When Evan Jameson was exploring college options, Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) stood out for two key reasons: affordability and community support.

Initially, Jameson was accepted and planned to attend a different community college. However, his plans changed after being approached by TVCCs Director of Bands Kenn McSperitt and Music Department Coordinator Tim Samples.

“In the spring of 2018, when I graduated high school, Mr. McSperitt and Mr. Samples reached out to me about joining the TVCC band,” Jameson recalled. “When I auditioned for them, they offered me a larger scholarship, which became the main reason I chose TVCC.”

What Jameson didn’t anticipate was how well TVCC would fit him.

“I thought it was a great community and campus,” Jameson noted. “Plus, the campus is only about 45 minutes away from where I lived, so it felt like the perfect fit!”

Once he joined the TVCC band, Jameson found himself surrounded by a supportive community.

“I loved every part of it,” Jameson exclaimed. “The leadership during marching band camp was amazing. They really brought together the freshmen and sophomores, creating a close-knit community within the band program itself.”

The support extended beyond the band, as Jameson soon discovered.

“During my first fall semester, the entire college felt like one big community, with different organizations like cheer, Cardettes, band, and football games all intertwined as part of the spirit program,” he added. “TVCC has the most welcoming community!”

Jameson’s involvement at TVCC extended far beyond the band. He served as vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), president of the Science Club, founded the Chess Club, and assisted with TVCC eSports.

“I was deeply involved in the college,” he said. “I helped with many clubs, attended numerous meetings and events with SGA, and, in my sophomore year, when I became vice president, I assisted the Recruitment Office with recruiting new students. When eSports was launched, I worked closely with the eSports coach, James Jones, to support the program in any way I could.”

As a member of the TVCC band, Jameson played the tenor drums, became drum captain, and later served as the lead snare player. His time in the band also gave him a taste of what it was like to pursue a career in music.

“When I graduated with my associate degree, my focus was on the sciences,” Jameson explained. “I initially planned to become a nurse and transferred to UT Tyler’s nursing program. However, after years of being involved in music, I changed my major in my final semester of Spring 2020 to Music Education.”

Although he was initially apprehensive about the decision, he soon realized it was the right one.

“I was really scared,” he admitted. “I thought I had made a huge mistake in terms of time commitment. But once I immersed myself in music, I had a blast. I enjoyed it so much more than science. While I still have a passion for science, music is where I truly thrived and found joy in my work.”

After changing majors, Jameson continued his education at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), where he completed his bachelor’s degree in music education.

“I had already completed many of my core classes, so most of my coursework at ETBU was focused on music,” he shared. “My biggest influence there was my percussion professor, Mr. Anthony Robinson. He encouraged me to stay committed to music, particularly percussion, and pushed me to excel as a music educator, musician, and performer. I was determined to master my craft, practicing for hours each day and fully investing myself in what I loved doing.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s in music education in Fall 2023, Jameson decided to continue his education and career at Oklahoma State University. He is currently pursuing a double master’s degree in Percussion Performance and Composition and plans to pursue a career as a collegiate music educator.

“After completing my master’s degrees, I plan to pursue a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition,” he added. “My goal is to teach at the collegiate level, where I have the most fun. I want to share my passion for music with others and inspire students to love what they’re doing. I was heavily invested in my band programs, and this is just the next step.”