| Debra Oldroyd has been the Azle High School Colorguard Director since 2001, and started the AHS Winterguard program in 2003. Under her direction both groups have won many awards. In 2008 the Varsity W.G. were the bronzed medalists in AAA top division, and the J.V. W.G were the Silver medalists in the RA class. Her innovative ideas, and pageantry skills have contributed to the visual design of the AHS Marching Band shows for the past 6 years. Mrs. O, as many call her, also has experience as the Director and Artistic Director to the AHS Emerald Dazzlers. She has worked in the dance industry as a teacher, choreographer, company director, and adjudicator for the past 26 years Many of her works have received awards for choreography at local and national competitions. As a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, her development as a dancer was influenced by several icons of the dance world. Awarded a Governors Scholarship for the Arts, Mrs. Oldroyd studied Martha Graham technique with Toni Pickall at Snow College. She performed with Company Orchesis, and was a member of the Central Utah Ballet Company. At Brigham Young University she studied with Les Ditson, participating in an extended program that provided learning experiences from many important choreographers of the time including Murray Louis, Martha Graham, and Alwin Nickaolai. She continued performing, and later worked as Choreographer in Residence at the Alhambra Theatre where she received an A.P.A. award for her contemporary choreography of Oklahoma. In 1996, she traveled to Montreal, Quebec, Canada and directed the St. Adele Dance Company. Mrs. Oldroyd serves on the Executive Board of Dance/ Drill Team Directors of America and is a member of Texas Dance Educators Associations and National Dance Educators Association. She is a Nationally Certified Master Adjudicator, and writes for an online dance publication. Her most treasured accomplishment is being married to her husband Paul, and the mother of 3 wonderful sons and new daughter-in-law, Andrew and Hilary, Danny and Patrick. |
| Debra Oldroyd doldroyd@azleisd.net |
| Ross Grant has just completed his sixth year as head band director at Azle High School, where the band placed 13th at the State Marching Contest in 2007. The band also placed 14th at the 2003 State Marching Contest. In 2004 the MGP was a finalist at the UTA, DeSoto and Mesquite Contests, finishing in 2nd place at Mesquite. In 2005 the bands won all categories at the Breckenridge Music Festival. During the spring of 2005, and 2007 the Azle Honor Band advanced to the Area Level of the TMEA Honor Band Competition, where they placed 3rd both years. Prior to Azle, Dr. Grant served for two years on the faculty of Texas Christian University, where he taught band method courses, supervised student teachers, assisted with the TCU Marching and Concert Bands, and directed the Basketball Band. Prior to TCU he was Director of Bands at DeSoto High School. The DeSoto Band has received superior ratings at the Buccaneer, South Coast, World Wide Events, American Classic and UIL State Wind Ensemble Contest, winning Best in Class at festivals in Saint Louis, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Orlando and in the Meyerson Symphony Center. The DeSoto Marching Band has been named Grand Champion four times at the UTA Marching Festival, twice at the Sam Houston University Marching Contest, and eight times at the State Fair of Texas Parade of Champions. The Marching Band has been a finalist at the UIL State Marching Contests eight times, winning the Governors Cup for “best overall artistic performance” in 1985. The marching band has also performed in the Dallas Adolphus, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl and Tournament of Roses Parades (1992 and 2002). In 1997 he launched the “DeSoto in the Meyerson Concert Series,” featuring junior and senior high bands, guest artists, commissioned works, community church choirs, and school choirs. Dr. Grant has served as a clinician and adjudicator in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois and Arizona. His wife, Liz, is head band director at Azle Junior High. They have two children, Gary and Gina. |
| Dr. Ross Grant rgrant@azleisd.net |
| Chris Goodwin comes to us from North Crowley High School (5A), where he was the assistant director, conducted the 2nd band, and was coordinator of percussion department. Under his leadership the North Crowley drumline was very competitive, and his 2nd band received the UIL Sweepstakes awards. Mr. Goodwin attended the University of Houston, and was the graduate percussion teaching assistant at Sam Houston State University, where he earned his masters degree. Several of his former students have marched with top DCI drum & bugle corps. Mr. Goodwin has taught for 10 years. His wife teaches math in Crowley ISD, and they have a 7 year old son, and a 4 year old daughter. DRUMLINE is the "ultimate team sport" -- every member is important to the group. |
| Bob Hayes is originally from Mississippi where he graduated from Clarksdale High School and was a member of the award-winning Pioneer Band. Mr. Hayes received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in May, 1973 after he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970. Bob Hayes is about to complete his 10th year as a band director at Azle I.S.D.. He has been in charge or worked at all levels of the Band program at Azle, except the head high school position. Prior to teaching at Azle, Bob was Head Band Director at Aledo I.S.D. for five years and first came to Texas in 1984 as Head Band Director at Yoakum, Texas. He has been married to his wife, Myra, for 38 years and has one son, Marc, and twin grand-daughters Madison and McKenzie. |
| Chris Goodwin cgoodwin@azleisd.net |
| Bob Hayes bhayes@azleisd.net |
| Liz Grant egrant@azleisd.net |
| Mrs. Liz Grant is pleased to be starting this school year as director of bands at Azle Jr High. Since the fall of 2000, she has been teaching in the Lewisville Independent School District as Director of Bands at Briarhill MS (in the Marcus HS cluster). A graduate of MacArthur HS in Lawton, OK, she attended the University of North Texas where she earned the Bachelor of Music degree and the Master of Music Education degree. At an early age, she knew that she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and become a public school band director. Many fine band directors, private lesson teachers, and school teachers have influenced, inspired, encouraged, and mentored her along the way. She has had the privilege of working with hundreds of students and parents and believes that she has learned a lot from each and every one of them. With twenty years of Texas public school Band and General Music teaching experience, and more than thirty years of experience as a clarinet teacher, Mrs. Grant is very happy and proud to be a music educator. She is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association and Phi Beta Mu honorary band director fraternity. She served as the 2005-06 MS Band Chairman for TMEA Region 24. While at Briarhill MS, both the Varsity Band and the Non-Varsity Band received “sweepstakes awards” at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest for seven consecutive years. This past fall, the Marcus HS band won 1st place at the Texas 5A State Marching Band Contest. Mrs. Grant is very proud of her husband, Dr. Ross Grant. The Grants have a son who lives in Arkansas with his lovely wife; and a daughter who is in college. |
| waresback bio coming soon |
| Teresa Waresback twaresback@azleisd.net |
| Kevin Chapman kchapman@azleisd.net |
| Kevin Chapman is a graduate of TCU with both a Bachelors in Music Education and a Masters in Music Performance. |
Luke Riley
| Luke Riley has been a part of the Azle community since 2002. He has a Masters degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Luke received his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Delta State University. He is a full time Youth Minister at Ash Creek Baptist Church in Azle. He has been a Youth Minister since 1999 serving in Mississippi and Texas. Luke has been teaching percussion for over 10 years. He taught private lessons and numerous drum lines throughout the states of Mississippi and Texas. Luke graduated from Hatley High School in 1995 where he was a member of the Mississippi All-State Band for two years. He has had the opportunity to play the drums in many different countries including Brazil, Austria, the Czech Republic and Korea. Luke is married to Jennifer Riley who has an elementary education degree. She taught for seven years in Mississippi and Texas. She is currently a stay at home Mom to their 1 year old son Thomas. Jennifer is also pursuing a graduate degree in Christian Education from Dallas Baptist University. |
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Azle Band P.O. Box 1811 Azle, TX. 76098
