Two O'Clock Lab Band at TMEA

Dear colleagues,

It is my pleasure to bring greetings from the University of North Texas College of Music to the attendees at the 2026 Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio. Among the contributions of our College of Music to the conference program, we are pleased to highlight the performances of the Two O’Clock Lab Band, the Myriad Saxophone Quartet, and the Horn Octet that reflect so well the artistry, scholarship, and pedagogy of the UNT.

Led by Rob Parton, the Two O’Clock Lab Band continues a storied tradition as one of the nation’s premier collegiate jazz ensembles. The Myriad Saxophone Quartet, coached by Mikayla Peterson, exemplifies refined chamber musicianship and thoughtful collaboration. The Horn Octet, directed by Katherine McBain and Stacie Mickens, showcases the strength and depth of UNT’s outstanding horn program.

To all conference participants, I wish you an inspiring and rewarding experience filled with meaningful performances and professional connections. These ensembles bring to life the mission of the UNT College of Music to serve our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity, and imagination.

Sincerely,

John W. Richmond, Ph.D.
Professor and Dean
College of Music
University of North Texas

Rob Parton is a Professor of Trumpet at the University of North Texas, where he teaches trumpet, directs the Two O’Clock Lab Band, and chairs the UNT Jazz Studies Division. Previously, he held faculty positions at Capital University, Roosevelt University, and Chicago State University. As a respected jazz educator and clinician, he has led All-State Jazz Ensembles and spoken at schools across the country.

A versatile and in-demand trumpet player, Parton has been asked to perform or record music by a wide range of composers, from Karel Husa and Leonard Bernstein to Duke Ellington. He has performed with many of America’s leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as lead trumpet in numerous Broadway shows in the Midwest. He has worked with Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award-winning artists, including Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, and Tony Bennett. As a recording artist, he has contributed to hundreds of recordings for national commercials and collaborated with various artists on labels like Concord, Verity, Mark Records, Sea Breeze, and Sony.

While comfortable in various musical settings, whether as a member of a jazz trio, brass quintet, or as a soloist with larger ensembles, leading a professional big band is where he has received the most acclaim. Founded in 1984, the Rob Parton Big Band has released over a dozen recordings, performed at the Midwest Clinic five times, and appeared at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, as well as at numerous jazz festivals. Dozens of the band’s recordings and live videos are available on various streaming platforms.

Rob Parton is a Clinician for Conn-Selmer and plays a Bach 190 37X trumpet and a Conn Vintage One Flugelhorn.

The University of North Texas College of Music is the largest public university music program in the United States and one of the most globally respected. Faculty and staff include internationally acclaimed artists and scholars in composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, jazz studies, music education, music business, music history, music theory, commercial music and performance. The college presents more than 700 music events annually. Students perform in more than 70 ensembles in eight campus venues and can be viewed worldwide via free superior quality live streaming. UNT music alumni can be found around the world in impressive, award-winning careers across a wide range of music professions. Our current faculty members include Guggenheim Fellows, Fulbright Fellows, an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, a Charles Ives Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist, Emmy, Grammy, Latin Grammy, Oscar and Tony nominees and Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winners. Our students come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and more than 40 countries.

The mission of the UNT College of Music is to serve our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity and imagination. The vision of the UNT College of Music is to provide leadership, artistry and expertise to every facet of the music profession.