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Dr. David Leon Butts joined the UTPA Music Department as an adjunct professor of music in 2000, attracted to the area by the Border culture. Dr. Butts fully supports the education of Valley students and, with acute awareness of the impact fine arts education has on students, schools, community, he strives to guide students into higher education opportunities. Dr. Butts earned his Ph.D. in Fine Arts – Musicology / Performance Pedagogy from Texas Tech University, Master of Arts in Humanities-Music from the University of Texas-Dallas (thesis on music of the Apache tribe), Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas – Arlington, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Abilene Christian University. UTPA Music Department teaching assignments comprise Music Education, Music Appreciation, and Applied Guitar. Having studied under such notable guitarists as Christopher Parkening, Pepe Romero, Abel Carlavaro, John Johns, and flamenco guitar in Spain, he has performed from California to New York, Texas to Montana, and in eleven (11) countries of Europe. Multi genre solo, ensemble, and orchestra venues include Odessa Symphony, Big Springs Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Southwest Symphony, and Valley Symphony, as well performances with notables Marc O’Connor, Rex Allen, Michael Martin Murphey, John McKuen, Johnny Gimble, Jimmy Dean, and World Champion Fiddle legend Jim “Texas Shorty” Chancellor. Honored four times as Who’s Who among American Teachers, Dr. Butts currently serves as Head Orchestra Director at Edinburg High School. Previous university teaching includes University of Texas – Permian Basin, Abilene Christian University, Eastern New Mexico State University, Lubbock Christian University, Navarro College, Odessa College, Texas Tech University, and Trinity Valley College. Immediately preceding his relocation to the Valley, Dr. Butts was Head Orchestra Director at Odessa High School in Odessa, Texas.
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