Our Directors
Dr. Rip Rice - Band Leader
The Ripper, as he is known by his friends, is a sax and former clarinet player who grew up in the Big Band era of the 1930s and 1940s. In his college days at what is now the University of Texas at Arlington (Texas), just prior to World War II, Rip played in and led the Stardust Melodiers, a 16-piece dance band at what is now the University of Texas at Arlington. Following the war and up until 1951, he played in, directed and managed the Music Makers, a 10-piece dance band that played in the Washington, D.C. area. Then came a stint at small combo work until 1955 when he retired from music to complete his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Maryland (College Park), then to develop a business career so he could provide for his family.
In 1994, Rip returned to his sax playing, joining the Columbia Concert Band, the Columbia Jazz Band, the Starvation Army Band, the Rockville Concert Band, and formed and leads the Dixie Rascals (sub-unit of the OBB). Rip also plays professionally with numerous combos, including all of the Clambaked combos (trio, quartet, quintet) and from time to time with the Docs of Swing combos. Although he plays all the saxophones, he prefers his tenor but loves his bari too.
In August 2003, with a little arm twisting, Rip agreed to become the Director of the Olney Jazz Troupe, now the Olney Big Band. In the beginning, Rip really wanted to play in the sax section and direct from there, as he had done in his younger days. But he soon found that he preferred listening to the whole band from out front. Moving in front of the band also gave him the opportunity to play Latin percussion instruments and to hone his MC abilities and develop relationships with audiences.
Rip, in his late 80s, still consults in various aspects of ozone technologies. He travels to many places in the world to consult and to attend meetings of the International Ozone Association, which he co-founded in 1974. At these IOA meetings, the local organizers usually hire a jazz band for an evening function, and Rip is always given a tenor sax and invited to sit in. So far, his international musical scoreboard includes Amsterdam (Netherlands) twice; Kyoto, Japan; Lanier Islands, Georgia; San Francisco; Dearborn, Michigan; Windsor, Canada; and Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Robert Tennyson – Music Director
Bob Tennyson, a New Jersey native, is a conductor and trombone player having a lifetime of diverse experience working with orchestras, concert bands, operas, musicals, and big bands. He holds undergraduate and master degrees in music performance and conducting from Indiana University and a Doctorate in trombone performance, conducting, and music history from the University of Maryland. During his career he has taught at several colleges and universities in New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington, D. C. As a trombonist he was active at the Shady Grove Music Theater, the National Theater, and the Kennedy Center Orchestra from 1970 to 1975. He also played with the National Gallery Orchestra and several popular big bands throughout metropolitan area. For many years he conducted the Potomac Pops Symphony Orchestra and was the Rockville Concert Band’s conductor from 1977 to 1994. In addition, while working in the Washington area Bob owned and operated a music contracting agency for over 15 years, leading big band groups from 8-18 pieces.
In 1994, Bob moved to Innsbruck Austria to work as a conductor and music professor. There he conducted two professional-level Symphonic Bands, several American musicals along with the Big Band Tirol and a big band for the Tirolean State School of Music. He also conducted at the Tirolean Conservatory and taught Jazz History at the University of Innsbruck.
Now retired and having returned to the Washington area, Bob is delighted to be associated with the Olney Big Band and looks forward to rehearsing the band and conducting them at their many engagements.
Brian Damron - Associate Director
Brian Damron, a native of Topeka, Kansas, is the Instrumental Music Director at James Hubert Blake High School, Director of the Olney Concert Band and associate Director of The Olney Big Band. A graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music he is currently working towards his doctorate degree at Kansas State University. Brian brings a wealth of knowledge in music performance to Blake and the Olney Big Band. He has served as a professional musician, public relations director, and associate conductor with the US Marine Corps Bands for seven years. In addition, he has performed major saxophone concerti with the Cleveland Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony. A lover of jazz, he has also performed with the 29th Street Jazz Quartet, the North Coast Sax Quartet, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He has also served as the associate conductor for many professional ensembles, instructor for the International Association for Jazz Educators, and as a clinician and adjudicator for many national and regional music festivals. Mr. Damron attributes his success in music to the wonderful education he received while growing up. Keeping with that tradition Brian has implemented many new programs at Blake H. S. that have brought tremendous credit to the students and school.
Understanding the need and motivation involved with quality public performances, Mr. Damron has increased the performance schedule of the award winning Eubie Blake Jazz Ensemble to over fifty performances a year; to include the East Coast Jazz Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival, numerous community performances and a sold out benefit concert with Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band. As part of The Olney Big Band he has played both sax and piano and in 2008 directed the band at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and has been instrumental in organizing an annual concert known as the Big Band Bash which many elite high school and community jazz bands participate in including The Olney Big Band and the Eubie Blake Jazz Ensemble.
