Bethann Adams was born in Pasadena, Texas on September 29, 1957, to Warren David, Jr., and Letha Adams who were both very successful educators as well as great mentors. Bethann is the oldest of three children. Her immediate family includes Warren David Adams, III and his wife Lori and youngest brother Mark Adams (deceased). Everyone in the family got up in the morning, went to school, then spent evenings at the dinner table, discussing everyone’s school day. Bethann has one niece, Megan Daniels, three nephews, Adam Adams, Dillon Adams, and Zachary Adams and one great niece, Lilly Phelps. Bethann resides in Sugar Land, Texas with her inherited toy poodle Sophie who has been a Godsend.

Bethann’s love of music started when she heard the San Antonio Symphony perform in the second grade, and then she began piano lessons. Bethann began playing trumpet, then horn in the 6th grade under Lloyd Quisenberry at Parkview Intermediate, Pasadena ISD where she was drum major in the 8th grade. At Sam Rayburn High School, her directors were Fred Baetge and Joe Cullum. She served her senior year as drum major of the Texan Band. After high school, Bethann attended Houston Baptist University earning a Bachelor of Music and Music Education degrees in 1981 under the guidance of Dr. Robert Linder.

Bethann taught her entire 36-year career in Fort Bend ISD where she was hired by James Gary in 1981. The first four years she was the assistant band director at Missouri City Middle School. Then First Colony Middle School opened in 1985 where Bethann started the first band program and spent the next 32 years as the head band director. Bill Duggan (HOF), David Lambert (HOF), Larry Matysiak (HOF) and Joe Gutierrez were early mentors to whom Bethann attributes her early successes. FCMS fed Clements High School, a storied band program under the direction of Larry Matysiak, where they became the 1995 Texas 5A Honor Band and the first FBISD high school band to perform at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois (1995). Bethann’s other mentors over the years were Barbara (Prentice) Lambrecht, Eddie Green, Jack Fariss and John Benzer. Many aspects of teaching band fundamentals and how to run a band program were learned from these great mentors. Their knowledge and expertise in instruction and motivating students was invaluable and helped her shape and mold the FCMS band program to even further success.

Other influential musicians for Bethann are Evyann Fariss, Diane Gorzycki (HOF), Cindy Bulloch (HOF), Gladys Stone Wright, Edward Lowe, and Connie Brouillette. Her middle school colleagues from Fort Bend ISD were all very competitive yet great friends! Bethann would like to thank the following for pushing the FCMS band program to be successful and for being the best of friends – Greg Countryman, Joe Pruitt, Ruben Garcia, Jim Drew, Evyann Fariss, Keith Fickel, Lisa Stiles, and Iris Gonzalez. The best associate directors who contributed to the success of the FCMS band program were Robin Cutting, Rory Davis, Michelle Berry, John Seremula, Evyann Fariss, Shannon Wallace, David Berndt and Bryan Waites.

Professionally, Ms. Adams was recognized as the 2007 Teacher of the Year at First Colony Middle School and was named the 2007- 2008 Fort Bend ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. In March of 2009, she was awarded the Scroll of Excellence by Women Band Directors International. Most recently, Ms. Adams was awarded The Silver Baton in 2023 by WBDI.

Bands under Ms. Adams’ direction have consistently received superior ratings at Texas UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contests, as well as other contests and festivals in the state of Texas. In 1997, the First Colony Middle School Symphony Orchestra performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In 2002 the First Colony Middle School Honors Band was selected as a finalist in the Texas CCC Honor Band Competition. The 2002 band also performed at the Midwest Clinic and was a 2002 recipient of the most prestigious Sudler Silver Cup administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In 2006, the Honors Band performed at the 33rd Annual Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, as the opening concert for the High School Clinic Weekend. In 2009 and 2016, the Honors Band performed at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Following a full and rewarding career, Bethann retired in 2017, after thirty-two years as Director of Bands at First Colony Middle School and thirty-six years of teaching band in the Fort Bend Independent School District. She was on the original faculty that opened the school and the last original staff member to leave. Since her retirement, Ms. Adams has served as a consultant and clinician for numerous school districts across the Houston metro area as well as an adjudicator across Texas. She has mentored many student teachers with her band program from the University of Houston and after retirement has served as University Supervisor for student teachers from the UH Moores School of Music.

Bethann’s professional affiliations include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu - Alpha Chapter and Sigma Alpha Iota. Ms. Adams has been a member of Women Band Directors International since 2003 and served as President from 2022 to 2024. She now serves as Immediate Past President. Ms. Adams is Co-Chair of the Sudler Silver Cup which recognizes successful middle school/junior high band programs over a long period of time. This award is administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation at sousafoundation.net.

Bethann is humbled and appreciative of the Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter Hall of Fame committee and chairman Barbara Lambrecht for this amazing recognition. She would also like to thank the many mentors and colleagues who have supported and challenged her. Bethann’s philosophy of teaching the students a love of music, great work ethic, and life-long learning in music and all they do produces success. Bethann would like to thank her mom and dad for supporting all the UIL contests and all the concerts throughout her career. Many thanks go to Fort Bend ISD for their dedication and support of music education, very supportive band parents and most of all to the FCMS band students – she thanks them for all the wonderful concerts!