MIKE NELSON
Mr. Nelson is an experienced and successful music educator with 20+ years of experience as a band director and percussion specialist in the Greater Houston Area.
Currently, Mr Nelson is the Asst Director and Percussion Coordinator for the Porter High School Band Program in Porter TX, where he has taught since 2015. Since joining the Porter Band Staff, the program has experienced tremendous growth and success as a consistent UIL Sweepstakes Award winner in addition to qualified for the Texas UIL State Marching Contest in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
In addition to his work with the Porter Band, Mr. Nelson also established the Porter High School Indoor Drumline and has consistently placed among the top programs in the Texas Color Guard Circuit and is a consistent WGI Regional Finalist.
The Porter High School Indoor Drumline was a 2021 WGI National Finalist, the 2023 WGI Katy Regional Champion and the 2023 TCGC State Bronze Medalist.
Mr. Nelson lives in Porter TX with his wife Lindsey and their three sons Case, Brody and Beaux.
BRIAN PEREZ
Brian Perez is currently the Percussion Director for Klein Cain High School in Klein ISD in Houston, TX where he has maintained that position since opening the school in 2017. His roles over the past 6 years have been directing all percussion & steel drum ensembles, writing the Cain Marching Band percussion arrangements, and helping direct and manage the beginning percussion classes through advanced ensembles at Ulrich and Doerre Intermediates. In 2018, the Ulrich Percussion Ensemble was named the National Percussion Ensemble Honors Winner for middle schools across the country from the Foundation for Music Education. Cain marching percussion has been awarded top percussion at several area competitions over the years, most recently in 2022 at the Aldine Percussion Invitational and Best in Class at the Lonestar Preview in The Woodlands, TX. The Klein Cain percussion studio will be performing as a featured ensemble at the 2023 Music for All Percussion Festival in Indianapolis.
Since aging out as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2004 under the mentorship of respected percussion giants Ralph Hardimon, Jim Casella and Murray Gusseck, Perez has been on the percussion staffs of several top corps in Drum Corps International. Currently, he is on staff with The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, lead by marching percussion innovator Colin McNutt, where he has taught in a variety of roles since 2017 when the current BAC percussion staff was established. Over the years, the Boston percussion team has revolutionized what is possible in the marching arts and is annually considered one of the elite percussion groups in the activity.
Perez has been an active educator in the Houston area for the last 20 years and received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Houston. He was a member of the 2001 Texas All-State Band, performed in Superbowl XXXVIII in 2004 with artists such as Jessica Simpson, and also received the honor of the first place tenor individual award at Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 1999.
Brian currently resides in The Woodlands, TX, with his wife Joni. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society and the Vic Firth - Zildjian Education Team.
KYLE STAHL
Kyle Stahl currently serves as an Assistant Band Director at Aragon Middle School in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. His current responsibilities include directing the Symphonic Band, teaching beginner percussion, beginner saxophone, and beginner tuba and euphonium. Prior to that, Mr. Stahl spent 12 years as an Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion at Jersey Village High School and Cypress Ranch High School. His bands received consistent superior ratings. His marching percussion sections at both Jersey Village and Cypress Ranch routinely received top percussion at area contests throughout the years. His Percussion Ensembles were named the Mark of Excellence National Percussion Ensemble Winner for high schools around the country in both 2014 and 2017. In 2014, the Cypress Ranch Percussion Ensemble performed at the Music for All National Percussion festival. In 2018, the Jersey Village marching band reached the Texas UIL State Marching Contest for the first time in school history.
Mr. Stahl has been an active educator in the Houston area for the last 15 years and received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Houston in 2009. During his time at the University of Houston, Mr. Stahl was fortunate to be a performer with the Moores School Percussion Ensemble at the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. During his undergraduate studies, Mr. Stahl also arranged for the Spirit of Houston Drumline. Mr. Stahl was a member of the 2005 Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and the 2006 World Champion Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Stahl resides in the Tomball community with his wife Meredith, their two sons Connor and Corban, and their beagle Ranger. He is a member of Texas Music Educators Association and is an educator endorser for Innovative Percussion.