Jon McPhail |
Jon McPhail is starting his eleventh year at C.D. Fulkes MS and Round Rock ISD and his twenty first year of teaching overall. He taught five years in Venus ISD as director of bands and five years at Temple ISD , working at Lamar MS and Temple HS. After two years at the University of Rhode Island, Mr. McPhail came to Texas to attend the University of North Texas where he finished his bachelors in music education. Mr. McPhail performs in Nacho Average Jazz Orchestra, a local Austin big band, and also on occasion the Brushy Creek Brass Band.
Mr. McPhail wants for all of his students to develop a love of music similar to the one he has. He is most proud of his students that have gone on and continued in music into college and beyond. Many of his former students are accomplished band directors, published composers and performers. Even if a student does not choose a career in music, it is his wish that continue to play, listen and keep music a part of their life always. Mr. McPhail has been privileged to a number of quality bands with many hard working students. In addition to numerous first divisions at UIL and outstanding performances at festivals, Mr. McPhail had the honor of taking his jazz band from Temple High School to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington festival in 2004. They were selected as one of the top fifteen jazz bands in North America for that year and were the first non-music academy school from Texas to attend. Mr. McPhail teaches the beginning brass and percussion as well as the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band at CDFMS. He also is a co-conductor for the full orchestra which he helped found in 2009. In his spare time, he loves to work in his garden and spend as much time with his wife Stacy, daughter Piper and his Great Pyrenees, Basie and Newfoundland, Ellie. He also spends a great deal of time vacuuming up dog hair. He currently is or has been a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and Texas Jazz Educators Association. |
Sheng Thao |
Ms. Thao is entering her 15th year of teaching. This will be her 7th year at CD Fulkes. Ms. Thao graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Music with teacher certification in 2004. There she studied clarinet with Dr. Carol Jessup and was a proud member of the many clarinet ensembles at UTA. Ms. Thao was also a member of the UTA Concert Band and Wind Ensemble. She was the 2003 recipient of the Jack H. Mahan Director’s Award.
Ms. Thao believes it is the duty of the educator to not only provide each student with the necessary knowledge to become and independent musician, but also to create a safe, positive learning environment in which students can explore the perpetual nuances of music. Ms. Thao has enjoyed many successes with her students as a band director including Superior Ratings at UIL Concert and Sight Reading events as well as outstanding performances in many music festivals. As an assistant, her past programs have been recognized at the Western International Band Conference (2006), Texas Music Educators Association Convention (2006 CCC Honor Band) and Music For All National Festival (2008). Ms. Thao teaches the beginning woodwind classes, beginning 7th/8th graders and the symphonic band. She also assists with the jazz band and mariachi. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, reading and going on adventures with her husband and daughter. She hopes to one day catch a shark. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and Pi Kappa Lambda, Iota Zeta Chapter. |