Laura Lawson
817-319-1820
LauraLawson@musicmatters.online
Mrs. Lawson was born and raised in Mansfield, Texas, and began studying music (piano lessons) at the age of 8. Four years later, Laura encountered an opportunity to learn to play horn, and found a new musical passion by doing so. Following her education at Cross Timbers Intermediate School, T.A. Howard Middle School, and Mansfield Summit High School, Laura began her college studies in music education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. In 2011, she continued her studies in music at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. She graduated with honors from FSU’s College of Music with her degree in Music Therapy & Music Performance, as well as an emphasis in Music in Special Education & Psychology, and full certification to perform NICU Music Therapy. A few months following graduation, Mrs. Lawson opened her own small business known as MusicMatters, LLC., which allows her to provide music lessons (horn, piano, voice, and guitar), as well as masterclasses, camps, group music lessons, marching band, performances, and as-needed services to students and families.
During and prior to her undergraduate studies, Mrs. Lawson performed in prestige venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas’ Majestic Hall, Fort Worth’s Bass Hall, and within the recording studio at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California. During her collegiate experience, Laura performed with the Sandestin Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the Destin Pops Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Banff Music Festival Chamber Winds, and the Sinfonietta of Fort Worth. Along with performing with professional groups, Laura consistently performed with the top ensembles in the University setting, including Symphony Orchestras, Wind Orchestras, Musical Pit Orchestras, Chamber Orchestras, Horn Choirs, Wind Symphony, and several Graduate Student Brass and Woodwind Quintets.
Laura has been invited to perform and participate in selective summer music festivals, including the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, Aspen Music Festival, and Banff Masterclass Festival in Banff, Alberta. Laura has been invited as a guest artist and teacher to various summer camps, masterclasses, and private teaching opportunities in the United States.
Laura has studied with influential horn instructors, such as Kendall Betts, Bernhard Scully, Bill VerMeulen, Janet Nye, Michael Hatfield, Ted Thayer, David Heyde, Alton Adkins, Jesse McCormick, Lin Foulk, Gabriel Radford, Eldon Matlick, and Brian Brown.
Laura and her husband reside in Lavon with their outgoing and bubbly dog, Mally.
Tyler Stewart is beginning his first year as the Assistant Percussion Director at Wylie East High School. Tyler is a percussion educator, arranger, and audio engineer from Huntington, WV. Over the years, he has spent countless hours playing, teaching, and exploring the wonderful world of music! In Texas, Tyler has spent time as a percussion specialist and lesson teacher at Kennedale ISD, Mesquite ISD, and Venus ISD. Outside of Texas, he has served as the front ensemble director for Ravenwood High School – TN, Hurricane High School – WV, Avon Lake High School – OH, Cap City Indoor Percussion, and Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps.
Tyler holds a Bachelors in Music Performance from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. In his time at Marshall University, he was an active performer in the percussion ensemble, jazz ensembles, concert bands, orchestra, choirs, musical theater, and marching band. In 2012, Tyler had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad at the Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) in Goiânia, Brazil. In Brazil, he immersed himself in the immensely musical Brazilian culture and studied Brazilian percussion, portuguese, and Brazilian popular music.
After graduating from Marshall, Tyler briefly pursued a Masters in Science in Audio Engineering at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. At Belmont, he spent his time learning about audio recording, live sound engineering, acoustics, audio programming, and sound design for motion pictures. While in Nashville, Tyler also worked as percussion educator, live sound engineer, co-produced one album, and assisted in the production of The Wood Brothers Album, One Drop of Truth.
As a performer, Tyler has played professionally with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and in many musical theater productions. In 2010 and 2011, he participated in Drum Corps International as a drum set and vibraphone player for Music CIty Drum & Bugle Corps. In 2013 and 2014, he also participated in Winter Guard International as a vibraphone and marimba player for Gateway Indoor Percussion Ensemble.
When not teaching music, you can find Tyler hiking and biking in nature, sipping on finely brewed coffees, exploring all the towns/neighborhoods of DFW, or playing with his two cats, Sombra and Cleo. When it comes to sports, he is a big fan of Indycar and Formula1 racing and enjoys watching the occasional hockey match. Tyler is excited to be a part of the ongoing success at Wylie ISD!
Barry Martin studied music education at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) with an emphasis on percussion studies until 2018. While there he performed in many ensembles affiliated with SFA and professionally outside of the campus.
Ensembles like the Longview Symphony Orchestra, SFA’s Wind Ensemble, latin bands, jazz bands, and more. In 2017 Barry auditioned and received a spot with the Disneyland Resort All American College Band, Anaheim California. While working for Disney, he performed as a percussionist and jazz vocalist with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians such as Wayne Bergeron, Gordon Goodwin, John Clayton, and Greg Fields just to name a few. Martin is also a jazz pianist and vocalist that performs all over Texas.
