forneyband

Mark Poole Director of Bands mark.poole@forneyisd.net	Mark Poole, originally from Mesquite, Texas, is in his third year as director of bands at Forney High School. Under his tenure, the Forney band has had great success. The band received twice, 1st divisions at all marching contests including being named a finalist at the 2007 Area C marching contest in 2007. The band has received over 300 medals at the UIL Solo and Ensemble contest and had over 100 students qualify for State. In the 2nd year of the Forney Winterguard (Casey Snead, director) and indoor percussion group (Mario Luna, director) the programs have placed in their divisions. The winterguard was promoted 3 times last season. Prior to his appointment at Forney, Mr. Poole was the director of bands at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas from 2003-2006, director of bands for the Jasper Independent School district from 2000-2003 and at Southwood High in school in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1998-2000. His bands received numerous sweepstakes awards and enjoyed great success at both the region and state levels (Texas and Louisiana). Under his direction at Nimitz, the band was named 5A Division champions at the 1st annual USSBA marching competition in fall 2005, receiving awards for most outstanding percussion, colorguard, music, and general effect. In Spring of 2005, the band won most Outstanding School as the Festival of Music in New Orleans, Louisiana, sweeping all captions in: Varsity band (Wind Ensemble), non-varsity band (Symphonic Band), Percussion, and winterguard. The Southwood band was selected to represent Louisiana in the National Festival of States in Washington, D.C. in April of 2000. In the fall of 2000, the Japer High School Band was awarded best overall band at the Northwestern State University marching contest. In 2003, the Symphonic band was awarded the OPS (Outstanding Performance Series) award from ATSSB. Mr. Poole received a degree in music education and saxophone performance from the University of North Texas in Denton. While there, he performed with many top performing organizations in both the classical and jazz idioms, serving as a principal player and section leader in many of those groups. He was under the tutelage of fine instructors such as: Robert Winslow, Dennis Fisher, Tim Ishi, Jim Riggs, and Eric Nestler. While obtaining his undergraduate, Mr. Poole taught private saxophone and clarinet in the D/FW area where his students had much success as both the regional and state level. After completing his undergraduate, Mr. Poole graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern State University the following year, receiving his Master’s degree in conducting. As graduate assistant he was director of the Symphony Band, jazz band, basketball pep-band, marching band assistant, director emeritus of the Wind Symphony. He also served as a private instructor and arranger for the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. In addition to his teaching, Mr. Poole has performed professionally with groups such as: Texas Wind Symphony, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Natchitoches Symphony Orchestra, Roy Clark, Ben Vereen, Bill Causey Big Band, Pete Peterson Big Band, Just Friends Big Band, and many other groups in the D/FW area. Mr. Poole also serves as a clinician/adjudicator in both Texas and Louisiana including guest conducting the NSU summer Honors Wind Camp (a group that consists of both Louisiana and Texas All-State musicians). Mr. Poole is a member of TMEA, TBA, and TMAA. He currently resides in Crandall with his wife Brandi and children Tanner, Taylor, Jake, and Alexis.
Mr. Mack Wood Asstiant Director of Bands mack.wood@forneyisd.net	Mr. Wood is 2000 graduate of Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas. He was a member of the Lewisville marching band and wind ensemble. He is a 2005 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and holds a bachelors degree in Music Education and a performance certificate. Mr. Wood was elected drum major of The Univeristy of Texas Longhorn Band from 2003-2005. He studied trumpet performance with Ray Sasaki and conducting with Craig Williams and Glenn Richter. Mr. Wood student taught in the spring of 2005 for Gary Faust at Akins High School in Austin, Texas. His previous position was assitant band director at Nimitz High School in Irving , Texas.
Mr. Mario Luna Percussion Instructor mario.luna@forneyisd.net	Mr. Luna is a 1998 Texas Scholar graduate of Harlingen South High School. He is an alumist of Coakley Middle School band program in Harlingen than has been named Texas State Honor Band twice. While in high school he was a member of the award winning concert band, symphonic band, jazz band, and the Harlingen South Percussion ensemble under the direction of Mr. Dennis Lester. The percussion ensemble under his senior leadership received the Best in class trophy in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1998. He marched two years as corps commander and center snare for the Legend of Texas Drum & Bugle Corps from Lubbock, Texas and spent one summer with Southwind Drum and Bugle corps as a support staff member. He was the percussion consultant for Elliott Grant, Baker, and Tom Browne Middle Schools as well as director of percussion studies at Carroll High School in Corpus Christi for four years. Many of the percussionists at these schools received numerous awards including four years of first divisions with the Carroll HS Percussion Ensemble at the region level and advancing to the state level all four years. The Carroll HS Percussion Ensemble was awarded Most Outstanding Percussion Ensemble at the first annual Drum Fest in Victoria, Texas in May 2004. The Carroll Percussion Ensemble gave a showcase percussion concert on the same stage with the University of Texas Percussion Ensemble. He graduated in May of 2004 from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi with a degree in music education. He has performed and played with the Del Mar College Jazz band II, lead drumset player for the Del Mar College MWF Jazz band, Del Mar College Percussion Ensemble, TAMUCC Percussion Ensemble, TAMUCC basketball band, section leader for the TAMUCC Concert band, Corpus Christi Wind Symphony, Corpus Christi Municipal Band, and currently performs with the Metropolitan Winds of Dallas/Forth Worth. He is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, and a member of the world's largest music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha, where he has held the office of secretary and treasurer for the school year of 2000 and 2001. He has studied with Dr. James Rennier, principal timpanist for the Corpus Christi Symphony, Mr. Paul Bowman, Mr. Gustavo Aguilar, Mr. Dennis Lester and learned many great things from Dr. Paul Bissell. In September of 2001, he was awarded the REMO scholarship to attend the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Only eight scholarships were given to society members around the world. In September of 2003, he was awarded the Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Student Spotlight Award for his contribution and success at TAMUCC. Mr. Luna is currently the assistant band director at Forney High School. His previous position was at Bowie Middle School in Irving, Texas and percussion corrdinator for the Nimitz High School cluster. He has served as private lesson teacher and consultant for De Zavala and Lamar Middle School. He is an active adjudicator in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and also was a NTCA Indoor percussion judge for the 04-05 season. In 2005, Mr. Luna started the Victor C. Gonzalez Percussive Arts Society scholarship in honor of his best friend awarded through the Texas Chapter of PAS to be given out to a percussion student in the state of Texas to attend the annual PASIC convention. Mr. Luna is an educational artist for Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Education degree from Texas A&M University Commerce.
