Meet the CRHS Cougar Band Instrumental Directors!!

 Ray Jones

Email: rayhjones@katyisd.org

Ray Jones is currently the Director of Bands at Cinco Ranch High School.  Responsibilities as Head Director include Directing all aspects of The CRHS Cougar Marching Band, Wind Ensemble in spring and all other teaching and prep-work needed to lead well. Under his direction, Cinco Ranch High School Band ensembles have experienced high levels of success, including a 5th place finish in the highly competitive Area I, Region 23 All State competition in fall 2021. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble (Cinco Ranch High Schools varsity Concert Band) consistently achieves Sweepstakes in the spring semester (1’s in ever category, the highest rating possible). The students work hard practicing to perform high level musical compositions, while concurrently having a great overall experience.

Primary Instrument Played: Tuba

Professional History:

Present – Head Band Director of CRHS Cougar Bands, Katy, TX 
2002-2005 Gentry Middle School – Baytown, TX Head Band Director
2000-2002 Lomax Junior High School – La Porte, TX Head Band Director

Education:

1998 University of Southern Mississippi – Hattiesburg, MS Bachelor of Music Education
2000 University of Colorado – Boulder, CO Master of Music

Awards and Honors:

Graduate Assistantship at the University of Colorado
2001 – Guest artist for the International Tuba & Euphonium Conference in Lahti, Finland
2000 – First Prize, International Tuba & Euphonium Conference’s International Quartet Competition, in Regina, Canada
1997 – Winner, University of Southern Mississippi Band Concerto Competition
1997 – First Prize, Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Brass State Level (MS) Competition
1994 member of Brass Theatre with Star of Indiana and the Canadian Brass
1993 Texas All State Band

Performed with the Meridian, Mobile, Boulder and Colorado Symphonies

Hobbies: Staying active, enjoying friends, family, and band fam, running, randomly teaching the family Great Dane, Mabel (Maybeline June) and Chi-weenie, Kenneth Alistair how to “play nice”, and especially working on loving his amazing wife Lesley and namesake son “RayJ”.

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Brian Stevens

Email: brianstevens@katyisd.org

Brian Stevens is the Associate Director of Bands at Cinco Ranch High School, in Katy, Texas. His responsibilities include serving as the Director and Program Coordinator of the Cinco Ranch High School Cougar Marching Band and Encore Dance Company, conducting the Symphonic Band, as well as assisting with Concert Band 1, Concert Band 2, Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. He lives in Meadows Place, Texas with his wife, CJ, and their kids, George, Hannah, and Ella.

A native of Tupelo, Mississippi, Brian is a 1998 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While attending the University of Southern Mississippi, he studied percussion with Dr. John Wooton and Dr. Sherman Hong, performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band and The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band.

For the summers of 1994 and 1995, Mr. Stevens was a snare drummer with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. Since then he has had the honor of serving on the staffs of the Phantom Regiment, Magic of Orlando, Capital Regiment, Troopers, the Academy, Blue Stars, Colts, and Blue Knights.

After graduation from Southern Miss, Mr. Stevens served on the staff of the Stephen F. Austin High School band program in Sugar Land, TX from 1999-2012. While at Austin High School, he served as an Assistant Band Director, Director of Percussion, and was the Program Coordinator and Marching Band Director of the Stephen F. Austin High School Marching Band and Angels Dance Team. During this time period, the SFA marching band was a consistent Bands of America Regional and Super Regional finalist, as well as being named Regional Champion six times. In the falls of 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2010, the SFA band program attended the BOA Grand National Championships, in Indianapolis, IN, and was named Finalist in each of these trips. The band program has made appearances at the Texas UIL State Marching Band Championships, the Midwest Clinic, and is a two-time Music for All, Bands of America National Concert Band Festival participant.

From July 2012 to June 2024, Brian was a stay at home father and also worked part time as a band consultant for programs throughout the South and Southeast.

Primary Instrument Played: Percussion

Professional History: 

1999 – 2012 Stephen F. Austin High School

Education:

1998 University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg

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 Danny Rivera

Email: danielrivera@katyisd.org

Mr. Rivera is currently the Assistant Director of CRHS Cougar Bands, emphasis on Drumline (including the Battery and Front Ensemble) during Marching Season, concurrently with directing the Jazz Ensemble, and Concert 1 Band throughout the spring semester. 

Primary Instrument Played: Percussion

Professional History:

July 2011 to Present – Cinco Ranch High School, Katy, Texas, Assistant Director of Bands/Percussion Director
July 2002 to July 2011 – Mayde Creek High School/Mayde Creek Junior High Katy, Texas, Assistant Director of Bands/Percussion Director
July 1998 to July 2002 -Tuloso-Midway High School, Corpus Christi, Texas, Assistant Director of Bands/Percussion Director

Education: 1997 Texas State University, BS Music Education

Hobbies: Spending time with family and dogs, planning to enjoy watching his son perform his senior band year at CRHS, biking during the summer, watching the Houston Astros and Houston Texans play, or any good college football game and doing absolutely nothing when possible.