DENTON HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTORS AND STAFF

Brian Wilson - Director of Bands Mr. Wilson's involvement in band started back in the early 90's at Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX.  There he spent his years playing trombone and tuba and eventually became drum major his senior year as well as achieving many other honors and awards. After graduating from Marcus, Mr. Wilson attended Texas Tech University and majored in Music Education.  While studying music, Mr. Wilson stayed involved by participating in as many clubs and organizations as he could. He was a tuba player in the 1999 Sudler Trophy winner, The Goin' Band from Raiderland from 1997-2000.  He later became drum major of the Goin' Band from 2000-2002. He was treasurer of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity for three years and was an active member in MENC. Among all of his roles in the music building, Mr. Wilson somehow found time to be involved in other organizations across campus. He was in the Gordon/Bledsoe/Sneed Complex Council his freshman year and was Vice President of Tours for President's Select his last two years at Texas Tech. Once his time at Texas Tech was complete, Mr. Wilson was Assistant Director of Bands under Will Burks at Lubbock High School in Lubbock, TX.  His duties there included teaching beginning low brass at both J.T. Hutchinson and Lauro Cavasos Jr. High School as well as assisting those directors with their varsity bands.  At Lubbock High School, he was director of the Instrumental Ensemble class and conductor of the Concert Band and assisted with the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. Since college, Mr. Wilson spends his summer months administering camps for MA Dance and Auxiliaries as a Clinic Director. His work there has taken him to all sorts of colleges and universities across the United States and given him many wonderful experiences teaching middle school and high school students. Mr. Wilson is very glad to be back home making music, and is looking forward to a long career in Denton ISD and with the Denton High School Band.

Brian Wilson - Director of Bands

Mr. Wilson's involvement in band started back in the early 90's at Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX.  There he spent his years playing trombone and tuba and eventually became drum major his senior year as well as achieving many other honors and awards.

After graduating from Marcus, Mr. Wilson attended Texas Tech University and majored in Music Education.  While studying music, Mr. Wilson stayed involved by participating in as many clubs and organizations as he could. He was a tuba player in the 1999 Sudler Trophy winner, The Goin' Band from Raiderland from 1997-2000.  He later became drum major of the Goin' Band from 2000-2002. He was treasurer of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity for three years and was an active member in MENC.

Among all of his roles in the music building, Mr. Wilson somehow found time to be involved in other organizations across campus. He was in the Gordon/Bledsoe/Sneed Complex Council his freshman year and was Vice President of Tours for President's Select his last two years at Texas Tech.

Once his time at Texas Tech was complete, Mr. Wilson was Assistant Director of Bands under Will Burks at Lubbock High School in Lubbock, TX.  His duties there included teaching beginning low brass at both J.T. Hutchinson and Lauro Cavasos Jr. High School as well as assisting those directors with their varsity bands.  At Lubbock High School, he was director of the Instrumental Ensemble class and conductor of the Concert Band and assisted with the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.

Since college, Mr. Wilson spends his summer months administering camps for MA Dance and Auxiliaries as a Clinic Director. His work there has taken him to all sorts of colleges and universities across the United States and given him many wonderful experiences teaching middle school and high school students.

Mr. Wilson is very glad to be back home making music, and is looking forward to a long career in Denton ISD and with the Denton High School Band.

Mr. Phillip Elder-Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Percussion Studies    Mr. Elder is joining us this year as the Director of Percussion after spending 2 years as an Assistant Director of Percussion for Independence High School in Frisco ISD.  A 2012 graduate of the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, Mr. Elder spent time studying both music education and composition, practicing composition with Dr. Rob Smith and percussion with Dr. Blake Wilkins. As a composer, He is the winner of the 2011 Sarofim Composer's Award, and a finalist in the 2012 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. Highlights of his commissioned works include a percussion duet by the AURA Contemporary Ensemble, a song cycle for the Houston Grand Opera’s HGO Co, and a piano trio for Da Camera of Houston. As a percussionist, he performed with every top ensemble at the Moores School of Music, including a showcase concert in 2010 with the Moores School Percussion Ensemble at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana featuring five world premier percussion ensembles. He also spent the summer of 2009 as a member of the front ensemble for the Santa Clara Vanguard. He currently resides in Frisco with his wife, Hailey, and their small family of pets. In his free time, he enjoys good coffee and a nice round of golf. Professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society and Texas Music Educators Association.

