DIRECTORS AND INSTRUCTORS
The Houston Band is an award-winning high school band led by a world class group of directors and instructors under the leadership of Mr. Kevin Carpenter and Mr. Brian Sims.
KEVIN CARPENTER, M.M.Ed.
DIRECTOR of BANDS
Mr. Carpenter is the Director of Bands at Houston High School in Germantown, TN. Prior to that position, "Mr. C" oversaw the band programs of the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy—a National Blue Ribbon Award-winning school—and the band at East High School, in addition to coordinating the 6th-12th grade performing arts programs at the two schools.
Carpenter is the music theory instructor at the University of Memphis’s Schiedt Music Extension Program, teaching 9-12 grade students with collegiate music aspirations the basics of music theory, piano, and general school of music expectations. He is also the inaugural conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program's Concert Band and a freelance conductor and clinician in the area. He is a sought after conductor and clinician.
He attended the University of Memphis’s Rudi E. Schiedt School of Music, acquiring his BM in K-12 Instrumental Music Education in 2018. H received his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music in 2024.
He is deeply involved in local choir and band music. He is a member of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, the National Association of Music Education, the Tennessee Music Education Association, the National Band Association, the Tennessee Bandmasters Association, the Tennessee Education Association, and the National Education Association.
BRIAN SIMS
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR of BANDS
Brian Sims is a highly experienced educator and woodwind doubler from the Portland, Oregon area. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Houston High School. Prior to that position, Mr. Sims was the Director of Bands for ten years at White Station High School in Memphis, TN. Before that, he earned his Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Memphis in 2013.
Sims has performed professionally locally, nationally, and internationally for decades. He can be seen performing around town at can be seen at Alfred’s on Beale, Hope
Church, Playhouse on the Square, Theater Memphis, Circuit Playhouse, New Moon Theatre, DeSoto Family Theater, Harrell Theater, Germantown Family Theater, and Briarcrest Christian School to name a few.
Mr. Sims leads Jazz and Music Theory programming at Houston High School.
MICHAEL ALLEN TODD
DIRECTOR OF PERCUSSION
Michael Todd is an active artist and educator based in Memphis, TN. He graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Math and a minor in music from Rhodes College. He played drum set in the front ensemble for Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2011 and 2012. He was the DCI Drum Set/ Multi Percussion Individual Champion in 2012.
A product of the Tullahoma Band, Mr. Todd is a freelance performer in and around Memphis and is a manager for the Memphis Grizzlies Grizzline. He is a fellow with the Memphis Music Initiative and the percussion director for the University of Memphis’s Mighty Sound of the South. He has previously worked with Stax Music Academy, the Tullahoma Band, the East High School Mighty Mustang Band, the Maxine Smith STEAM Academy Band, and Soulsville Charter School.
DWIGHT VAN DE VATE, M.M.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PERCUSSION
Dwight Van de Vate is a highly accomplished percussionist known for his engaging personality, which translates seamlessly into his dynamic performances. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music Arts in Percussion Performance at the University of Memphis, working through his dissertation. Dwight holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Truman State University and a Bachelor of Music with a focus on Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Throughout his career, Dwight has held several exceptional positions, including Principal Percussionist for Opera in the Ozarks and Principal Timpani for both the Memphis Sinfonietta and the University of Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a member of numerous ensembles, such as the University of Memphis Contemporary Chamber Players and the Truman State University Percussion Ensemble.
His teaching experience is extensive, having taught at the University of Memphis, Truman State University, and Memphis University School, among others. Dwight has also been involved in various world music ensembles and has participated in significant performances and festivals, including the PASIC International Percussion Ensemble Competition and the Zeltsman Marimba Festival.
BRITTANY ROBERTS
DIRECTOR OF COLOR GUARD
Brittany Roberts is an Arkansas native, splitting most of her life between Jonesboro and Marion. She began band as a clarinet player, which she attended all-region for 5 years and all-state for 1 year. Mrs. Roberts has always nurtured a profound passion for music and performing arts. In 1999, she was presented with the opportunity to participate in the inaugural color guard program at Marion Junior High School. Brittany continued to participate in color guard during the marching season and playing the clarinet during concert season. During her senior year, Brittany decided to audition for Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps where she spent three consecutive summers touring and performing with the corps. Mrs. Roberts also received a half tuition scholarship for clarinet and color guard at Arkansas State University during her senior year of high school.
College is where Brittany began her journey as a choreographer. She helped choreograph sections of the half time show alongside the captain of the color guard. Brittany received her first coaching job at Newport High School in 2005. In 2007 Mrs. Roberts moved to Memphis, TN where her career as a color guard coach expanded. She taught full-time at Fayette Academy for three years and Cordova High School for five years. During this time, she also assisted and choreographed for Southwind High School, Collierville High School, and Houston High school. In 2010, Brittany became a regular instructor at the Spintronix weekend, virtual, and summer camps for the past 14 years. Brittany Roberts would rejoin Houston High School full-time in January 2017, and the Director of Color Guard in 2019. Under her direction the color guard placed in the top 3 for 3 consecutive years and received the bronze medal for class Scholastic AA at the Mississippi Indoor Association Championships in 2022.
Brittany Roberts has had several achievements over the years, including getting married to Chris Roberts and raising her son Jaden Roberts and daughter Charlotte Roberts. Brittany was also attending college and graduated from Arkansas State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of General Studies with an emphasis in Education. Mrs. Roberts is also a first-grade English teacher at White Station Elementary. Color guard has always been a place of peace for Mrs. Roberts, and she plans on sharing her creativity and skills for many years to come.
CHAD COONTZ
VISUAL TECH
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Chad Coontz is a musician and educator from the Memphis area. In addition to his role as visual tech of THE Houston Band, he is the Director of Instrumental Music at Ridgeway High School. At Ridgeway, he leads the band and orchestra students.
He is an active performer on tuba, participating in the premiere wind bands in Memphis, including the Bluff City Winds and the Grind City Brass Band.
He graduated from the University of Memphis's Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music in 2023 with his B.M. in Instrumental Music Education.
LANDON RIGGINS
TEACHER CANDIDATE
Mr. Riggins is a teacher candidate working with our students this year as part of his degree requirements at the University of Memphis. Go tigers!