Tom Bell has taught for 12 years in the Texas public school system and is currently the coordinator of percussion and a band director at Cypress Creek High School in Houston Texas. At Cypress Creek, Mr. Bell’s responsibilities include teaching beginner percussion at the two feeder schools and overseeing the percussion program for the entire cluster. Under his instruction, Tom Bell’s groups have won many high percussion awards and his band’s have consistently been awarded the Texas sweepstakes trophy. Mr. Bell is a graduate of the University of North Texas where he was a student of Dr. Robert Schietroma, Ron Fink, Paul Rennick and Henry Okstel. He was a member of the Blue Knights drum and bugle corps, under the direction of Ralph Hardimon. Mr. Bell is an active clinician and percussion arranger for many area percussion programs. In addition to his teaching load, he is also freelance percussionist and steel drummer. Tom Bell’s professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters Association.