Tom Chentnik with wife Jill, daughter Lauren and mother Carol
The 50th anniversary of the Arkansas Bandmasters Association Conference was held Friday in Fort Smith, and the director of the Mountain Home High School Band received the top individual honor. Tom Chentnik was selected as the 2024 Arkansas Bandmaster of the Year.
Chentnik says he was excited and honored to not only receive the award, but to get it three decades after his predecessor.
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Chentnik says other family members also knew before Friday he would be receiving the honor, and the manner in which he found out is a funny story.
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Since Nelson’s retirement in 2002, Chentnik has been the band director at his alma mater. He graduated from Mountain Home in 1987, and he’s a magna cum laude graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in 1992. Prior to his return to Mountain Home, Chentnik taught for five years at Texarkana on both sides of the state line and five more at Russellville.
For the last 22 years under Chentnik’s leadership, Mountain Home’s bands have consistently earned superior ratings on the marching field and concert stage. The Bomber High School Band marched in the 80th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at New York City in 2006. They’ve also performed in the Orlando Citrus Parade in Florida, the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tenn., Branson “On-Stage” Live and the Music for All Southern Music Festival at Arkansas Tech.
Chentnik says he feels fortunate to have grown up in Mountain Home and privileged to have directed the students he’s had in the Bomber Bands.
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Most recently, the Mountain Home High School Band earned first place in Class 6A at the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra State Concert Contest in April. They also received their first “Super Sweepstakes” in history by earning Superior First Division ratings at the state marching and concert competitions. With their win in this year’s state concert contest, the Bomber Band will be the featured Class 6A Honor Band at the state contest in Jonesboro in April of next year.
Chentnik’s wife, Jill, has also served as a director in Mountain Home Public Schools. They have completed 32 years of teaching, including 30 in Arkansas.
Tom Chentnik with past recipients of the Arkansas Bandmaster of the Year Award in attendance at the 50th anniversary of the band conference in Fort Smith
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