DENTON HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTORS AND STAFF

Mr. Brian Wilson - Director of Bands Mr. Wilson's joined the POBC staff in 2006 as Associate Director of Bands and has served as Director of Bands since 2007. 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 serving as drum major his senior year. After graduating from Marcus, Mr. Wilson attended Texas Tech University where he majored in Music Education. While studying music, Mr. Wilson stayed involved in campus life, participating in many clubs and organizations. His major area of involvement was playing tuba player in the 1999 Sudler Trophy winner, The Goin' Band from Raiderland from 1997-2000. His freshman year, Mr. Wilson joined Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity and was also an active member in MENC now known as the National Association for Music Education. Before ending his tenure at TECH, Mr. Wilson served as drum major of the Goin' Band from 2000-2002. Among all of his roles in the music building, Mr. Wilson found other ways to be involved across campus. He was in the Gordon/Bledsoe/Sneed Complex Council and gave campus tours through President's Select, serving as their Vice President of Tours his senior year. Once his time at Texas Tech was complete, Mr. Wilson joined the staff at Lubbock High School as Assistant Director of Bands under the direction of Will Burks. His duties there included director of the Concert Band, director of the LHS Instrumental Ensemble, assisting the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, and teaching beginning low brass at both J.T. Hutchinson and Lauro Cavasos Jr. High Schools. 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 holds a bachelor of music degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Texas. He is very glad to be back home making music, and hopes for a long career at Denton High School Band.

Mr. Brian Wilson - Director of Bands

Mr. Wilson's joined the POBC staff in 2006 as Associate Director of Bands and has served as Director of Bands since 2007. 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 serving as drum major his senior year.

After graduating from Marcus, Mr. Wilson attended Texas Tech University where he majored in Music Education. While studying music, Mr. Wilson stayed involved in campus life, participating in many clubs and organizations. His major area of involvement was playing tuba player in the 1999 Sudler Trophy winner, The Goin' Band from Raiderland from 1997-2000. His freshman year, Mr. Wilson joined Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity and was also an active member in MENC now known as the National Association for Music Education. Before ending his tenure at TECH, Mr. Wilson served as drum major of the Goin' Band from 2000-2002.

Among all of his roles in the music building, Mr. Wilson found other ways to be involved across campus. He was in the Gordon/Bledsoe/Sneed Complex Council and gave campus tours through President's Select, serving as their Vice President of Tours his senior year.

Once his time at Texas Tech was complete, Mr. Wilson joined the staff at Lubbock High School as Assistant Director of Bands under the direction of Will Burks. His duties there included director of the Concert Band, director of the LHS Instrumental Ensemble, assisting the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, and teaching beginning low brass at both J.T. Hutchinson and Lauro Cavasos Jr. High Schools.

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 holds a bachelor of music degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Texas. He is very glad to be back home making music, and hopes for a long career at 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 as UIL success in both concert/ sight reading and marching band, Mr. Woolery has directed groups from DHS at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Apex Jazz Festival, the 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 main stage performer at the Jazz Education Network Conference, was a national finalist in the Swing Central Jazz Competition in conjunction with the Savannah Music Festival, and was the 2017 national commended winner of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence National Jazz Honors and named the National winners in 2016 and 2018. Mr. Woolery won 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 the 2012 Denton High School Teacher of the Year, voted by the student body as a “Senior Grade Level Favorite Teacher”, 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, and named to the “Healthcare For All Founders Community” of the Denton Community Health Clinic. He was also inducted into the Newton High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame for his “Dedicated and Devoted Service to the Musical Arts Profession”. Mr. Woolery received a 2017 Repeat Director's Award from Festival Disney in Orlando, Fl. 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, Brad Leali, Noel Johnston and New York City-based dance company BODYART. His name appears on recordings of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA. Woolery previously served as the Director of Jazz Bands at Texas Woman's University and taught in their music education department. In addition, he served as the camp director of Bocal Majority Double Reed Camps and has extensive experience administering music camps throughout the United States. Prior to coming to Denton ISD Jesse Woolery was the Director of Bands at Boyd Middle School in Boyd, TX, and Director of Bands at T. W. Browne Middle School in Dallas, TX. 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 announced 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. Woolery received his master’s degree in music education from Texas Woman’s University. His scholarly research has been presented at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and has been published in Texas Music Education Research Online. Jesse Woolery resides with his wife and 3 children on their 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 as UIL success in both concert/ sight reading and marching band, Mr. Woolery has directed groups from DHS at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Apex Jazz Festival, the 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 main stage performer at the Jazz Education Network Conference, was a national finalist in the Swing Central Jazz Competition in conjunction with the Savannah Music Festival, and was the 2017 national commended winner of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence National Jazz Honors and named the National winners in 2016 and 2018.

Mr. Woolery won 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 the 2012 Denton High School Teacher of the Year, voted by the student body as a “Senior Grade Level Favorite Teacher”, 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, and named to the “Healthcare For All Founders Community” of the Denton Community Health Clinic. He was also inducted into the Newton High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame for his “Dedicated and Devoted Service to the Musical Arts Profession”. Mr. Woolery received a 2017 Repeat Director's Award from Festival Disney in Orlando, Fl.

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, Brad Leali, Noel Johnston and New York City-based dance company BODYART. His name appears on recordings of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA.

Woolery previously served as the Director of Jazz Bands at Texas Woman's University and taught in their music education department. In addition, he served as the camp director of Bocal Majority Double Reed Camps and has extensive experience administering music camps throughout the United States. Prior to coming to Denton ISD Jesse Woolery was the Director of Bands at Boyd Middle School in Boyd, TX, and Director of Bands at T. W. Browne Middle School in Dallas, TX. 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 announced 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. Woolery received his master’s degree in music education from Texas Woman’s University. His scholarly research has been presented at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and has been published in Texas Music Education Research Online.

Jesse Woolery resides with his wife and 3 children on their hobby farm west of Denton, TX.

Ms. Ashley Maldonado - Color Guard Director Ms. Maldonado is excited to be on 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 winter guards including Insignia- 2007, Black Gold- 2008-2009, and Ars Nova 2010.

Ms. Ashley Maldonado - Color Guard Director

Ms. Maldonado is excited to be on 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 winter guards including Insignia- 2007, Black Gold- 2008-2009, and Ars Nova 2010.