Marc-André Bougie
Music Director

A native of Montreal, Conductor Marc-André Bougie first studied piano at the College of St. Laurent. He subsequently completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Montreal and was admitted to the University of Missouri for his Master’s in Orchestra conducting under Maestro Edward Dolbashian. As a conductor, Marc-André directed the Orchestre des Sources, a chamber orchestra that he founded, and recorded the CD Orchestre des Sources: Musique pour cordes, and the music for the short-movie L’embellie. In Missouri he conducted the University Philharmonic, the Contemporary Chamber Players, the University Singers, the Columbia Youth Orchestra, and the Show-Me Opera Studio. From 2001 until 2005 he held a four-year tenure with the Shreveport Opera as Education Director, Chorus Master, and Assistant-Conductor, and made his professional conducting debut with the Shreveport Symphony in January 2004. Also active as a composer, he won the 2001 MTNA National Composition Competition with his piece String-Quartet. Marc-André is currently Music Director for the Texarkana Regional Chorale and the Shreveport Chorale, and full-time Faculty at Texarkana College. Recent engagements have included concerts at Carnegie Hall and Montreal with Ark-La-Tex Choirs, conducting the Gilbert & Sullivan production of I Have A Song to Sing and a full season of concerts with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. Marc was recently awarded TRAHC’s 2007 Arts Champion Award. He is also the founding Music Director of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. Marc-Andre is married is Candace C. Taylor, and they are proud parents of Miriam Taylor Bougie, born in February, 2008.

R. Andrew Clark
Executive Director

R. Andrew Clark, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and raised in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas and St. Louis, Missouri, holds the Bachelor of Music degree from Ouachita Baptist University and the Master of Arts in Music degree from the University of North Texas. Andrew’s graduate research interest was in the area of late 19th and early 20th century American community music societies and that research was completed at Yale University. While at Ouachita, Mr. Clark was the Pike Scholar in organ performance, and was afforded the opportunity to study piano with the internationally known pianist, David Allen Wehr. Andrew’s organ teachers have included Gail Robins, Russell Hodges, and Al Travis. He has done post-graduate conducting studies with James Jordan at Westminster Choir College, in Princeton, New Jersey. Andrew holds membership in various national music organizations including: The Society for American Music and The College Music Society. Mr. Clark currently serves as the part-time Executive Director of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, while pursuing further graduate studies. Prior to his appointment with the TSO, Andrew held church music positions in Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas, and was an adjunct instructor of music at Texarkana College, in Texarkana, Texas.

Steven M. Bennett
Youth Symphony Conductor

Mr. Bennett received his Music Education degree from Harding University and continued his education at the University of Central Arkansas where he studied trombone with Dr. Dennis Winter and completed his Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting. During that time, Mr. Bennett was a member of the University Symphony Orchestra and Conway Civic Orchestra. After completing his degree, he taught for five years in Alabama before moving to Texarkana to his current position with the Texarkana Independent School District.
He is currently the adjunct instructor of instrumental brass studies at Texarkana College and is also the Assistant Director of Bands at Texas High School and the band director for the Red Lick Independent School District. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.
He is married to Laura Bennett, also a member of the TSO, and they have four wonderful children.