About Our BandsAesthetic experiences are a vital part of student growth. Band, as a musical organization, provides one medium of aesthetic expression for students. Our departmental goal is that each student will be able to express the aesthetic values of music, through performance skills and theory comprehension.
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Our Directors
Nathan Wood, Director of BandsNathan Wood is in his 17th year at Wester Middle School. Mr. Wood came to Wester as Associate Director in 2003 and moved into his present position as Director of Bands in 2005. During his tenure at Wester, groups under his direction have earned the UIL Sweepstakes Award and “Best in Class” at invitational contests. The 2005-2006 Wind Ensemble and 2008-2009 Honors Band both advanced to the state level of the TMEA Honor Band Contest. Teaching responsibilities at Wester include the Honors Band, Concert Band Brass, Beginner Class, and Jazz Band.
Mr. Wood received a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan. He has performed with groups including the Michigan Symphony Band, UM Symphony Orchestra, Baylor Wind Ensemble, Baylor Symphony Orchestra, Waco Symphony and Michigan Chamber Brass. As a music educator, he has served as Assistant Band Director at Gunn JH and Arlington HS in the Arlington ISD and as an instructor at the Baylor Summer Music Camps. While completing his degree at Baylor, he also taught band at a private school while teaching low brass lessons in several school districts. While completing his degree at Michigan, he served as a Graduate Student Instructor in the music education department and with the Michigan Marching Band. In addition, he also served as a music staff instructor for the highly acclaimed Plymouth-Canton Educational Park band program in Canton, MI. Mr. Wood’s professional affiliations include Texas Music Education Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, International trombone Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity. Mr. Wood and his wife Shannon have been married for 19 years and live in Mansfield with their 14 year old son Garrett and 9 year old son Jackson. |
Christin McNair, Assistant Band DirectorChristin McNair is currently in her 15th year as the Associate Director at Wester Middle School and 10th year at Asa Low Intermediate School. Teaching responsibilities at Wester include Symphonic Band, Concert Band Woodwinds, Color Guard, and assisting with Honors Band. Teaching responsibilities at Asa Low Intermediate include Beginner Flute, Beginner Oboe/Bassoon, Beginner Clarinet, and Beginner Saxophone.
Mrs. McNair graduated from Texas Christian University in 2005 where she earned a Bachelor’s of Music in Instrumental Music Education. She studied flute/piccolo under Ms. Karen Adrian and played in the Wind Symphony under the direction of Bobby R. Francis as well as the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. German Gutierrez. She was also a member of the TCU Horned Frog Marching Band where she marched piccolo and was in the color guard. Mrs. McNair is also a 2001 graduate of Arlington High School where she participated in the marching band, Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. McNair student taught in the Mansfield Independent School District in the Spring of 2005 under Sonny Martinez and Marcus Bryant at Timberview High School, Nathan Wood and Jennifer Levanduski at Wester Middle School, and Billy Gresham at Icenhower Intermediate School. She was also a flute private lesson teacher for the Mansfield ISD. Mrs. McNair performed professionally on piccolo with the Mansfield Wind Symphony and a special Christmas performance with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. McNair is currently serving as Treasurer and Contest Coordinator for the North Texas Color Guard Association. She assisted with the Color Guard and Marching Band program at Mansfield High School from Fall of 2006 to Spring of 2012, as well as Ars Nova Independent Winter Guard in the Spring of 2008 and 2009. She was a performing member of the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 Ars Nova Independent World Class Winter Guard. She taught the color guards at Lake Ridge HS and Danny Jones MS from the Fall of 201 to the Spring of 2014. Recently she traveled to Boston, Massachusetts on the weekends to perform with Blessed Sacrament Independent World Winterguard for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Mrs. McNair's professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, North Texas Color Guard Association, and Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority. |