A Growing Sound
For some students, college band is a way to continue a lifelong passion, while for others, it offers an opportunity to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and form friendships beyond the classroom. At Lubbock Christian University, students are finding opportunities to perform, lead, serve, and grow as the program expands under the leadership of Dr. Lisa Tatum, Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music.
“I consider myself blessed to be a member of the LCU Symphonic Band,” said Brianna Quilantan, a music education major from Brownfield, Texas. “Being a percussionist and being able to make music come to life from written material is something I truly enjoy. Taking notes on paper and transforming them into something you can hear and experience together has a unique quality.”
For Quilantan, the experience extends beyond performing. As a student conductor, she has developed her leadership skills while learning to listen more critically and move beyond her comfort zone. “Being able to serve as a student conductor is one of my favorite aspects,” she said. “I appreciate being able to hear every section and identify what is effective and what needs improvement. I’ve been able to listen to music in a whole new way because of it.”
Opportunities like these have multiplied as LCU’s instrumental music program has grown. When Dr. Tatum arrived at LCU in August 2022, the Symphonic Band had just 11 students. It now has 38 members, while the Big Blue Basketball Pep Band now regularly features about 50 musicians, adding energy and school spirit to home basketball games. The Jazz Ensemble was also revived in 2025, giving students another opportunity to perform and develop their skills.
“I am extremely proud of the growth of the bands during my time at LCU,” Tatum said. “The Symphonic Band started with a roster of 11 in 2022 and grew to 38 in 2026. The Big Blue Basketball Pep Band now consistently fields 50 musicians to add to the excitement of home basketball games, and we were able to revive our jazz band program in 2025.”
Behind that growth is a director whose extensive experience spans music education, collegiate ensembles, professional performance, and some of the nation’s most competitive drum and bugle corps.
Tatum earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Alabama, followed by master’s degrees in Trombone Performance from the University of Utah and Wind Conducting from Louisiana State University. She completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at Texas Tech University in 2023. Her experience as a teacher, conductor, and performer includes elementary, middle, and high school music education, collegiate ensembles, and organizations such as the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, and the professional brass band for the Houston Texans.
At LCU, Tatum brings that experience into the rehearsal hall and classroom through courses such as Music Theory, Instrumental Conducting, Orchestration, and Music Education. She also advises instrumental music majors and conducts the professional orchestra for LCU Theatre musicals. As the program has grown, she has helped expand opportunities beyond regular rehearsals and campus performances, including consortiums, premieres of new works, and the program’s first band tour to San Antonio earlier this year.
“Because of this growth, we have been a part of several consortiums and premieres of new pieces of music over the last few years,” Tatum said. “Earlier this Spring, we were able to travel for our first band tour to give a concert in San Antonio, and I was so honored to lead our students for this. It truly is a joy to work with LCU students!”
For students such as Molly Davidson, the program provides an opportunity to continue making music while pursuing a different academic path. A Lubbock native majoring in integrated marketing communication, Davidson joined the Symphonic Band to keep playing saxophone after high school.
“Being part of the LCU band program has allowed me to continue playing saxophone after high school while also becoming a more well-rounded person,” Davidson said. “It has given me the opportunity to meet new people, make memories, and be involved in something outside of the classroom.”
For Davidson, making music is also connected to her faith. “I enjoy being able to make music with other people and use the talents God has given me,” she said. “It is special to be surrounded by people who share a love for music while getting to glorify God through what we do.”
The experience is equally meaningful for students pursuing music as a career. Quilantan describes the Symphonic Band as a “tiny family,” where students can laugh and have fun. At the same time, the expectations challenge students to grow.
“I’ve been challenged by some of the pieces we’ve performed, but I like that because it forces me to expand my ‘music brain,’” she said. “One of the main ways that band has influenced me is by giving me confidence, both as a student conductor and as a musician. I’ve had the chance to grow in ways I didn’t necessarily expect when I joined and to venture outside of my comfort zone.”
Dr. Philip Camp, Director of Choral Activities at LCU, has seen the effect of Tatum’s leadership beyond the instrumental ensembles. “She has brought renewed energy not only to the instrumental program but also to the entire Music building,” Camp said. “Her contagious enthusiasm inspires great performances and unforgettable memories for our students.”
As the program has grown, its impact has extended beyond LCU’s musicians to the broader community. Tatum co-founded West Texas Youth Winds, a youth wind ensemble that meets and performs on the LCU campus, and welcomes alumni to perform alongside current students, connecting generations of musicians.
The band also puts its talents to work in service to others. This fall, it will open its 2026–27 concert season with the fifth annual benefit concert for the Haven Animal Shelter on October 13. The outdoor concert begins at 6 p.m. in the campus mall area and will feature food trucks, with attendees encouraged to bring dog or cat food donations for the shelter.
For Davidson, that growing presence has become an important part of campus life. “I think the band brings a lot of energy and school spirit to LCU,” she said. “Whether we are performing in a concert or cheering on the Chaps at a basketball game, it gives students an opportunity to come together, have fun, and be part of the LCU community.”
From the concert stage to the basketball court, LCU’s growing band program is giving students more opportunities to develop their musical abilities, grow as leaders, and serve others. For students such as Quilantan and Davidson, it is also creating a place to find confidence, community, and purpose.