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Lakeland, Florida (January 9, 2025) – RBC Publications is thrilled to release the much anticipated second volume of Texas Prep Series: Daily Exercises Based on the State Sight-Reading Criteria series for Concert Bands and the inaugural volume of Texas Prep series for Choral. These releases come on the heels of the release of the Texas Prep series for String Orchestra in November 2024. Ideal for use by Directors – both in Texas and throughout the country and beyond – Texas Prep is designed to increase sight-reading skills and prepare students for contest adjudication.

Concert Band: The second volume of Texas Prep Series: Daily Exercises Based on the State Sight-Reading Criteria series for Concert Bands features six levels of collections written by esteemed educators and composers from Texas, Carol Brittin Chambers, Clifton Jones, William Owens, Jason K. Nitsch and Jack Wilds. Each of the six levels in the Texas Prep series follows the widely respected University Interscholastic League (UIL) sight-reading criteria for band and a progressive, pedagogic sequence. Available as full Concert Band sets, the Texas Prep series covers all keys, rhythms, and time signatures that ensembles may encounter while sight-reading under the Texas state sight-reading criteria. “Witnessing the impact of Texas’s Sight-Reading procedure has inspired us to dig deeper and create a new resource for Band Directors across the state and country,” explains Tyler Arcari, Director of Music Production and Editing. “Working directly with composers who have written for the UIL Sight-Reading, each level in the Texas Prep series provides authentic sight-reading etudes as well as fundamental exercises in rhythm and key to help ensembles best prepare for assessment.”

Choral: Completely redesigned to meet the needs of vocal groups, Texas Prep Series: Daily Exercises Based on the State Sight-Reading Criteria series for Choral is also aligned with the UIL standards. The individual octavos include numerous daily exercises in rhythm, melody, and harmony, and provide all possible voicings within each level. The teacher’s book, which encompasses all five levels of Texas Prep and UIL Sight-Reading criteria, offers a wealth of helpful resources, including piano accompaniments and notes from the authors. Texas Prep series for Choral is written by Texas composers and educators Jimmy Baas, Anna Marie Maddalena Gonzalez, and Tim Winebrenner, each of whom has extensive knowledge of UIL criteria.

As a longtime collaborator with UIL in providing musical pieces for the sight-reading portion of UIL’s assessment, RBC Publications understands the ins and outs of Texas state music education, criteria, and adjudication. Texas Prep is the Band, Choral, or Orchestra Director’s tool to assist in these endeavors.

Full Concert Band sets are available for $65 each (scores are $10 each). Choral Teacher Editions are available for $34.99 and individual octavos for $4.99. String Orchestra sets are available for $55 each (scores are $10 each).

Lakeland, Florida (November 6 ,2024) RBC Publications is thrilled to release the much anticipated Texas Prep Series: Daily Exercises Based on the State Sight-Reading Criteria for String Orchestra, featuring six levels of collections written by esteemed educators and composers from Texas, Kari Zamora, Aaron Fryklund and Kevin Sluder. Ideal for use by Orchestra Directors – in Texas, throughout the country and beyond – Texas Prep is a daily exercise collection specifically designed to increase sight-reading skills and prepare students for contest adjudication. It covers every key, rhythm, and time signature ensembles may encounter while sight-reading under the Texas state sight-reading criteria. Each of the six levels in the Texas Prep series follows the widely respected University Interscholastic League (UIL) sight-reading criteria for String Orchestra and follows a progressive, pedagogic sequence.

“The state of Texas has earned a wonderful reputation for outstanding music programs,” explains Tyler Arcari, Director of Music Production and Editing. “Through collaboration with fantastic Texas Composers and educators, the Texas Prep series has been crafted to be an invaluable resource for teachers in Texas and around the country.”

As a longtime collaborator with UIL in providing musical pieces for the sight-reading portion of UIL’s assessment, RBC Publications understands the ins and outs of Texas state music education, criteria, and adjudication. Texas Prep Series is any String Educator’s tool to assist in these endeavors.

Releases that are part of the new series include the following: Texas Prep Level I by Kari Zamora, Texas Prep Level II by Aaron Fryklund, Texas Prep Level III by Kevin Sluder, Texas Prep Level IV by Kari Zamora, Texas Prep Level V by Aaron Fryklund and Texas Prep Level VI by Kevin Sluder.

Complete String Orchestra sets are available for $55 each (scores are $10 each)

Lakeland, Florida (January 23,2024) RBC Publications is thrilled to release the much anticipated Texas Prep Series: Daily Exercises Based on the State Sight-Reading Criteria series for Concert Bands, featuring six levels of collections written by esteemed educators and composers from Texas, Carol Brittin Chambers, William Owens and Jason K. Nitsch. Ideal for use by Band Directors – both in Texas and throughout the country and beyond – Texas Prep is designed to increase sight-reading skills and prepare students for contest adjudication. Each of the six levels in the Texas Prep series follows the widely respected University Interscholastic League (UIL) sight-reading criteria for band and follows a progressive, pedagogic sequence.