Mr. Casey Snead Colorguard Instructor caseysnead@hotmail.com	Casey Snead is currently the Color Guard Director for Forney High School. In the past he has worked with numerous colorguard and winterguard programs around the DFW metroplex including Aledo HS, Cleburne HS, Joshua HS, McKinney North HS, and Berkner HS. His performing experience includes, Joshua HS (2005), Ars Nova Winterguard (IO 2006), Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corp (2006), Black Gold Winterguard (IO 2008), and is a current member of The Cavaliers (2008) production, 'Samurai'.
Mrs. Sarah Loudenback Head Director Warren Middle School sarah.loudenback@forneyisd.net	Sarah Loudenback is in her first year as Head Band Director at Warren Middle School. She directs the Symphonic Band and teaches all of the beginning woodwind classes. Prior to her position at Warren MS, Mrs. Loudenback taught at Lapeer West High School in Lapeer, Michigan. She directed the Symphony, Concert, and Marching Bands. Both her Symphony and Concert bands earned superior ratings. Her Symphony Band received superior ratings at the Michigan State Contest last year. She also taught private clarinet lessons at the Chelsea Center for the Arts. Before moving to Michigan, Mrs. Loudenback was also the assistant band director at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas and at Goddard Junior High in Midland, Texas. Mrs. Loudenback received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. While obtaining her degree, she taught private clarinet lessons in the Amarillo area and also New Mexico. At WTAMU, Mrs. Loudenback studied with Doug Storey and her directors were Dr. Gary Garner and Don Lefevre. Before graduation in 2004, she student taught at Nimitz Junior High in Odessa, TX with Cindy Bulloch and Tamarie Hawkins. She also studied privately with Debbie O’Brien and made the Texas All-State Band in high school.
Mr. Adam Davis Asst. Director Warren Middle School adam.davis@forneyisd.net	Adam Davis is in his first year with Forney ISD as the Assistant Director at Warren Middle School. After student teaching with Mr. Gary Monroe at Mesquite High School in 2006 Mr. Davis received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of North Texas. While at the University of North Texas, Mr. Davis studied trombone with Vern Kagarice, Tony Baker, and Joel Chavez. Mr. Davis comes to Forney from Belton, TX where he was the Assistant Director at Belton Middle School. Under his direction the Symphonic Band received Sweepstakes at their UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest. Mr. Davis has professional affiliations with Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the International Trombone Association.
Ms. Laura Lewis Head Director Brown Middle School laura.lewis@forneyisd.net	Laura Lewis is currently in her first year as Head Band Director at Brown Middle School. Her responsibilities include directing the 8^th grade band, teaching beginner brass classes and assisting with the Forney High School marching band. Prior to coming to Forney, Ms. Lewis was an Assistant Band Director at Alice High School for eight years. Ms. Lewis conducted the 2^nd band at Alice HS and the 2^nd band at Wm. Adams MS where her bands earned superior ratings. Prior to 2006, she assisted with the Varsity marching band and then began directing the Non-Varsity marching band in 2006 and 2007. Under her direction the Non-Varsity marching band performed in a marching contest for the first time in school history and received 2^nd place in their division. The following year, the band earned 1^st place in their division and went on to perform at the Region UIL Marching Contest and earned an excellent rating. This was the first time in school history that the two marching bands competed at the Region level. Ms. Lewis also taught all of the french horn students in Alice in which her students consistently earned membership into the district, region, area and all-state bands. Ms. Lewis performed with the Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corps from Ontario, Canada and the Cadets of Bergen County. She is currently a member of the brass staff for the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Toledo, OH. She also was a member of the Corpus Christi Wind Symphony under the direction of Bryce Taylor from 2000-2008. Ms. Lewis holds the Bachelor of Music Education Degree and a Master of Music Education Degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Ms. Michelle Ross Asst. Director Brown Middle School michelle.ross@forneyisd.net	Michelle Ross is currently Assistant Director at Brown Middle School where she teaches the 7th grade band, several beginning instrument classes, and assists with the Forney High School marching band. Previous to working at Forney, she was Associate Director of Bands at Estacado High School in Lubbock, TX. At Estacado, Mrs. Ross was the director of the Matador marching band and the symphonic band. Under the direction of Mrs. Ross, the symphonic band received the Best in Class award at the 2006 Irons Music Festival. In 2007 the Estacado wind ensemble received the first ever UIL Concert Band sweepstakes rating in school history. Mrs. Ross holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At Illinois, she studied with James Keene, Pete Griffin, and Gary McPherson. Her Bachelor of Music Education degree is from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. At UMSL, she sat principal flute in the Wind Ensemble, and was a featured soloist with the university's symphony orchestra. She has appeared in concert with the Compton Heights Concert Band of St. Louis and the Saint Louis Philharmonic Orchestra.