Arkansas Bandmasters Association is having convention in Little Rock | Ashdown High band director presiding over annual affair

MARK POUNDS (Photo courtesy of Ronda Pounds/AHS)
MARK POUNDS (Photo courtesy of Ronda Pounds/AHS)

ASHDOWN, Ark. - Ashdown High School Band Director Mark Pounds is president of the Arkansas Bandmasters Association, which is holding its annual convention in Little Rock, which began Tuesday.

Pounds has been planning and working on the 2021 ABA Convention since last year in order to schedule and plan workshops and other activities for band directors from all around the state of Arkansas. More than 300 band directors are registered.

"I am very honored to serve as the president of the Arkansas Bandmasters Association this year," Pounds said. "I am following a great line of Arkansas band directors who have served in this position and I have been working really hard with the ABA board to make this convention a valuable learning experience for everyone. I want them to be able to take what they learn back to their local bands and have a great and successful school year."

Pounds has been the band director at Ashdown since 1995, and the 2021-2022 school year will be his 30th year of teaching band. He received his undergraduate degree from Henderson State University, his Masters in Administration from Arkansas State University and is a Gulf War Veteran.

Under the guidance of Pounds, the Ashdown band has received numerous Sweepstakes Awards, and many students have earned places in all-region bands, all-state bands and received band scholarships to continue playing their instruments in college. Pounds has received the Brandon Award seven times at the War Memorial Marching Contest in Little Rock.

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