Brad Smith
Mr. Smith is beginning his 28th year as a band director and his 18th year as Director of Bands at Wester Middle School. Bands under his direction have been consistent Sweepstakes Award Winners at UIL Concert and Sightreading contest and have earned Best in Class and Outstanding Ensemble Awards at local festivals as well. Mr. Smith is married to Misty Smith - a band director in Wylie ISD and he has two children. Kaylee is a Senior at Texas Tech University (studying to become a band director) and Jake is a Freshman at West Texas A&M University. Mr. Smith is in demand as a clinician and a judge through out the region. Mr. Smith's professional affiliations are TMEA, TMAA, TBA, and ASBDA.
Mr. Smith's responsibilities include teaching the Wind Ensemble, the Concert Band, and all beginning Brass Classes.
Mr. Smith's responsibilities include teaching the Wind Ensemble, the Concert Band, and all beginning Brass Classes.
Ally Lyons
Ms. Lyons is starting her 2nd year as the Associate Band Director at Wester Middle School. She is a graduate of Frisco High School and the University of North Texas. Ms. Lyons spends her summers as an instructor for the DCI Corps the Blue Knights.
Ms. Lyons responsibilities include teaching the Symphonic Band, the Concert Band, and all beginning Woodwind Classes.
Ms. Lyons responsibilities include teaching the Symphonic Band, the Concert Band, and all beginning Woodwind Classes.
Chad Wallace
Mr. Wallace serves as Director of Percussion Studies for the Centennial High School Cluster. He is starting his 7th year of coordinating percussion instruction and events at Centennial High School, Lawler Middle School, and Wester Middle School. Prior to his appointment with the Centennial Band, Mr. