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James Rees
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James Rees serves as the Director of Bands at Grapevine High School. He is entering his 13th year of teaching and second year at Grapevine. Prior to his current position he was the Associate Director at Lake Highlands High School in Richardson ISD and Associate Director at Evans Middle School in McKinney ISD.
Bands under Mr. Rees' direction have earned superior ratings consistently at all UIL events. Those bands have been selected as the outstanding group at Peak Music Festival, South Coast Music Festival and the Director's Choice Lone Star Showcase of Music. The Lake Highlands Symphonic Band was selected as a Commended Winner of the Foundation of Music Education's Citation of Excellence in 2018. Musicals conducted by Mr. Rees have been nominated for best orchestra in the Dallas Summer Musical Awards and Casa Mañana's Buckley Awards.
Mr. Rees holds Bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Texas Tech University. During his time at Texas Tech, Mr. Rees was selected as the Principal Tuba of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. At the time of his appointment he was the youngest member of the Orchestra. Mr. Rees also holds a Master's in Music Education from Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Rees is an active adjudicator and guest clinician and is honored to have professional affiliations with Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Adjudicators Association. Mr. Rees and his wife Sarah live in Grapevine and enjoy friends, family, food and travel.
Bands under Mr. Rees' direction have earned superior ratings consistently at all UIL events. Those bands have been selected as the outstanding group at Peak Music Festival, South Coast Music Festival and the Director's Choice Lone Star Showcase of Music. The Lake Highlands Symphonic Band was selected as a Commended Winner of the Foundation of Music Education's Citation of Excellence in 2018. Musicals conducted by Mr. Rees have been nominated for best orchestra in the Dallas Summer Musical Awards and Casa Mañana's Buckley Awards.
Mr. Rees holds Bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Texas Tech University. During his time at Texas Tech, Mr. Rees was selected as the Principal Tuba of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. At the time of his appointment he was the youngest member of the Orchestra. Mr. Rees also holds a Master's in Music Education from Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Rees is an active adjudicator and guest clinician and is honored to have professional affiliations with Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Adjudicators Association. Mr. Rees and his wife Sarah live in Grapevine and enjoy friends, family, food and travel.
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William Redd
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Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Mr. Redd received his Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Slippery Rock University where he studied trumpet with Dr. Stephen Hawk and Mr. Joe Herndon. Upon graduation in 2015, he began teaching at Moon Area School District in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
In 2017, Mr. Redd moved to Texas and started teaching at Belton High School, where he was the director of the Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, and Symphonic Band 2. Under Mr. Redd's direction, the Marching Band received consistent Sweepstakes Awards and advanced to Area D Marching Contest and under his direction Jazz Ensemble 1 received consistent superior ratings including: Temple College Jazz Festival, Longhorn Jazz Festival, UT Arlington Jazz Festival, and TCU Jazz Festival. With Mr. Redd's guidance, the Symphonic Band 2 received Sweepstakes and earned superior ratings from all judges for the first time in program history.
Mr. Redd is an active teacher and clinician across the country. He is also the director of the Crossmen Winds (2019 WGI WIW finalists) and Assistant Brass Caption Manager at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Redd has taught both indoor and outdoor ensembles including: The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (Denver, CO); Rhythm X Winds (Dayton, OH); Belton HS (Belton, TX), Moon Area High School Marching Band (PA); Norwin Marching Band (PA); Kiski Area Marching Band (PA); and Slippery Rock University Winter Guard (PA). Mr. Redd performed with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and was in the inaugural cast of the 2015 WGI World Champion, Rhythm X Winds as a featured soloist.
In 2017, Mr. Redd moved to Texas and started teaching at Belton High School, where he was the director of the Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, and Symphonic Band 2. Under Mr. Redd's direction, the Marching Band received consistent Sweepstakes Awards and advanced to Area D Marching Contest and under his direction Jazz Ensemble 1 received consistent superior ratings including: Temple College Jazz Festival, Longhorn Jazz Festival, UT Arlington Jazz Festival, and TCU Jazz Festival. With Mr. Redd's guidance, the Symphonic Band 2 received Sweepstakes and earned superior ratings from all judges for the first time in program history.
Mr. Redd is an active teacher and clinician across the country. He is also the director of the Crossmen Winds (2019 WGI WIW finalists) and Assistant Brass Caption Manager at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Redd has taught both indoor and outdoor ensembles including: The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (Denver, CO); Rhythm X Winds (Dayton, OH); Belton HS (Belton, TX), Moon Area High School Marching Band (PA); Norwin Marching Band (PA); Kiski Area Marching Band (PA); and Slippery Rock University Winter Guard (PA). Mr. Redd performed with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and was in the inaugural cast of the 2015 WGI World Champion, Rhythm X Winds as a featured soloist.
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Brooke Irby
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Ms. Irby is a native of Bedford, TX, where she attended L.D. Bell High School. In her time at Bell, she had the privilege of performing and placing at the Texas State Marching Contest, and BOA Grand Nationals. She was a member of the leadership team in 2012, and a drum major in 2013.
She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Ms. Irby studied clarinet under Dr. Christopher Ayer. She was a member of the SFA Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Fred J. Allen for 4 years, and principal clarinet in the SFA Orchestra and Opera Theatre. In 2015, she performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with the Lumberjack Marching Band. During her final semester of study, she had the pleasure of studying conducting with Dr. Tamey Anglley.
Ms. Irby served as a student teacher at Prosper High School with John Alstrin and Rogers Middle School with Brandon Holt.
Ms. Irby comes to us from McKinney Boyd High School in McKinney, TX. During her time in McKinney, she assisted with the marching program and directed the Symphonic II Band. In her first UIL Concert and Sightreading her band earned Sweepstakes.
She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Ms. Irby studied clarinet under Dr. Christopher Ayer. She was a member of the SFA Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Fred J. Allen for 4 years, and principal clarinet in the SFA Orchestra and Opera Theatre. In 2015, she performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with the Lumberjack Marching Band. During her final semester of study, she had the pleasure of studying conducting with Dr. Tamey Anglley.
Ms. Irby served as a student teacher at Prosper High School with John Alstrin and Rogers Middle School with Brandon Holt.
Ms. Irby comes to us from McKinney Boyd High School in McKinney, TX. During her time in McKinney, she assisted with the marching program and directed the Symphonic II Band. In her first UIL Concert and Sightreading her band earned Sweepstakes.
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Rick Drewry
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Rick Drewry is joining the Grapevine Mustang Band Family from Spring, TX where he served as Percussion Director and Assistant Band Director at Conroe ISD's newest high school Grand Oaks. He is the primary front ensemble technician for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and a front ensemble instructor for Monarch Independent indoor percussion ensemble.
Mr. Drewry is originally from Nashville, TN and received a bachelor's in music education from the University of Tennessee at Martin. While attending his undergrad, Mr. Drewry had the privilege of performing three seasons with The Cavaliers (2012-2014) and one season with Music City Mystique (2014). Mr. Drewry also holds a masters in performance from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied with marimba virtuoso Dr. Thomas Burritt and Prof. Tony Edwards, Principal Timpanist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Before coming to Grapevine, Mr. Drewry was lucky enough to work with and learn from a few very successful high school programs, such as The Woodlands High School, Cy-Fair High School Indoor Drumline, and Lake Travis High School.
Mr. Drewry is BEYOND excited for this incredible opportunity to join the band staff as Director of Percussion for Grapevine High School. Mr. Drewry and Pikachu (his chinchilla), and Hei Hei, Cleo (his birds) are excited for new adventures at Grapevine High School!