Austin Stars Performing Arts Association
Encyclopedia
History
The Austin Stars Performing Arts Association (ASPAA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, was founded in the fall of 2005 by Brent Unger and Evan Morgan, both alumni
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of Star of Indiana, and Cathy Benford, former staff and board member of Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps, with the initial intention of creating the Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
The Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum corps based in Austin, Texas and is a member of the Austin Stars Performing Arts Association.- History :...
. Efforts to form any kind of ensemble in 2006 were postponed when Mr. Morgan, a captain in the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, was sent to serve in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
In the fall of 2006, planning continued for the 2007 season and their first ensemble was a 6-man brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
ensemble. Their debut was at the Texas Drum Corps Preview on June 16, 2007. The brass ensemble performed two more times during that summer at Brass Hysteria in Bedford
Bedford, Texas
Bedford is a suburban city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, in the "Mid-Cities" area between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census...
and Brass On The Bayou in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Evan Morgan returned home safely in late July from his tour of duty
Tour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
in Afghanistan.
In 2008, the Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
The Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum corps based in Austin, Texas and is a member of the Austin Stars Performing Arts Association.- History :...
fielded its first show. The Association also welcomed the Austin Independent Winterguard (ATX Winterguard) as the next member organization.
Show History:
2008: Broadway!
2009: Footsteps of a Soldier
Future
For 2009, the Association has reorganized to more effectively and clearly define the Association-Organization relationships, and will focus on planning and fundraising for our members groups. This new organizational structure will allow the Association to grow in a controlled manner while creating a unified strategy for the benefit of all members.Trivia
The name "Austin Stars" was selected for three reasons:- Five-point starsFive-pointed starA five-pointed star is a very common ideogram throughout the world. If the colinear edges are joined together a pentagram is produced, which is the simplest of the unicursal star polygons, and a symbol of mystical and magical significance....
can be found all over Austin, especially downtownDowntownDowntown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
and at the Texas State Capitol BuildingTexas State CapitolThe Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, Texas, and is the fourth building to be the house of Texas government in Austin. It houses the chambers of the Texas Legislature and the office of the governor of Texas. It was designed originally during 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, and was...
. - Austin is home (or second home) to many "stars" in the entertainment world. The city is known as the Live Music Capitol of the World and is famous for its 6th Street district, South by Southwest Music FestivalSouth by SouthwestSouth by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, the popular PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
television program Austin City LimitsAustin City LimitsAustin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
, and another major music festivalMusic festivalA music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
by the same nameAustin City Limits Music FestivalThe Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
. - The city of Austin is located in the heart of Texas, where "the stars at night are big and bright," according to the traditional song "Deep in the Heart of TexasDeep in the Heart of Texas"Deep in the Heart of Texas" is an American popular song elaborating on the merits of the state of Texas.The 1941 song features lyrics by June Hershey and music by Don Swander. The song was recorded by Perry Como with Ted Weems and His Orchestra on December 9 of that year for Decca Records in Los...
."