“Witnessing the impact of Texas’s Sight-Reading procedure has inspired us to dig deeper and create a new resource for Band Directors across the state and country,” explains Tyler Arcari, Director of Music Production and Editing. “Working directly with composers who have written for the UIL Sight-Reading, each level in the Texas Prep series provides authentic sight-reading etudes as well as fundamental exercises in rhythm and key to help ensembles best prepare for assessment.”

As a longtime collaborator with UIL in providing musical pieces for the sight-reading portion of UIL’s assessment, RBC Publications understands the ins and outs of Texas state music education, criteria, and adjudication. Texas Prep is any Band Director’s tool to assist in these endeavors.

Available as full Concert Band sets, Texas Prep series covers all keys, rhythms, and time signatures that ensembles may encounter while sight-reading under the Texas state sight-reading criteria. Releases that are part of the new series include the following: Texas Prep Level I by Carol Brittin Chambers, Texas Prep Level II by William Owens, Texas Prep Level III by Jason K. Nitsch, Texas Prep Level IV by Carol Brittin Chambers, Texas Prep Level V by William Owens and Texas Prep Level VI by Jason K. Nitsch.

Full Concert Band sets are available for $65 each (scores are $10 each).

Lakeland, Florida (July 20, 2022) – RBC Publications re-releases two popular music series – RBC Mariachi Series and Timothy Rhea’s The Legacy of the March Series – during this week’s Texas Southwest Music Summer Exhibition (at TBA and TODA) in San Antonio, TX. The new releases will include more accessible online resources and new covers for both series.  

The RBC Mariachi Series re-release boasts a full catalog of timeless melodies arranged by legendary musicians and arrangers Juan Ortiz and Jamie Martin Vela, now with new covers and free online preview scores.  This Mariachi catalog includes charts spanning from easy to advanced difficulty.  Many sets contain vocal sheet music as well as lyric sheets, while others come with alternate parts in Trumpet and Violin, making rehearsals and performances easier and each piece more accessible.

The Legacy of the March Series features timeless marches meticulously edited by Timothy Rhea.  For the first time, the 36 marches in the release include resources like professional recordings by Texas A&M University’s Wind Symphony, ScoreVideos and preview scores available to peruse on the publisher’s website.  Newly re-engraved and with new covers, the Legacy of the March Series includes works by legendary march writers like Sousa, Fillmore, King, Peters and more.  Editor of the series, Timothy Rhea is Director of Bands and Music Activities at Texas A&M University and has conducted its Wind Symphony for many prestigious concerts, including at Texas Music Educators Association, The Midwest Clinic, College Band Directors National Association, Carnegie Hall, European tours, and in multiple recordings.  A successful arranger and composer Timothy Rhea, has held leadership roles in The American Bandmasters Association, The John Philip Sousa Foundation, The National Band Association and more.

“Marches are an important part of the tradition and history of wind bands and offer a great musical experience for everyone,” explains Timothy Rhea.  “The Legacy of the March Series was started to preserve great older marches that lacked a quality set of performance parts or were no longer available.  I am excited about this re-release which not only offers an improved product but will spread the word throughout the band community that these marches are available.”

RBC Mariachi Series music ($19.99 each) and The Legacy of the March Series marches ($65, full set) are available from retailers throughout Texas, nationally and internationally as well as from the publisher’s website.

Lakeland, Florida (October 14, 2021) – With its acquisition of Wingert-Jones and RBC Publications, Excelcia Music Publishing expands its staff with the naming of Porter Eidam as Production Editor and Harrison Morgan as the Creative/Technology Director. Both Eidam and Morgan bring years of experience in music education and the music industry.

“I am thrilled to continue my long-time work with Wingert-Jones Publications as it expands into the future,” remarked Eidam. “In my new role as Production Editor for all three publishers, I am excited to apply my skills so that the music remains playable and engaging for directors and students for the long term.”

Eidam holds a B.M. in Percussion Performance and a B.S. in Secondary Instrumental Music Education from Michigan State University. Hailing from a musical family, he has been performing as a freelance musician since his teens, working as a timpanist and pops set-drummer for several orchestras through his 20s and 30s and playing primarily in wedding bands and pit orchestras today. In addition to being a published composer/arranger, Eidam has nearly three decades of experience teaching percussion, including at the Community Music School in Trappe, PA. In 1999, he joined J.W. Pepper, where he held several positions including website technical support representative, percussion editor, and digital engraver for ePrint. He has served as the chief engraver and production coordinator for Wingert-Jones Publications since 2013. He lives in Pottstown, PA, with his wife, Linda, and enjoys spending time with his step-kids and grandchildren.

