Acknowledgements

To the 2023-2024 Wind Ensemble -  Thank you for sticking with me my first year as Head Director. I know I was not perfect throughout the transition into my new role, but you were so patient with me every step of the way. You set new goals and standards for the program, and made this performance possible. Your pursuit of excellence and grit shined every single day, and I could not be more grateful for our time together. 

To the 2024-2025 Wind Ensemble - You have been the hardest working group I’ve ever stood in front of, and I could not be more proud of what you have accomplished this year. I admire your character, work ethic, and drive. I am constantly left feeling inspired by what you put into this and what you are able to achieve together. This group is so incredibly special to me and I know I’ll remember all of the wonderful memories we’ve had together throughout this process for the rest of my career. You are all amazing people and I feel so fortunate to be able to call you my friends. Keep raising the bar like you always have, push each other to be the best version of yourselves, and remember to be kind to yourself and those around you. I love and appreciate all of you. 

To the Cypress Woods Band Families - Thank you for letting us play a small part in these students’ lives. We are continually grateful for your trust and support. It is a privilege to stand in front of so many wonderful young adults and help shape them as people and musicians. Not only have the students put in the time and effort to be here, but you have also sacrificed time and resources to help them be successful. Thank YOU for your commitment to their success. 

To the Band Staff - I could not think of a better group of colleagues to be surrounded by everyday. We’ve laughed together through the great moments, cried together through the hard moments, and reflected together through the confusing moments. You are some of my best friends and I would not have survived this semester without you. Thank you for always having my back, being an amazing support system, and sharing this incredible journey with me. I love you more than you will ever know. 

To Tom Harrington - Thank you for taking a chance on me eight years ago. Without your mentorship and friendship, I would not be the teacher I am today. You showed us all how patience, kindness, and understanding can reshape the culture of a program. You always said “they didn’t build Rome in a day”, and it is amazing to see all of the intentional efforts culminating in today’s performance, now eight years later. You represent the best in music education and are an example for us all. Tom, I love you so much. 

To Mary Running, John Morrison, and Joe Glass - Thank you for your never-ending support of every fine arts program in CFISD. Without your advocacy, what we do would not be possible. Most are not aware of the miracles you make happen behind the scenes to provide support and opportunities, and we couldn’t even begin to express enough gratitude. 

To Lloyd Turner, Janea Dennis, and Kelly Ellis - We are so grateful for your support and campus leadership. You truly make Cypress Woods a special place to be for every person that walks through its doors. Thank you for being our biggest cheerleaders!

To my Mom, Dad, and Brother - Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and for being my biggest support system from the very beginning of this musical journey. Thank you for making me the man I am today, and for teaching me the value of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance in the pursuit of my goals. I will never forget how much you sacrificed to put me in private lessons, sacrificed to purchase my Buffet R13 when we probably didn’t have the money at the time, and when you worked multiple jobs to put me through undergraduate school at the University of Texas at Austin - my dream school. I love you so very much and appreciate everything you’ve done for me; more than you will ever know. 

To our Middle School Directors - We would not be here today without your commitment to excellence within your programs, and for developing students who are excited about playing their instrument and being part of something like this. Thank you for being the best team, and for supporting the vision of the Cypress Woods Band program. 

To our Private Teaching Staff - Thank you for going the extra mile to support our students in their musical development every week, and for sharing your love and knowledge of the instrument with them. Without you, our students would not be playing at the caliber they do. We appreciate all the work you put in to grow these young musicians. 

To Dana and Kevin Sedatole - Thank you for your constant support, guidance, friendship, and knowledge. I wouldn’t have even considered applying for this my first year as a head band director had you both not pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I could not be more grateful that you did. Because you both believed in our program, the students are now getting to experience a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. Kevin, you were my first region band conductor in middle school, and it is so special to share the stage with you all these years later with my own students. Dana, your mentorship has been invaluable to the staff and to me these past four years. Thank you for bringing all your knowledge into our band hall and sharing it with all of us, allowing us to take risks, and being our biggest fan. 

To Larry Matysiak - What you have done for Cypress Woods over the past decade cannot be put into words. You were my very first clinician as a band director. You helped shape the way I taught from the very start, and helped me hear the concert band in ways that I did not before. Thank you for always being a phone call away and offering advice on all things “band”. Your friendship and mentorship means the world to me, and our students are better people and musicians for having you in their lives. 

To Keith Lancaster, Derek Woods, Paula Corley, and Al Corley - Thank you for laying the groundwork in my musical journey. You were the ones that made me fall in love with music and music education in the first place. I would not be here today without having learned from you in my years as a student at Dripping Springs High School. You taught me what a high standard was; right from the start. You taught me to never settle. You taught me to be gracious no matter what the outcome may be. But most importantly, you taught me to love music and to appreciate it. You made such an enormous impact on my life that I wanted to make my life’s work paying it forward to others, providing life-changing experiences for my own students. Thank you for opening doors for me time and time again. 

To Kerry Taylor and Cheryl Floyd - Student teaching with you both is something I will cherish forever. As a new and impressionable teacher, your influence had an enormous impact on me during my time with you at Westlake High School and Hill Country Middle School. Cheryl, you taught me how to pace a rehearsal and maximize every minute with the students until the bell would ring. You were always so kind and patient with me and the students, and I respected and appreciated that. Kerry, I always loved “Taylor Time” each week when I could ask any questions that I may have had. I enjoyed talking about literature and drinking tea with you from Texas Honey Ham Co. I appreciate how both of you took me under your wing and made me feel like part of your family from day one. 

To Jodie Rhodes - Not only have you been a mentor to me since 2019, but you have become one of my dearest friends and role models. You have always looked out for not only me, but also my staff and students. I could not even begin to tell you how significant of a role you have played in helping shape the program into what it looks like today. You are always pushing me to be the best I can be as an educator, and my students are better for it. You always help lead me to water when I doubt myself, and you help build me back up when I have been at my lowest points. Thank you for helping open doors for me professionally, and for always being there. 

To Mark and Shirley - I am so glad we met years ago at CFISD Clarinet Choir. Little did I know that hosting your rehearsal at our campus during the summer would turn into some of the best friendships and collaborations I would have after moving to Houston. I cherish all of the great times we’ve had teaching together, the laughs, the times we had a social-distanced lunch behind a Starbucks during Covid, and the many hangouts in the office before or after lessons. We feel so fortunate to have you work with our clarinet students at Cypress Woods, and the students love you just as much as we do. I am so excited to share the stage with you both and the amazing musicians you helped shape. 

To Katie VanDoren - I remember the first time I reached out to you in 2020 for feedback as we finished putting together our marching production for that season. I quickly realized when I received your list of feedback that we maybe weren’t as in good shape as we had thought (and hoped)! I smile as I type this now, because I think about how much you’ve helped shape me as an educator and the way I see and listen to what’s in front of me. You’re one of the people that I reach out to when things are “code red”, and you always have the “fix” for the problem. You never fail to check in on me - even when unrelated to the job. I appreciate those phone calls and texts more than you will ever know. Thank you for your friendship, mentorship, and investment in the staff, students, and me. 

To Jon Yoo - It’s so funny to me how our friendship started. I remember meeting you to pick up a soundboard for another school back in 2019. Originally, we had only planned on bringing you out to help set up our electronics for the following season after you left the classroom, but that changed after your first visit to our school. I think you saw the potential that the program had and asked if you could jump in. It quickly turned into a consultant and clinician situation pretty organically. We grew so much during that Covid year, and you played a huge role in that. Thank you for continually being there for us, and for your continued friendship.