Mr. Martin was recently the Assistant Band Director of percussion at South Garland High School, which was his first official teaching job out of college. Prior to that he spent his time helping and teaching percussion programs around Tyler, and Nacogdoches, TX.
Mr. Martin enjoys working with all students ranging from K-12. His passion for music and music education derives from his experiences with the musicians, mentors, and colleagues he’s met and watched over his career so far.
Students under Barry have performed in All-Region Bands, All-State Bands, All-State Jazz Bands, and received many other accolades.
Barry currently resides in Garland, TX with his wife.
Rylan Taylor
(972) 467-6887
RylanTaylor@LionsmaneMusic.org
Rylan Taylor was born in Garland, Texas and raised in Murphy, Texas. He began his musical journey singing in his church choir, and began trumpet in the 6th grade. Rylan’s love of music was cultivated in Wylie ISD band programs, inspired by Mike Kramen (Ret.) at Draper Intermediate School, Adam Powell and Misty Smith at Cooper Junior High, and Todd Dixon, Time Andersen (Ret.), Mark Schroeder, and Steve Lisko at Wylie High School, where he graduated in 2016. After his time in Wylie, Rylan studied music at Texas A&M University – Commerce, graduating with a Bachelors of Music, with an emphasis in secondary instrumental education. While at TAMUC, Rylan consistently performed with the Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, and served in a leadership role for the “Pride” Marching Band. Highlight performance of his college career include the Wind Ensemble’s 2018 TMEA concert, performing David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4, and the “Pride” Marching Band’s 2019 exhibition performance at BOA Grand National Finals. Now a graduate, Rylan is building his trumpet studio in the metroplex area and developing a small business, LionsmaneMusic, LLC., through which he provides private trumpet lessons, teaches masterclasses, clinics, marching band, and performs as a freelance musician.
Rylan has studied with many incredible trumpet instructors, including Dr. Daniel Kelly, Tim Andersen, Chad Daigle, and Woody Yenne. Beyond trumpet Rylan has studied brass pedagogy with Jimmy Clark and Mike Morrow, both former members of the Dallas Opera Orchestra, and actively studies the people and teachings of the legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass section. He continues to study with top professionals in the metroplex area and is continually seeking out knowledge, wisdom and expertise from exceptional musicians.
Rylan lives in Wylie where he enjoys swimming, building scale models, arranging music for brass choir, and studying the writings of C.S. Lewis.
Quincey Jarmon
qjbomb1@yahoo.com
Quincey Jarmon, aka “Mr. Q”, has been an active percussionist for 37 years, and is currently the Assistant Percussion Coordinator for the Rockwall-Heath high school percussion program. In addition, he also conducts private lessons for Rockwall ISD, and Wylie ISD. Originally from San Diego, California, Mr. Q grew up in a very musical family. He started out singing in the gospel church choir, as well as playing drumset, at the age of 4. He then moved to Texas at the age of 12, and began band in the 6th grade in Cleburne, Texas. While attending Cleburne Junior High, and Cleburne High School, Mr. Q was under the direction of Dick Helmcamp, Alan G. Reed, C. Randy Jones, Susan Ishii, Carl Kling, Todd Dixon, and Leon Ewell. He marched in the award-winning “Golden Pride of Cleburne High” band, played drumset for the Cleburne “Transition” Jazz Band, and played in the Wind Ensemble for all 4 years. After high school, Mr. Q attended Hill College in Hillsboro, TX, Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, TX (B.A.- Music Education), and did postgraduate work at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, TX. He marched with DCI’s Madison Scouts in 1999, and toured with gospel artist Hezekiah Walker on drumset from 2001-2004.
Mr. Q has instructed several percussion programs over the last 20 years all over the state of Texas, earning various accolades at competitions, and placing many students in the All-Region, All-Area, and All-State bands in the TMEA and ATSSB organizations. He resides in Rowlett, TX, where he loves spending his free time fishing, enjoying good food, and watching sports. Mr. Q is a proud endorser of Tama/Bergerault percussion instruments, Gon Bops percussion instruments, Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Salyers Percussion sticks and mallets.
Jonathan De La Cruz
(830) 776-3027
delacruzjonathanmusic@gmail.com
Jonathan De La Cruz, a South Texas native, is an active freelance trumpet player and music educator in the DFW area. Mr. De La Cruz recently finished his M.M. in Jazz Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where he studied with Pat Harbison and John Raymond; for his B.M. at Texas A&M University Kingsville, he studied under Dr. Kyle Millsap.
