Director of Music

Herbert Bilhartz

Current:Herbert Bilhartz, in addition to being Director of Music for Blasmusik Texas, is director of the Hermann Sons German Band in San Antonio, Texas. Herbert retired from the US Army in 1977, and since then he has maintained an active interest in music, especially German band music. Finding that band music from publishers in Germany was not readily available through American music dealers, Herbert started a business, "Fest-Musik-Haus.". Herbert is a native of South Texas and currently resides in Medina, Texas.

Hermann Sons: German Band: In 1991 Herbert became director of this 20-piece German-style concert band. Based in San Antonio, the band plays for many German Fests held in South Central Texas. The Hermann Sons of Texas is a fraternal insurance and social organization founded over 100 years ago by German settlers.

Fest-Musik-Haus: Herbert established this company in 1983 to import German band arrangements directly from publishers in Germany and make them available to American band directors by mail order. Arrangements for both full American concert band and smaller entertainment groups are stocked. For more information visit Fest-Musik-Haus.

Military Music Career: Herbert joined the US Air Force in 1951 as a bandsman. In 1963 he switched services, receiving a direct appointment as a Warrant Officer Bandmaster in the US Army. He directed Army bands at Fort Bliss (El Paso) and Fort Walters (Mineral Wells, Texas). In 1968 he served as bandmaster of the 25th Infantry Division in Viet Nam. Herbert's last assignment was as director of the US Army Band Europe in Heidelberg, during which time his 42-piece band played for scores of Fests in cities and towns throughout Germany. It was at this time in Herbert's career that he became acquainted with the "volkstümlich" band music played at these events and the enthusiasm of the audiences for this festive style of music.

College: Herbert is a 1950 graduate of the music department of the University of Texas at Austin. He played horn in the University Symphony Orchestra under Alexander von Kreisler, and also in the Austin Symphony.

Family: Herbert's wife, the former Billie Mae Rogge, is an accomplished contralto soloist and choral singer. She has been a member of the Royal Choral Society of London and the Bach-Chor of Heidelberg, as well as various choirs in the US. She recently recorded a group of German Christmas carols with the Hermann Sons German Band. Billie and Herbert have three children and three granddaughters.