual convention in North Houston. The convention attracted musicians and community bands from all across the country and North America and featured a performance by the convention band directed by renowned composer Robert Sheldon.

In 2011, the Band formed an agreement with CrossPoint Community Church in Katy, Texas for the Band to hold all rehearsals and performances at the church’s sanctuary. This has allowed the Band to grow in numbers for both rehearsals and concerts.

2012 proved to be a very successful year in the Band’s history. In the summer of 2012, the Band recorded its first CD that was initially sold to the general public later in the fall. In December of 2012, the Band was awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. This Prestigious award is given annually to top community bands in the United States of America. The award was publicly presented at the Band’s first performance in 2013 by Mr. Richard Crain.

In 2013, the Band recorded its second CD, “Sounds of the Season, Volume 1” consisting of various Christmas and Chanukah selections.

In 2015, the Band was invited to perform in San Antonio at the Texas Bandmasters Association annual convention in the 2,200 seat Lila Cockrell Theater. At this performance, the Band premiered a new selection for concert band, titled “Asenet” by Gabe Musella.

In 2022, the Band began its 30th anniversary season with a performance in October, performing a commissioned work by Mr. William Owens titled “All Things So Wondrous.” The 2022-2023 season was also Mr. Bob Bryant’s 15th anniversary as Music Director for the Lone Star Symphonic Band.

Continuing on with the Band’s 30th season, Colonel Lowell Graham guest conducted the Lone Star Symphonic Band in its May 2023 concert, titled “Celebrate!” The Lone Star Symphonic Band once again commissioned Mr. Gabe Musella to compose a piece, which was premiered at our Patriotic Concert in July 2023.

The Lone Star Big Band was formed in 2012 as an opportunity for members of the Lone Star Symphonic Band to perform Jazz and Big Band music in venues that the Symphonic Band was not able to perform in. This provided Symphonic Band members additional performance opportunities playing music the Symphonic Band did not focus on regularly.

The first performance the Lone Star Big Band performed was a Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction for the Lone Star Symphonic Band, in the spring of 2012. Since then, the Big Band has performed throughout Houston, including the Treemont Retirement Community, The Hamptons Assisted Living Home, Harvest Home Assisted Living Home, Katy ISD Jazz Festival, First Methodist Church Katy’s Valentine’s Day Banquet, Brookdale Retirement Community, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

The Lone Star Big Band has also performed in joint concerts with the Lone Star Symphonic Band, Katy High School Jazz Band, and Morton Ranch Junior High Jazz Band. In April 2024, the LSBB will be performing at La Centerra in Katy, Texas,

The Founding Director of the Lone Star Big Band was Mr. Jerry Johnson. Mr. Johnson serves as the Librarian and Tuba Section Leader of the Lone Star Symphonic Band. After 2 years, Mr. Johnson stepped down, and Mr. Bill Brawn stepped in to lead the Big Band. Mr. Brawn was a member of the Lone Star Symphonic Band Board of Directors and performed with the Band in the Trombone Section. In the fall of 2022, Mr. Brawn stepped down from all duties in the Symphonic Band, including Director of the Big Band, due to health reasons.

Mr. Bruce Melville joined the Big Band as Director officially in December 2022. He has played trombone professionally in the Houston area for 28 years and has shared the stage with Dennis Dotson, Conrad Herwig, Randy Brecker, Bernadette Peters, Don Henley, and many more. He currently performs with a Houston original six-horn funk band, TKOh.

Bruce taught at Katy High School where he was the Director of Jazz Studies for seven years. He moved to the Dallas area and was the Director of Bands at South Grand Prairie High School. He then returned to Katy ISD as Assistant Director of Bands at Taylor High School, where he conducted the Jazz Band and the Symphonic Band.