While at Indiana, Jonathan served as a lecturer at Depauw University as well as a Musical Director at Indiana University. In his time as a student at Indiana University, he performed with several groups including Indiana University’s Brent Wallarab Jazz Ensemble, the John Raymond Jazz Ensemble, the Wayne Wallace/Michael Spiro Latin Jazz Ensemble, Soneros de La Caliza and was the founder of Mariachi Perla del Medio Oeste.
While at Texas A&M University Kingsville, Mr. De La Cruz served as Principal of the Wind Symphony, as well as a frequent soloist and lead player for the Jazz Ensemble 1. Professionally, Mr. De La Cruz has appeared with many bands around Texas and Indiana and maintains a steady performance schedule of Black American Music and commercial music. One of his most notable memberships was to the Grammy award winning band “The Chris Perez Project.” He is currently a Brass Teaching Artist with the Dallas Symphony Education Department and private lesson teacher in the DFW area.
De’Marcus Walker
(903)-571-8862
demarcusw@gmail.com
From Tyler, Texas, De’Marcus Walker is a professional musician, composer, and educator. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of North Texas where he studied music education and received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Brass Award. He served on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and as Sousaphone Section Leader of the Green Brigade Marching Band.
With over twenty years of experience, De’Marcus has performed tuba with extraordinary artists and ensembles: The Dallas Brass, The International Tuba & Euphonium Association All-Star Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, The UNT Symphonic Band, and the Texas 5A All-State Symphonic Band (two years consecutively). He has been teaching privately for over seven years and maintains a studio of approximately 60 students.
In addition to Tuba, De’Marcus offers Jazz Improvisation Lessons; open to all instruments. January 2018, he released his highly anticipated debut album, “Salt and Light.” It features Grammy Award-Winning musicians from Snarky Puppy, The Funky Knuckles, Ghost-Note, Forq, and more! From bass guitar, to tuba and piano, De’Marcus pours his entire heart into the record.
Mark Finley
214-649-1307
fourfinleys@gmail.com
Mark Finley has been teaching Tuba and Euphonium private lessons continuously since 1987. In this time he has guided many students all the way to the All-State level, and especially enjoys working with Tuba/Euphonium ensembles. He holds a Bachelors of Music degree with education certification from the University of Texas at Arlington, and plays tuba with the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 1995. He also teaches and plays Electric Bass in his church´s worship band, and also with Creekbend Classic Rock, a popular DFW cover band.
Kirsten J. Guerra
432-770-3730
kirstenjguerra@gmail.com
Kirsten Guerra is a multi-talented musician from West Texas with expansive knowledge in music. During her college career, she has performed with the West Texas A&M Symphonic band and the Texas Tech Wind ensemble in which both ensembles were featured at the Texas Music Educators Association. She has also performed with community ensembles such as the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to performing in traditional concert settings, Kirsten has also made appearances in a variety of other venues such as pubs and theaters. She enjoys a variety of musical styles that range from metal to classical.
As a student she has been awarded numerous prestigious awards and scholarships such as the John Phillip Sousa award, the Texas Music Educators Association scholarship award, the Gary Garner scholarship award, and the West Texas A&M Outstanding Bands-Woman award. She was also drum major of the West Texas A&M Buffalo Marching Band for 2 years. She graduated from West Texas A&M University with a bachelors in music education all level certification and then went to Texas Tech University to receive a masters in flute performance.
She currently attends Texas Woman’s University where she is pursuing a degree in flute pedagogy. Kirsten was a student of Ms. Sally Turk, Dr. Mark Trimble, Dr. Lisa Garner Santa, and currently studies flute under Dr. Pamela Youngblood.
Rahim Rupani
972-897-8855
Rahimzrupani@gmail.com
Rahim Rupani holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he studied under Tim Ishii. While at UTA, Rahim performed with the Wind Symphony, Musical Theatre Pit, Jazz ensemble, Marching Band, and Symphony Orchestra, where he performed Bolero and Rhapsody in Blue on tenor saxophone. Rupani has performed numerous times with the Subito! Saxophone Quartet in various recitals and local tours as well as being featured at the Society of Composers, Inc. Regional Conference in Arlington, TX. He has also performed in the CCBC Orchestra and jazz band, the Dallas Civic Wind Ensemble, Allen Philharmonic Winds, and has taken part in performances at TMEA, and at the CBDNA in Boulder, Colorado.
