Band Directors
Mark Perry
Director of Bands Mark Perry has been with Pine Tree ISD for 12 years and is in his 14th year to teach. He currently holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stephen F Austin State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership degree from the University of Texas in Arlington. Before coming to Pine Tree ISD, he taught as an assistant band director at Lindale ISD under the direction of Mr. Steven Moore. Previous accolades and awards include numerous sweepstakes trophies at UIL Concert/Sightreading contest, Beacon Award recipient in 2013, 2 grand champion trophies at Seasons in the Park Music Festival, 1st place at the region level TMEA Honor Band selection process, winner of the Ed and Gwen Cole Music Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship, Mary Osborne Ray Drum Major Scholarship, SFA’s Bandsman of the Year 2007, and Drum Major for the SFA Marching Band 3 consecutive years. Professional Organizations include being a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. In his spare time he enjoys cooking (grilling and BBQ to be exact), traveling abroad, and scuba diving when possible. Most exotic scuba diving trip involved a ship wreck with a few white tip sharks off the coast of Costa Rica in the Pacific. |
John Loanzon
Assistant Director John Loanzon serves as the Pine Tree High School assistant band director. Since becoming a music educator in 2010, he has directed bands in Florida, Louisiana, and most recently at Texarkana ISD where he was the director of Jazz for 7 years. Mr. Loanzon, a Florida native, attended the University of West Florida and Louisiana State University. He is an alumnus of Southwind Drum & Bugle corps, Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle corps, as well as the famed, “LSU Golden Band from Tigerland.” He remains active as a trumpeter performing in groups such as the Port City Big Band, Texarkana Jazz Orchestra, and the Red River Wind Symphony. Mr. and Mrs. Loanzon have 3 daughters: Anna, Emma, and Mia. In his free time Mr. Loanzon enjoys fishing, spending time with his family, and watching LSU football. |
Leslie Loanzon
Head Director Pine Tree JH Leslie Loanzon is the head junior high band director for Pine Tree ISD. She comes to Pine Tree from Texarkana ISD where she was an assistant band director at the middle and high school levels. Mrs. Loanzon studied saxophone and oboe performance at Louisiana State University and holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Northwestern State University. She has performed with numerous professional groups including: The Baton Rouge Symphony, Baton Rouge Concert Band, Red River Wind Symphony, Bill Causey’s Big Band out of Shreveport, Texarkana Jazz Orchestra, and The Red River Jazz Band. She was also a proud member of The Golden Band from Tigerland for 3 years. Outside of band, Mrs. Loanzon enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. |
Dr. Jared Cronk, Ed.D | Director of Color Guards
Dr. Jared Cronk, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, is in his third year at Pine Tree ISD as Director of Color Guards. In Pine Tree's inaugural year of guard, Cronk earned his team the prestigious title of WGI (International) Finalist. Cronk began his music studies at Beebe High School and received his Bachelors of Music with Instrumental Focus from The University of Central Arkansas in Saxophone. Cronk continued his educational studies at Lamar University where he earned a Master's of Educational Administration and at Liberty University where he earned a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. Cronk has performed with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas, the World Champion Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps from Fort Mill, South Carolina as well as the MCCGA Gold Medalist Winter Guard, Avant Winter Guard from Fayetteville, Arkansas. A teacher and choreographer for nearly ten years, his work has been seen throughout most of Texas and Arkansas. Dr. Cronk taught for 5 years as director of the Paris Color Guard program, earning them the State Championship in Guard. He has worked with distinguished organizations such as Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, Greenwood HS, Brazoswood HS, Seven Lakes HS, as well as Founding and Directing Pinnacle Independent Winter Guard. Locally, Cronk served three years on the North Texas Color Guard Association (NTCA) educational and steering committees as the Scholastic representative. Cronk is certified through the WGICertify Series as an Winter Guard Equipment Judge and has adjudicated bands and guards in Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors, vacationing, musicals, pageantry, and spending time with friends, family, and his two Corgis, Max and Teddy. |
Louie Fehl
Percussion Coordinator/Assistant Director Louie Fehl is an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Coordinator for Pine Tree ISD. Prior to his position at Pine Tree, he taught as the Percussion Coordinator for Paris ISD from 2019 - 2022. Mr. Fehl earned his Bachelor of Music Education from McMurry University and holds his Master of Music in Percussion from the University of Oklahoma. He has performed in a wide variety of ensembles including the McMurry Warhawk Marching Band, the OU Steel Band and Percussion Ensemble, and the OU Wind Symphony. Mr. Fehl has also recorded multiple albums with the Excelcia Wind Band. In his free time he enjoys golfing, working out, and hiking. He aspires to one day visit all 63 of the major national parks in the United States. |
Abigail Kent
PTJH Assistant Band Director Abigail Kent serves as the Pine Tree Junior High assistant band director. She is a native of Shreveport, LA, and an alumna of Benton High School. Prior to joining Pine Tree ISD, Ms. Kent recently graduated from Northwestern State University with a bachelor’s degree in music education and could not be more excited for her first year of teaching! As a tuba player, she has performed with numerous ensembles including the British Brass Band of Louisiana, NSU’s wind symphony and tuba/euphonium ensemble, and served as a Spirit of Northwestern Drum Major for 2 years. Ms. Kent is also an alumna of the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois and was the contra section leader for 2 years. In her free time, she enjoys anything competitive, the outdoors, painting, and watching college softball. |