Meadows Music Education Major Receives 2016 Malcolm Helm Endowed Memorial Scholarship

Chance Krause, a saxophonist majoring in music education at the Meadows School, has been named the recipient of the 2016 Malcolm Helm Memorial Endowed Scholarship, presented by the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA). The $4,000 award is presented annually to an outstanding undergraduate wind or percussion player who is majoring in music education at a Texas college or university. Krause will receive the award at the annual TBA Convention/Clinic in San Antonio in July, which will be attended by some 6,000 band directors, music teachers and university music students from across the state.

The purpose of the TBA scholarship is to support talented, promising college students as they prepare for the teaching profession. The scholarship is named for longtime Texas school band director Malcolm Helm, who in spite of illness maintained an uncompromising commitment to service and excellence in his profession for the duration of his 23-year career. Following his death in March 1993, the TBA executive board established the scholarship to be supported by an endowment funded by donations from friends and colleagues.

Krause began his musical training in Springtown, Texas, under Jeremy Strickland and Robin Hidrogo. He graduated from Springtown High School, where he was a member of the marching band and led the woodwind section, making the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) state marching finals during his senior year. He also participated in the Texas Music Educators Association/ATSSB state solo and ensemble competition throughout high school and earned a chair in the ATSSB All-State Ensemble in 2013. At SMU, Krause is a member of the Meadows Wind Ensemble and Meadows Jazz Orchestra and has performed with the Meadows Symphony. He is also a member of the University honor roll and ranks in the top 10 percent of his class. During the past two summers, he has worked with the SMU Music Educators Workshops to help facilitate operations for music educators from around the world.

“I consider myself fortunate to have studied under Lynn Jackson, Brian Merrill, Sarah Allen and Julie Scott. These professors have given me numerous teaching opportunities and I have gained private teaching experience as a saxophone instructor for Duncanville ISD,” Krause says. “After graduation I look forward to teaching middle school or high school band in Texas.”

Read more about SMU Meadows Division of Music