Directors

Artistic Director Jim McDaniel

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Jim McDaniel, the beloved Conductor and Artistic Director of the Carrollton Wind Symphony. Jim faithfully served the band for 19 years, leading the group to new heights of musicianship, outstanding accomplishments and excellence in every venue where we performed.

Under Jim’s direction, the Carrollton Wind Symphony achieved the following:

• April 2007 – Performed at Murchison Performing Arts Center at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas

• April 2010 – Performed at the National Association of Community Bands Conference in Dallas, Texas

• July 2010 – Performed at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas

• July 2015 – Performed at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas

• December 2017 – Received the Sudler Silver Scroll Award for Outstanding Community Band

• April 2018 – Selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois

• June 2018 – Proclamation by the City of Carrollton declaring an official “Carrollton Wind Symphony Day”

• December 2018 – Performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois

• December 2022 – Proclamation by the City of Carrollton declaring an official “Wind Symphony Day”

Jim McDaniel graduated from LD Bell High School in 1969 and went on to attend Texas Christian University (TCU) where he earned Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees in Music Education and a Performance Degree in Trumpet. He was a Graduate Assistant of the TCU band from 1974-1976. He was later inducted into the TCU Band of Fame.

Jim was the Assistant Director of Bands at Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas from 1976-1979 and the Assistant Director of Bands at Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas from 1980-1982. He became the Band Director of Martin High School in Arlington, Texas from 1982-1990, where he received a Teacher of the Year Award.

Jim moved to the college level, where he was the Assistant Director of Bands at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas from 1990-1993. While there, he completed his Principal Certification. Jim became the Supervisor of Fine Arts for Bryan Independent School District from 1993-1996, then moved to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District where he served as Executive Director of Fine Arts from 1996-2012. While at CFBISD, Carrollton was recognized as “one of the top 100 best communities for Music Education in America.” In 2012, Jim became the Fine Arts Director for the Frisco ISD until 2014.

He maintained the Executive Secretary position at the University Interscholastic League for Region 24 from 2000 through 2025 and was a clinician and consultant from 2014 through 2025. The Texas Music Administrators Conference named Jim “Outstanding Administrator of the Year” for 2009-2010; in 2013, the Texas Bandmasters Association gave him the “Honor of a Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award.”

Jim achieved his lifelong goal to make a difference to all music students and teachers. After retiring from public school service, he stayed connected with teachers and students by supervising UNT student teachers, conducting numerous clinics, and working as a mentor for multiple school districts.

Jim maintained a strong commitment to family and friends, which was passed along to him by his own mother and father. He married Susan Russell McDaniel July 13, 1974 and they had a daughter, Heather McDaniel Sandel, now an Educational Diagnostician in CFBISD. She is married to Ryne Thomas Sandel, a lawyer in Plano and they have two children, Harper and Avery. Jim also has a niece, Jocelyn C. Ellis.

Jim’s greatest accomplishment was being a devoted son, husband, father, father-in- law and grandfather, with his most cherished role being “Poppy” to his beloved grandchildren.