The University of Arkansas at Monticello appointed Lester D.
Pack, formerly of Pinetree Schools in Congruen,
Texas, as assistant band director, specializing in
percussion, jazz guitar and bass.
In addition to directing the band, Pack also teaches percussion
lessons, guitar lessons and a percussion methods
class for music education majors.
Pack graduated from Henderson State University with a bachelor’s
degree in Music Education. He then went on to
receive his master’s in Instrumental Conducting from
the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Pack
also studied composition and jazz guitar at the Berklee College of Music.
Not only is Pack a band director, but he composes too. He has
published seven concert band compositions with four
different international publishing companies.
Pack and Gary Meggs, the director of bands at UAM, have quite a
history together. They taught together in three
Texas schools: Hooks, Paris and Henderson. Meggs
seemed very excited to be reunited with Pack.
“Mr. Pack is one of my very best friends, so I think it’s pretty good
that he’s here,” Meggs said.
Meggs said that some of their past
experiences were kind of unusual.
“One day, Mr. Pack and I were in a hurry to get somewhere very
important for band. We had to stop and fill up Mr.
Pack’s car with gas,” he said. “While the gas was
pumping, we were dying of thirst, so we ran inside
and got something to eat and drink. We jumped into
the car, frantic to go, and we drove off without
pulling the gas handle out of the car and pulled the
gas line out of the pump.”
Pack has experience in both military and core style marching. He
and Meggs directed a 280-piece military marching
band in Henderson, Texas.
Pack said, “Mr. Meggs and I are both well-rounded directors. We’ve
done both styles of competitive marching.”
When asked about the UAM band, Pack
said, “I love it! I think the band is really great and
the students are really nice. I’ve enjoyed every
second.”
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