Rupani leads a diverse saxophone studio composing of middle and high school students in Irving, Mckinney, Allen, and Wylie ISD. His students have gone on to compete at the All-City, Region, Area, and State level, and have received superior ratings at the UIL Solo and Ensemble competition. Lastly, he participated in Drum Corps International playing euphonium for Genesis and Blue Knights (6th place), respectively in 2014 and 2015.
Rahim is a native of Plano, TX and enjoys playing guitar, writing music, cooking, and practicing his swing at the batting cages.
Steven Robinson
620-664-2257
StevenRobinson@my.unt.edu
Steven Robinson is a clarinetist from Hutchinson, Kansas and is currently working with That Wylie Band as a visual and music instructor as well as a private clarinet instructor in the ISD. He is attending University of North Texas as a graduate student studying a masters degree in clarinet performance with Dr. Phillip Paglialonga.
Steven graduated from Kansas State University in 2019 with a bachelor of music education, cum laude. While at Kansas State, he performed with the Kansas State University Wind Ensemble for four years, three as the principal clarinetist/section leader. Steven performed with the Kansas State University Orchestra as the principal clarinetist for four years. He also participated in the Kansas State University Marching Band playing in the sousaphone section where he was assistant section leader in 2017 and head section leader in 2018.
As a student, Steven has won several prestigious awards. Those include the following;
Steven’s teachers include Jay Steinburg (Bethany College, Linsdborg, KS), Sarunas Jankauskas (Wichita State University, Wichita, KS), Jim Jones (Profesor Emeritus – Wichita State University, Wichita, KS), Tod Kerstetter (Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS).
Steven and his wife live in Lewisville, TX and are enjoying getting used to Texas and its culture after living in Kansas their whole life so far.
Dr. Brian Conklin
214-315-0382
bconklin7@hotmail.com
Dr. Brian Conklin is a graduate of Boston University, Yale University, and the University of Iowa. He has studied with Ronald Barron, John Swallow, Dr. David Gier, and Julie Josephson. Conklin has also studied brass chamber music with members of the Empire, Atlantic, St. Louis, and New York Brass Quintets. He has performed with the Waco, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, and Shreveport Symphony Orchestras as well as the Dallas Wind Symphony.
Conklin was a member of national touring productions of the Broadway musicals Oklahoma and Oliver. He also has appeared with the TCU Trombone Choir as a guest soloist. Additionally, Conklin is a founding member of the trombone quartet Resonant Projection, which has performed at numerous colleges, universities, and events. Over his 15 year teaching career, his students have regularly participated in All-State, All- Region, and All-District bands. Students from Conklin’s studio also have been accepted into internationally acclaimed college low brass studios and awarded over $250,000 in music based college scholarships, grants, and waivers.
Recently, he has been invited to perform and teach alongside the trombone section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and international jazz artist Marshall Gilkes at the University of Georgia Trombone Summit in May 2018. Conklin is an Artist & Clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company.
Rob Jones
469-964-2413
robjones2@verizon.net
Corey Anderson
972-827-5541
Corey.a.anderson97@gmail.com
Corey is a Dallas native, who recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Tuba Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education. While at Tech he was a finalist for various solo competitions, and his brass quintet, “Faust Brass,” was invited to perform at the Nebraska Chamber Music Institute, with ensembles from around the world. He also taught extensively in the Lubbock Area during his time there. He now teaches throughout the DFW area as a private tuba instructor. He currently resides in Allen, Texas, with his dog Finley.
Josh Lawson
972-762-2748
joshwlawson@outlook.com
Joshua is from Wylie, TX where he graduated Wylie High School in 2009. His directors in high school included, Mike Lipe, Tim Andersen, and Todd Dixon. He performed in events such as the state marching contest, Winter Park ski music festival, UIL solo and ensemble contest, and Music for All National Festival. Joshua began studying music at the age of 11 at Harrison Intermediate School with Abe Castellano in beginner euphonium class. Joshua developed a deep passion of the euphonium and from that point on and wanted to pursue a career in music.
Joshua continued his studies at Collin College in Plano, TX where he studied euphonium with Aaron Rader. He also performed regularly in a brass band under the direction of Travis Smith, head director at Williams High School in Plano, TX. Joshua transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington in the fall of 2011. He continued to study euphonium with Ed Jones, principal Tuba in the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In 2013, Joshua furthered his studies with Mike Hayes, Assistant Principal Trombone, Tenor Tuba/Euphonium, and Bass Trumpet with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Joshua performed with the UT Arlington Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, and he had the opportunity to perform in the Symphony Orchestra playing the famous, Planets Suite for Large Orchestra by Gustav Holst. During his time at UT Arlington he performed in prestigious venues such as, Lila Cockrell Theatre, Meyerson Symphony Center, and Caruth Auditorium. Beyond his collegiate career, Joshua continues to perform in prestige venues. He was invited as a guest solo artist with the Wylie Community Band in July of 2016, and continues aspiring for solo opportunities.
