It is with much sadness that I report the death of our friend and colleague Dr. Raul Sosa Ornelas, who has been an active member of the ITG for many years. 

In 1987, he served as chairman of the Guild's Jazz Competition, and, in 1988, he chaired a five-member committee to elect guild officers. He also served as chairman of the International Trumpet Guild Scholarship Competition in 1994.

Ornelas performed at several ITG conferences throughout the country, most recently in Evansville, Indiana. The Lamar Trumpet Ensemble performed at three guild conferences - in 1988 at the University of North Texas in Denton, in 1993 at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, and in 2001 at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana.

Raul was fine musician, and always greeted everyone he met with a warm smile.  Our lives have been enriched by his presence and his friendship.  He will be sorely missed.

From the Lamar University website:

Dr. Raul Sosa Ornelas, professor of music at Lamar University and an internationally known trumpet virtuoso and arranger, died early Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. He was 66.

Ornelas had undergone surgery after having been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Funeral arrangements are pending at Broussard’s Mortuary, 1605 N. Major Drive in Beaumont.

“Dr. Ornelas is one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known and one of the most dedicated teachers I’ve encountered in my career,” said Lamar President James Simmons, his friend and colleague for 44 years. “He had a deep love for his family, his students, his friends and his music.

“He taught and mentored generations of trumpet students who have gone on to national prominence as performers and teachers,” Simmons said. “And there probably hasn’t been a music student who’s gone through this university who was not taught music theory by Raul.”

Simmons and Ornelas met in 1964 when Ornelas was band director at McArthur Junior High School and Simmons was band director at Crockett Junior High. They were roommates in Beaumont as they began their teaching careers.

A Lamar faculty member since 1972, Ornelas taught trumpet and music theory. He performed with area and regional symphony orchestras, traveled internationally with Keith Brion and the New Sousa Band and was a leader in organizations for trumpet performers and educators, as well as a distinguished arranger of music.

His talents on electric bass as well as on trumpet graced area stages for more than four decades, in performances ranging from scores of concerts with the Symphony of Southeast Texas (formerly the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra) to Liberty Fest Concerts at Riverfront Park.

Ornelas was born Nov. 6, 1941, in Corpus Christi. He earned the bachelor of music degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1965, master of music degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., in 1972 and doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1986.

“Raul was a wonderful musician, teacher, colleague and friend and will be greatly missed,” said Russ Schultz, dean of Lamar’s College of Fine Arts & Communication. “I feel that he, more than anyone else, was the heart and soul of our music program. His students loved him and knew that he was committed to ensuring that they would achieve a level of success that paralled his high expectations of them. He always expected a high level of musicianship in his performances and for those who performed with him.

“He was always a joy to work with because he was always professional but never lost his sense of humor . . . He loved his students, the music department and, of course, Lamar University. As a member of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, he was a leader among the musicians and was greatly respected for his musicianship and high performance standards,” Schultz said. “Lamar University has lost a great friend, leader, musician and teacher.”

Ornelas was a “phenomenal” colleague and teacher, said longtime friend L. Randolph Babin, retired director of choral activities who continues as a Lamar faculty member. “I have not known anyone who cared more about his students. They respected him and loved him. He was a wonderful trumpet player and jazz bassist and unselfishly shared his talents with the community. Just being around him was a joy. Raul had an outgoing and magnetic personality that easily attracted people to him. He was the ‘life of the party’ and loved by all.”

Ornelas was featured with the Jimmy Simmons Band Aug. 23 at the 2008 Beaumont Jazz + Blues Jazz Fest at the Jefferson Theatre – his last performance – and with the Lamar Brass Quintet in the traditional opening to Lamar’s annual convocation Aug. 20. He conducted the Lamar Brass Ensemble at summer commencement Aug. 16.

For many years, Ornelas performed on first trumpet with the Lamar Brass Quintet. He had been an audience favorite at Lamarissimo! concerts since the series’ inception in 1990, frequently coordinating the faculty artists’ performance as well as taking the stage with the Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. Ornelas was principal trumpet with the Symphony of Southeast Texas and performed with the Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Meridian and Rapides symphony orchestras.

“Dr. Ornelas taught me how to be a professional in every sense of the word,” said Kevin Stone, director of bands for the Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district and director of athletic bands at Lamar. “He stressed to me not to sweat the small stuff and not be consumed and irritated by the little things we cannot control. He always seemed to be able to look at the bigger picture.

“He and I played next to each other in the symphony for 22 years,” Stone said. “He was always consistent – musically, professionally and personally. After so many years of rehearsals and performances together, it evolved to a point where he did not have to verbalize to me how we needed to play a piece of music. All I needed to do was shut up and listen to him play as it became second nature to match his musical style.”

Ornelas was an active member of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) for many years. In 1987, he served as chairman of the guild’s jazz competition, and, in 1988, he chaired a five-member committee to elect guild officers. He also served as chairman of the International Trumpet Guild Scholarship Competition in 1994.

Ornelas performed at several ITG conferences throughout the country, most recently in Evansville, Ind. The Lamar Trumpet Ensemble performed at three guild conferences – in 1988 at the University of North Texas in Denton, in 1993 at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, and in 2001 at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Ind.

His arrangements were sought after for publications and in performances. These include “The Ceremonial Book for Brass Quintet,” published by Northeastern Music Publications in 2006, and brass quintet arrangements submitted for pending publications by Northeastern Music. Other arrangements were featured at Lamarissimo! concerts, at Lamar commencement ceremonies and in music performed by diverse ensembles.

Ornelas performed with the New Sousa Band on more than a dozen tours, the most recent to Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, in February 2008. Other tours, beginning in 2002, took him to Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Carolina, Washington state, Iowa and Illinois, as well as to Corpus Christi, Port Arthur and Beaumont. He frequently returned to his native Corpus Christi to perform at the Texas Jazz Festival.

He accompanied such performers as Johnny Mathis, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Tommy Tune and Joan Rivers. Beginning in 2002, he performed at the Entergy Museum of Southeast Texas’ annual Spindletop Blowout. He was featured on campus at faculty recitals, LU-llaby of Broadway, Cardinal Lights, convocations and in dozens of other venues.

Off-campus educational contributions include the Side-by-Side clinics for high school musicians, sponsored by the Symphony of Southeast Texas; music lectures presented by him and Simmons; and state and regional University Interscholastic League clinics.

Survivors include his wife, Jean, his mother, children and brothers and sisters. A son, Andre, preceded him in death.

A Lamar University scholarship in music has been established in Ornelas’ memory through the Lamar University Foundation. Contributions may be made to P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas 77710 or by calling the foundation at (409) 880-2117.

The family requests that those who are able to go to LifeShare Blood Center, 8305 Laurel, and give blood in the name of Raul Ornelas, to be sent to Scott & White Hospital, 2401 31st St., Temple, Texas 76508, phone (254) 724-2111.