Board Members

Dr. Joseph C. Crabtree has served as the Professor of Music and Voice at Laredo College for over twenty-five years.  As a bass-baritone, he has performed in a wide range of venues in Central America, Europe, and America. He has been acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic as a singer, conductor, and educator.   A passionate supporter of Laredo’s artistic culture, he has performed with the Laredo Little Theater, LITE Productions, and Laredo Theater Guild International.  He hopes that his new role as President of the Laredo Philharmonic will cultivate a revival of collaborative arts within Los Dos Laredos.

Laura Llanes helps manage her husband’s medical clinic as well as medical billing.

She has served as Director in the areas of Employment and Training, Nursing Administration, Public Housing, and New Housing Developments (affordable housing).

She has also served on many Boards in leadership positions at the local, state, and national levels. She founded and directed an animal advocacy & rescue organization, Protective Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) for 20 years.

Laura is a native of Laredo. She received her MA from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. Laura has always had a great appreciation for the arts.

Libbie Casso is the President of Mercy Ministries of Laredo, a non-profit organization that operates a Primary Healthcare Clinic for the uninsured and a Domestic Violence Shelter in Laredo. She has worked for Mercy for 23 years. She has been active and served in positions of leadership in many local non-profit organizations including Mercy Auxiliary, The Society of Martha Washington and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Libbie received her BS from St. Louis University and worked for the National Accounting firm Haskins and Sells and for General Electric Corp.  She was born in Bardstown Kentucky.

Molly’s love of the arts began at a young age. Her mother, Margaret Higgins, exposed her to art by working as a docent for the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the San Antonio Museum of Arts.

After raising four children, Molly continued her creative journey by taking voice lessons with Dr. Joe Crabtree which later progressed to piano lessons so she could learn how to sight read. This is Molly’s third performance with the Laredo Philharmonic. Molly is also a Board Certified Trial Attorney, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

John R. Reimund currently works as the low brass instructor at the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts.  He also is an adjunct music professor at Texas A&M International University.  Mr. Reimund is an active tuba performer and clinician in the South Texas region.  He serves as principal tubist with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra.  He is also a founding member of YES Brass (tuba/euphonium quartet).

Mr. Reimund has played with the San Antonio Brass Band, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, WTSU Faculty Brass Quintet, The United States Military Academy Band, The Regimental Brass and the Hudson Valley Opera.