Central Oklahoma Homeschool Bands

COHB Conductors

Tom Rye, Director

Mr. Tom Rye has been involved in instrumental music most of his life. He has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of History degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. With 21 years' experience in public band programs, Mr. Rye has worked in every facet of this arena, 5th grade through high school, and has personally participated in a number of university, professional, and church orchestra programs. He is also a charter member of the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony. Mr. Rye has five grown children (three of whom have home schooled their children) as well as 19 grandchildren. He loves working with students and watching them grow in their God-given musical abilities.

Ben Fast, Director

Mr. Fast is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. He also earned a Master of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Mr. Fast has taught in the public schools for 28 years: four years in Bethany, eight years in Putnam City, eleven years in Maysville, and then back in Putnam City for five years. Mr. Fast has four children: one married daughter, two daughters attending Southern Nazarene, and a son who is a freshman at Putnam City High School.In addition to teaching band, Mr Fast directs the hand-bell choir at his church and plays clarinet in a clarinet quartet. He also repairs band instruments. Mr. Fast is looking forward to directing the bands in the northern part of our state.

James Copeland, Director

Mr. Copeland is a graduate of East Central State College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He taught public school music including everything from elementary music to high school band for 36 years. He plays French horn in the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony, and has performed with various church and community orchestras. He is the founder of Arbuckle Brass, a brass quintet. He is very active in the music ministry of Northwest Baptist Church in Ardmore where he and his wife, Shirley, have lived since 1977. He believes there is no better music an individual can be part of than that which honors God and Jesus Christ.

Joel and Susan Haas, Directors

Joel Haas is a retired band director from Eisenhower High School in Lawton, OK, with 28 years of experience.  He has taught elementary music, junior high and high school choirs, high school orchestra, as well as elementary, junior high, and high school band in the Oklahoma towns of Burns Flat, Kremlin, Cushing, Marlow, Walter, and Lawton.    Mr. Haas plays the piano and trumpet and conducts the Cameron Baptist Church Orchestra where he has also played organ and keyboard.  He is the pianist for the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony.   He has a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Susan Haas is a retired band director from Eisenhower Middle School in Lawton, OK, with 29 years of experience.  She has taught elementary music, high school vocal, as well as elementary, middle school, and high school band in Medford, Cushing, Wakita, and Lawton, OK.  Mrs. Haas is the principal clarinet in the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony and also plays clarinet in the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cameron Baptist Church Orchestra.  She has a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.