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BRIAN BEST
Director of Bands Brian Best serves as the head director of bands at Atascocita High School. Brian attended Sam Houston State University where he graduated with a bachelors of music in saxophone performance and a masters of music in instrumental music conducting. Brian has been the director of bands for perennial sweepstakes-winning Texas band programs for both middle school and high school. Under his direction, he has taken his bands to UIL Area Finals and has advanced to UIL State Marching Championships and various state ensemble festivals and contests. Brian is in demand as a judge UIL events for marching band and concert and sightreading contests, and he has also been invited to guest clinic TMEA Region Bands. As a wind band composer, Brian has had several commissioned works performed by various programs across the state. As a performing artist, Brian has released two contemporary solo jazz albums and is in high demand as a freelancing saxophone performer, recording artist, and music producer all over the country for many styles of music ranging from pop, dance, rock, jazz, and electric. He is also in demand as a jazz headliner in Houston and all over the country. He is also in demand as an instrumentalist for many bands in the Houston area. Brian has shared the stage with many national jazz artists, such as Allen Vizzutti, Chris Vadala, Regina Belle, Althea Rene, Marion Meadows, Gerald Albright, Bobby Lyle, and Ron Wilkins. Brian has also appeared in several television performances and as a headliner for many jazz festivals, such as the Houston Jazz Festival, Beaumont Jazz Festival, Zachary Breaux Jazz Festival, Kemah Jazz Festival, and the Michigan Jazz Festival. In his free time, Brian enjoys video gaming and spending time with his family. Brian also enjoys writing and producing music in his spare time and highly enjoys practicing his saxophone. |
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ANTHONY HICKS
Associate Director of Bands Anthony Hicks currently serves as the Associate Band Director at Atascocita High School. He conducts the Wind Symphony and assists with all other facets of the band program. Prior to coming to AHS, Mr. Hicks was the Assistant Band Director at Tennyson Middle School in the Waco ISD. Mr. Hicks is a graduate of Tomball High School. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Sam Houston State University where he studied horn with Dr. Peggy DeMers and music education with Dr. Matthew McInturf and Dr. Brian Gibbs. While at SHSU, Mr. Hicks performed in numerous ensembles including the Bearkat Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Angry Orange Basketball Band and many chamber ensembles. Mr. Hicks remains an active performer. He has performed with the Waco Community Band, Cypress Symphonic Band, Kingwood Pops Orchestra and Symphony North of Houston. He frequently performs in ensembles throughout the year at his church. His professional affiliations include the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, International Horn Society and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. When not at school, Mr. Hicks enjoys cooking, strength training and spending time with his wife, Allison, and his sons, Wesley and Barrett. |
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ALEXEI WADE
Asst. Director of Bands Alexei Wade serves as the assistant director of bands at Atascocita High School. He was a part of the Langham Creek band program in Cypress Fairbanks ISD, and he is a graduate of the University of Houston with a bachelors degree in both Music Education and Flute Performance. While attending U of H he was a part of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Orchestras as well as winning the 2019 Moores School of Music Concerto Competition. There he studied with long-time section flute player of the Houston Ballet, Peggy Russell. Mr. Wade is also a graduate of the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music receiving a masters of music studying with long time Principal Flute of the San Francisco Symphony and former principal flute of the Baltimore Symphony, Timothy Day. While in attendance at the conservatory, he was able to collaborate with the conductor of the SF Fallet, SF Jazz including Chris Potter and Brian Blade, and many of the SF symphony/opera/ballet musicians. During graduate studies, he remained an active educator in the greater Houston area and Bay area teaching flute privately, serving as a marching band technician for various high schools, and serving as a masterclass teacher. He has served as a private lesson teacher and as a masterclass clinician and consultant in various districts such as Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Humble ISD, Katy ISD, Redwood City, and the San Francisco city schools. |
It takes a village. This space is dedicated to everyone who helps make the music happen for our our Atascocita HS band program.
The High School Directors are entirely grateful for the Atascocita Band's AMAZING middle school band directors!
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Natalia Albacete
Director of Bands West Lake MS 
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Cory Roberts
Asst. Director of Bands West Lake MS 
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[name]
Asst. Director of Bands West Lake MS 
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Kayla Wood
Director of Bands Atascocita MS 
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The directors would like to thank our amazing fine arts administration and our high school principal for their support of our program!
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Destry Balch
Fine Arts Director Humble ISD 
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Dustin Winson
Asst. Fine Arts Director Humble ISD 
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Will Falker
Principal, Atascocita HS Humble ISD 
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