He is currently a private lessons teacher in Euphonium for Wylie ISD and Euphonium/Tuba for Lovejoy ISD. Joshua is a member of TMEA and ITEA, and is an attendee during these yearly conferences. Every year, Joshua attends Tuba Christmas, an annual gathering of Tuba and Euphonium players of all ages to celebrate and play holiday music at Thanksgiving Square in Dallas, TX. For more info go to www.tubachristmas.com
Andrew Wilson
wilsonbass88@gmail.com
Andrew Wilson grew up in Sherman, Texas, where he attended Sherman High School. He played trombone in the Bearcat Band, and studied trombone with Brian Davis, Principal Euphonium of the Dallas Winds. He attended Texas A&M University-Commerce in the fall of 2006, where he studied trombone with Jimmy Clark, Principal Trombone of the Dallas Winds and Dallas Opera, and Jeff Baker, Principal Tuba of the Dallas Opera. Andrew has also studied with Barney McCollum, bass trombonist of The Dallas Winds, and Daniel Brady, bass trombonist of The President’s Own Marine Band.
While attending TAMU-C, Andrew performed in the Pride Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Mane Attraction Jazz Band, as well as in numerous chamber ensembles. In 2009, Andrew performed with the Mane Attraction Jazz Band at a gala honoring jazz singer Louise Tobin. Andrew has performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference as part of the university trombone choir, as well as at the 2013 Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C. Andrew Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education in the Spring of 2011, and again in 2014 with a Masters of Music Education.
Andrew began teaching private low brass lessons in the fall of 2011. He has taught at Sherman High School, Piner Middle School, RL Turner High School, Perry Middle School, Field Middle School, Newman Smith High School, Wills Point High School, and Wills Point Middle School. He began teaching in Wylie in 2016, as well as working with ‘That Wylie Band.’
Matthew Stookey
817-584-0665
m.stookey@outlook.com
Matthew Stookey is a saxophonist and teacher based in Garland, TX. Currently, Matthew teaches in the Wylie and Mesquite Independent School Districts where his students have received superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble competitions, in addition to earning seats in the All-Region, All-Region Jazz, All-Area, All-Area Jazz, and All-State Jazz bands. As a performer, Matthew has had the privilege of being invited to perform at the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance conference, TMEA Convention Music Showcase, and has performed at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center with the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble. Matthew also had the opportunity to tour China with the University of Northern Colorado Wind Ensemble.
Matthew holds a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance degree from Ithaca College, where he taught as a Graduate Assistant. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Matthew has studied with Dr. Steven Mauk, Dr. Andrew Dahlke, and Timothy Ishii. He is an alumni member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and a lifetime member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Matthew also serves as Co-Chair for the Ithaca College Council of Advocates Dallas Chapter.
Mr. Stookey was recently named an active member of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, which is one of the the few and most prestigious professional wind bands of its kind.
Lori Bryson
214-478-9783
brysonclarinets@verizon.net
I retired from classroom teaching in May 2010 after 30 years in the public schools, and have returned to my real passion – teaching students to play clarinet, one student at a time.
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Leslie Massenburg
469-387-7358
lesliebassoon@gmail.com
Leslie Massenburg began her musical studies with piano at the age of 5. She started playing the bassoon in 1995 and continued to Baylor University for her undergraduate degree in bassoon performance and piano pedagogy. She furthered her bassoon studies with a masters degree from Southern Methodist University and three years at the Aspen Summer Music Festival where she studied with Wilfred Roberts, principal with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Per Hannevold, principal of the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, respectively.
Kelly Diaz
kellydawndiaz@gmail.com
Kelly currently teaches private lessons in the Plano, Wylie, and Duncanville school districts. She teaches master classes in many areas around the Dallas-Fort Worth region as well. Kelly serves as a guest artist and substitute musician on oboe and English horn with professional ensembles in the area. She has played with the Louisville Symphony Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony, and the Dallas Wind Symphony, among others.
Kelly holds a Master of Music degree in Oboe Performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she earned a University Graduate Scholarship. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance from Southern Methodist University, where she was a University Scholar and Artistic Scholarship recipient. Kelly was a featured artist in the Viva Vivaldi International Music Festival in Mexico City, Mexico. She was also a member of the CCM Spoleto Music Festival in Spoleto, Italy.
Kelly is originally from San Antonio and was a TMEA All-State Musician in high school. She is excited to pass along quality knowledge of music and oboe skills to the students in the Wylie Independent School District.