Creative/Technology Director Morgan studied Music Education at the University of South Florida and taught middle school and high school band in Florida public schools. He spent several years in the business world before his creative urges brought him into the world of graphic design and website development. Morgan started his own design company, building websites and offering a range of design services from logo and brand design to motion graphics and print assets. Through the years, he was also a member of several community-based symphonic bands including Tara Winds and Alabama Winds. A life-long percussionist, Morgan continues to arrange for and teach drumline and percussion ensemble at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, and has a studio of private percussion students. Morgan resides in College Park with his wife Valerie and his family.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Excelcia Music Publishing team and to continue to contribute to their remarkable growth and expansion,” says Morgan.  “It is a true pleasure to be able to work with my good friend Larry Clark and to be able to help make his vision of building a modern, composer-driven music publishing company a reality.”
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About Excelcia Music Publishing: As a composer-led publisher, Excelcia Music Publishing provides musical and educational communities with new, school performance music for concert band, string orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choir, as well as methods, solos, chamber music, and resources for music educators.  Based in Lakeland, FL, Excelcia Music Publishing is known for publishing artistic, meticulously-edited, accessible music by composers who are sensitive to and passionate about the needs and educational aspirations of young musicians. Excelcia Music Publishing’s music is sold throughout the United States and internationally. www.excelciamusic.com

About Wingert-Jones Publications:  Founded in 1964, Wingert-Jones Publications started as a labor of love between two instrument salesmen with a passion for grand, high-end band music. Merrill Jones started small, attending the 1964 National Band Clinic with just one piece: Emperata Overture by Claude T. Smith. Wingert-Jones has grown into a nationally known publisher and has expanded its library to include orchestral and educational works. The Achievement and Early Achievement music series are among the most popular hands-on music learning collections in the U.S.  www.wjpublications.com 

About RBC Publications: RBC Publications was founded in San Antonio, TX in 1989 by music educators and musicians Tom C. Rhodes, Don Bierschenk, and Freddy Carillo as part of RBC Music Company. Catering to the educational music market, RBC collaborated with University Interscholastic League to develop and publish the UIL Sightreading Series for band in 1998, adding choir and string orchestra in later years. In the beginning, the emphasis of RBC Publications was on lesser-known Texas composers. RBC Publications is the exclusive distributor for Wynn Music, Dorabet Music, Counterpoint Music, Young World Publications, String Instrument Specialists, and Jerry Bilik Music.

Lakeland, Florida (September 24, 2021) – Excelcia Music Publishing announces the acquisition of Wingert-Jones Publications and RBC Publications from J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc. Excelcia Music Publishing plans to expand and amplify the presence of both Wingert-Jones and RBC in the educational music space. Wingert-Jones and RBC have strong reputations in the American music landscape for producing works in their catalogs that aptly meet the needs of today’s music programs.   

Excelcia Music Publishing’s founder and President, Larry Clark, commented, “The Excelcia Music Publishing team is excited to build on the excellent foundation of both Wingert-Jones and RBC Publications. There is tremendous opportunity to ensure these historied publishers remain a vital part of music experienced in our schools and concert halls.”  Further, “We will continue publishing materials to support the University Interscholastic League for music contests in Texas and surrounding states.”

According to Glenn Burtch, President and CEO of J.W. Pepper, “It is with great confidence that we place Wingert-Jones and RBC into Excelcia’s hands. Excelcia will take Wingert-Jones and RBC to a new level. Excelcia has shown incredible strength and fortitude during recent challenges in the industry.”   

Pepper will retain some ownership in the resultant company and continue to provide printing and order fulfillment services for Wingert-Jones, RBC, and Excelcia Music Publishing through their Atlanta Distribution Center. Excelcia Music Publishing will continue to market each of the three brands separately to emphasize their unique offerings to the music community.

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About Excelcia Music Publishing: As a composer-led publisher, Excelcia Music Publishing provides musical and educational communities with new, school performance music for concert band, string orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choir, as well as methods, solos, chamber music, and resources for music educators.  Based in Lakeland, FL, Excelcia Music Publishing is known for publishing artistic, meticulously-edited, accessible music by composers who are sensitive to and passionate about the needs and educational aspirations of young musicians. Excelcia Music Publishing’s music is sold throughout the United States and internationally. www.excelciamusic.com

About Wingert-Jones Publications:  Founded in 1964, Wingert-Jones Publications started as a labor of love between two instrument salesmen with a passion for grand, high-end band music. Merrill Jones started small, attending the 1964 National Band Clinic with just one piece: Emperata Overture by Claude T. Smith. Wingert-Jones has grown into a nationally known publisher and has expanded its library to include orchestral and educational works. The Achievement and Early Achievement music series are among the most popular hands-on music learning collections in the U.S.  www.wjpublications.com 

About RBC Publications: RBC Publications was founded in San Antonio, TX in 1989 by music educators and musicians Tom C. Rhodes, Don Bierschenk, and Freddy Carillo as part of RBC Music Company. Catering to the educational music market, RBC collaborated with University Interscholastic League to develop and publish the UIL Sightreading Series for band in 1998, adding choir and string orchestra in later years. In the beginning, the emphasis of RBC Publications was on lesser-known Texas composers. RBC Publications is the exclusive distributor for Wynn Music, Dorabet Music, Counterpoint Music, Young World Publications, String Instrument Specialists, and Jerry Bilik Music.