TBI Judging Panel
Pamela Towry Church has enjoyed a career as a music educator, clinician, adjudicator, and mentor for over four decades. A native of Dallas, Texas and graduate of Lake Highlands High School, Ms. Towry attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning her Bachelor of Music degree (1979) as well as her Master of Music degree (1985) in Instrumental Conducting. She taught in the public schools in Texas prior to assuming the position of Assistant Professor of Music/Associate Director of Bands, and Percussion Instructor at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 1987. Ms. Towry moved to New Mexico in 1990, teaching at Santa Fe High School for two years before serving as the Music Department Chair and Director of Bands at Los Alamos High School until the spring of 2000. She re-established the band program in Cimarron, New Mexico in the fall of 2000, instructing grades 6-12. Ms. Towry retired from the Cimarron Schools in 2019.
In its third year of existence under her direction, the “Cimarron Wind Ensemble” was awarded “First Place” in Division A-AA at the New Mexico Activities Association’s State Concert Band Contest (2003.) During her tenure at Cimarron, the Wind Ensemble garnered a total of thirteen State Championship titles in their classification. Her Los Alamos Wind Ensemble was awarded four State Championships in Division AAA along with placing among the top three marching bands numerous times at the New Mexico Pageant of Bands and Zia Marching Fiesta in the 1990’s.
Ms. Towry has served on the Executive Board of the New Mexico Music Educators’ Association as Band Vice-President, President, and Past President. She was the Percussion Facilitator for the All-State performing ensembles for twenty-four years. In addition to her activity in the New Mexico Music Educators’ Association, Ms. Towry is a member of the Texas Bandmaster’s Association, Texas Music Educators’ Association, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Kappa Phi. She is the Past-President of the New Mexico chapter of Phi Beta Mu, national honorary bandmaster’s fraternity. She has presented workshops and conducted in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, New Mexico and at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Illinois. She has also served as Education Coordinator for the “Music from Angel Fire” chamber music festival. Pam was named the NMMEA “Music Educator of the Year” (2011), was inducted into the NMMEA “Hall of Fame” (2015), and has been awarded the NMMEA “Emeritus Teacher Award” (2021).
Ms. Towry currently divides her time between her home in the mountains of Red River, New Mexico and with family in El Paso, Texas. She is an active clinician, adjudicator, mentor and conductor.
In its third year of existence under her direction, the “Cimarron Wind Ensemble” was awarded “First Place” in Division A-AA at the New Mexico Activities Association’s State Concert Band Contest (2003.) During her tenure at Cimarron, the Wind Ensemble garnered a total of thirteen State Championship titles in their classification. Her Los Alamos Wind Ensemble was awarded four State Championships in Division AAA along with placing among the top three marching bands numerous times at the New Mexico Pageant of Bands and Zia Marching Fiesta in the 1990’s.
Ms. Towry has served on the Executive Board of the New Mexico Music Educators’ Association as Band Vice-President, President, and Past President. She was the Percussion Facilitator for the All-State performing ensembles for twenty-four years. In addition to her activity in the New Mexico Music Educators’ Association, Ms. Towry is a member of the Texas Bandmaster’s Association, Texas Music Educators’ Association, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Kappa Phi. She is the Past-President of the New Mexico chapter of Phi Beta Mu, national honorary bandmaster’s fraternity. She has presented workshops and conducted in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, New Mexico and at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Illinois. She has also served as Education Coordinator for the “Music from Angel Fire” chamber music festival. Pam was named the NMMEA “Music Educator of the Year” (2011), was inducted into the NMMEA “Hall of Fame” (2015), and has been awarded the NMMEA “Emeritus Teacher Award” (2021).
Ms. Towry currently divides her time between her home in the mountains of Red River, New Mexico and with family in El Paso, Texas. She is an active clinician, adjudicator, mentor and conductor.