Mr. Phillip Elder-Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Percussion Studies  

Mr. Elder is joining us this year as the Director of Percussion after spending 2 years as an Assistant Director of Percussion for Independence High School in Frisco ISD.  A 2012 graduate of the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, Mr. Elder spent time studying both music education and composition, practicing composition with Dr. Rob Smith and percussion with Dr. Blake Wilkins. As a composer, He is the winner of the 2011 Sarofim Composer's Award, and a finalist in the 2012 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. Highlights of his commissioned works include a percussion duet by the AURA Contemporary Ensemble, a song cycle for the Houston Grand Opera’s HGO Co, and a piano trio for Da Camera of Houston. As a percussionist, he performed with every top ensemble at the Moores School of Music, including a showcase concert in 2010 with the Moores School Percussion Ensemble at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana featuring five world premier percussion ensembles. He also spent the summer of 2009 as a member of the front ensemble for the Santa Clara Vanguard. He currently resides in Frisco with his wife, Hailey, and their small family of pets. In his free time, he enjoys good coffee and a nice round of golf. Professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society and Texas Music Educators Association.

Mr. Jesse Woolery - Associate Director of Bands, Director of Jazz Studies Jesse Woolery has served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies at Denton High School since 2007. He is the music caption head for the DHS Pride of Bronco Country Marching Band, directs the Symphonic Band and guides all aspects of the jazz program which includes three full big bands and the newly formed DHS gospel ensemble. Woolery also is the Founder and Co- Director of the Chet Baker Educational Jazz Festival which is hosted each spring in Denton. As well UIL success in both concert and marching band Mr. Woolery has directed groups from DHS at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Apex Jazz Festival, University of North Texas Educational Leadership Conference, the Thinline Film Festival, and the Southwestern American Music Therapy Conference. Additionally, the jazz band has been selected as a mainstage performer at the Jazz Education Network Conference and was a national finalist in the Swing Central Jazz Competition. As a performer and educator, Jesse Woolery has collaborated with Jeff Clayton, N’awlins Gumbo Kings, Miss Polly and Her Tiny Big Band, Earth Wind and Fire’s Bobby Burns Jr., Brave Combo, the University of North Texas One O’ Clock Lab Band, Brad Leali, Noel Johnston and New York City based dance company BODYART. Mr. Woolery received a Perry R. Bass Fellowship Award for his contribution to music education as a graduate student, named twice as Denton Independent School District’s Top Graduate Educator of Influence, appointed as an Educational Leader and Mentor of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, named Denton High School Teacher of the Year, and named a “Friend of the Arts” by Sigma Alpha Iota’s Iota Omega chapter for his support of music at the local and regional level. He was also inducted into the Newton High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Prior to coming to Denton ISD Jesse Woolery was the Director of Bands at Boyd Middle School in Boyd ISD and T. W. Browne Middle School in Dallas ISD. More recently he was on faculty and served as Camp Director of Bocal Majority/ Operation O.B.O.E. and taught jazz and music education at Texas Woman’s University. As a professional public address announcer he can be heard every UNT home football game announcing pregame and halftime for the Green Brigade Marching Band and the North Texas Dancers. He has also announces regularly for DCI, USBands, BOA, DCA, and the Golden Triangle Marching Classic.    Mr. Woolery is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education with concentrations in bassoon, saxophone, and voice. While at the University of North Texas, he performed in the Jazz Lab Bands on tenor saxophone and the UNT Wind Symphony on bassoon. His name appears on recordings of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA. Woolery received his master’s degree in music education from Texas Woman’s University, where his active research focused on health risks of being a public school band director. His research has been presented at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention Poster Session and has been published in Texas Music Education Research Online.  Jesse Woolery lives with his wife and two daughters on a hobby farm west of Denton, TX. 

