The Life and Legacy of Don and Nadina Baird: Part 3
Reflections on the Teaching and Inspiration of Don Baird
As told by Russ Blanchard and Anthony Sanchez
Son-in-law’s of Don and Nadina Baird
Russ Blanchard has the blessing of being among the last students of Don Baird. Russ is a tuba player from Alamogordo, New Mexico. Russ made All-State in two different states. As a sophomore and senior he was a member of the New Mexico All-State band. Being a military family, his junior year took the family to Hawaii where he was a member of the Hawaii All-State Band. He recalls his audition to come to WT, playing the first movement of the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto. Russ was awarded a whopping $200 scholarship per semester and setting out on a journey that would change his life in more ways than he ever knew.
Russ arrived at WT as a performance major, playing a Bb tuba. He switched to a C tuba and it took him forever to learn the fingerings. In the spring Russ auditioned for the Symphonic Band and did not earn a chair. Russ was not mad about this but rather went to Mr. Baird and asked him , “Show me what to do to get better!” Russ recalls Mr. Baird wanting his students to be their very best and to live up to their potential. He recalls times when Mr. Baird would literally give the shirt off his back to his students, loaning them money, his car and even bailing them out of jail. He was a father figure to his entire studio and many others in the WT music department.
Russ recalls listening to Mr. Baird play and wanting to be his very best. Don had that effect on everyone. In lessons, Mr. Baird made Russ sing his etudes before he played a note-a concept of hearing a note before you played it. Mr. Baird was always encouraging and was never upset when one came to a lesson unprepared. In the summer of 1978 Don took Russ to the International Tuba Euphonium convention. He paid for everything and even treated Russ to a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game. They heard many professional recitals. There was a solo competition and Don told Russ, “You could do that!” Don passed in April of 1979 but the following year, low brass TA Bob Simmons sent in a tape and was named an outstanding brass finalist at the convention at North Texas. Don’s legacy was going strong!
Romance was in the air at WT! Russ began dating Don and Nadina’s oldest daughter Leslie. Leslie says that Russ was in it for an easy A in lessons, theory help and a ride since Leslie had a car. Leslie was a year ahead of Russ. In the summer of 1976 Russ and Leslie recall her having made them matching outfits to wear on the Riverwalk at the Texas Bandmasters Convention in San Antonio. The outfits were purple velvet jumpsuits with a huge collar and matching shirt for the outside. Leslie’s jumpsuit survived to be worn by a future Tau Beta Sigma pledge, while Russ’ jumpsuit was thrown away. They were not married at the time but were wanting to get married. Russ talked to Mr. Baird about marrying Leslie but thinking it was best to wait until after graduation for both of them. Mr. Baird told Russ, “Why wait? Do it now! Married students always do better!” So Russ and Leslie officially became Mr. and Mrs. Russ Blanchard during his junior year. Russ received an A in lessons the semester he and Leslie were planning their January wedding. Russ humbly says it was a wedding gift! Russ and Leslie were also TA’s in theory and low brass, respectively.
Russ emphasized that Mr. Baird always taught with kindness, humor and a smile. He was uplifting and placed the emphasis on his students rather than himself. He also instilled in his students a love of playing, encouraging them to play as long as they could for the sheer joy of making music.
Russ and Leslie enjoyed long careers in music; teaching bands in Canyon, Clyde, Highland Park and Hobbs, New Mexico. They later moved to El Paso where Russ entered into the financial business as a CFP with Edward Jones. They also taught at an International School in Saudi Arabia. They moved back to The Woodlands where Russ did more banking and eventually taught strings for Spring ISD. Russ and Leslie are retired and living in The Woodlands right next door to Leslie’s mom Nadina! They are bicycle enthusiasts and can be found riding all over the Houston area and also in Europe with Russ’ sister, Amy Lindley and her husband Paul. They both still play and spend as much time as possible with their talented children and grandchildren.
Romance was also in the air for Don’s son, Steve. Steve met his wife, Katherine, at the Railroad Crossing in Canyon. She was a graduate of Canyon High School. Steve was offered a job in Edinburg, they got married and moved. Katherine was an elementary school teacher. They moved into the Baird home in 1986. Every weekend there was a Cowboys game friends were welcomed into their home. The decibel level rose on those weekends. Playing pool and enjoying the humor and friendship that was evident in the Baird home.
Leslie wasn’t the only Baird daughter to marry someone from Alamogordo. Janie met trumpet player Anthony Sanchez in 1983, their freshmen year. Must be something in that Alamogordo air! Anthony made All-State in New Mexico a remarkable three times! Anthony immediately felt welcomed into the Baird/Blanchard family. Although never having met Mr. Baird, Anthony is blessed to be the owner of all of Don’s music including solos, etude books and a lot of trumpet literature. This was a gracious gift from Nadina to Anthony. Anthony received his Bachelors from WT, studying with Dave Ritter. He received his Masters from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. He enjoyed a long career as a band director, assisting Randy Storie in his first job at Midland Lee High School. Later he taught for many years in El Paso and not wanting to retire just yet, ended his career in a small town in New Mexico, a short drive from their home in El Paso. The Sanchez’s are living retired life in San Antonio where they enjoy their two children, their spouses and their grandchildren. Many days you can find Anthony substituting in the area. Although never having met Mr. Baird, Anthony has a deep respect for him and the qualities of a great husband, father and teacher that Mr. Baird instilled in so many.
Next: The Life, Legacy and Faith of Don Baird instilled in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You won’t want to miss this. It is amazing!
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Loved every lesson I had with Mr Baird. The first one was during my first year of band camp in 1973. He knew I was scared to death and he was able to calm me down! He was a great man!
Mr, Baird came when I was a senior. I got up to first chair that year but was assigned to lessons with Jim Priest. Jim was a very good teacher. I got to do a year of my Master’s the next year and took from Mr. Baird. He was more respecting of my abilities than I deserved. I never could get him to believe that I had started out 10th chair as a freshman. We had a very good year. One of the most vivid memories I have was, a few years later, he grabbed me walking down the hall during band camp and gave me a stern lecture about controlling stress because he said I was in the “hurricane years”. Unfortunately, a short time later I heard of his passing. I remember his enthusiasm and belief in me.