Mr. Jesse Woolery - Associate Director of Bands, Director of Jazz Studies

Jesse Woolery has served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies at Denton High School since 2007. He is the music caption head for the DHS Pride of Bronco Country Marching Band, directs the Symphonic Band and guides all aspects of the jazz program which includes three full big bands and the newly formed DHS gospel ensemble. Woolery also is the Founder and Co- Director of the Chet Baker Educational Jazz Festival which is hosted each spring in Denton. As well UIL success in both concert and marching band Mr. Woolery has directed groups from DHS at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Apex Jazz Festival, University of North Texas Educational Leadership Conference, the Thinline Film Festival, and the Southwestern American Music Therapy Conference. Additionally, the jazz band has been selected as a mainstage performer at the Jazz Education Network Conference and was a national finalist in the Swing Central Jazz Competition.

As a performer and educator, Jesse Woolery has collaborated with Jeff Clayton, N’awlins Gumbo Kings, Miss Polly and Her Tiny Big Band, Earth Wind and Fire’s Bobby Burns Jr., Brave Combo, the University of North Texas One O’ Clock Lab Band, Brad Leali, Noel Johnston and New York City based dance company BODYART.

Mr. Woolery received a Perry R. Bass Fellowship Award for his contribution to music education as a graduate student, named twice as Denton Independent School District’s Top Graduate Educator of Influence, appointed as an Educational Leader and Mentor of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, named Denton High School Teacher of the Year, and named a “Friend of the Arts” by Sigma Alpha Iota’s Iota Omega chapter for his support of music at the local and regional level. He was also inducted into the Newton High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame.

Prior to coming to Denton ISD Jesse Woolery was the Director of Bands at Boyd Middle School in Boyd ISD and T. W. Browne Middle School in Dallas ISD. More recently he was on faculty and served as Camp Director of Bocal Majority/ Operation O.B.O.E. and taught jazz and music education at Texas Woman’s University. As a professional public address announcer he can be heard every UNT home football game announcing pregame and halftime for the Green Brigade Marching Band and the North Texas Dancers. He has also announces regularly for DCI, USBands, BOA, DCA, and the Golden Triangle Marching Classic.   

Mr. Woolery is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education with concentrations in bassoon, saxophone, and voice. While at the University of North Texas, he performed in the Jazz Lab Bands on tenor saxophone and the UNT Wind Symphony on bassoon. His name appears on recordings of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA. Woolery received his master’s degree in music education from Texas Woman’s University, where his active research focused on health risks of being a public school band director. His research has been presented at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention Poster Session and has been published in Texas Music Education Research Online. 

Jesse Woolery lives with his wife and two daughters on a hobby farm west of Denton, TX. 

Ms. Ashley Maldonado - Color Guard Director Ms. Maldonado is excited to be joining the Denton High School Band staff as color guard director.  She will oversee and direct training of all high school and middle school color guard members as well as the coordination of color guard and winter guard activities.  She received her training at the University of North Texas where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies. Ms. Maldonado is an experienced color guard director having worked with many programs in the North Texas area including McKinney North High School, Sherman High School, Richardson High School, and Timber Creek High School.  Ms. Maldonado also has an extensive performance background in DCI and WGI.  She is a proud alumnus of the 2005 Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and the 2006 Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps; in additions to several local WGI independent winterguards including Insignia- 2007, Black Gold- 2008-2009, and Ars Nova 2010.

Ms. Ashley Maldonado - Color Guard Director

Ms. Maldonado is excited to be joining the Denton High School Band staff as color guard director.  She will oversee and direct training of all high school and middle school color guard members as well as the coordination of color guard and winter guard activities.  She received her training at the University of North Texas where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies.

Ms. Maldonado is an experienced color guard director having worked with many programs in the North Texas area including McKinney North High School, Sherman High School, Richardson High School, and Timber Creek High School.  Ms. Maldonado also has an extensive performance background in DCI and WGI.  She is a proud alumnus of the 2005 Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and the 2006 Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps; in additions to several local WGI independent winterguards including Insignia- 2007, Black Gold- 2008-2009, and Ars Nova 2010.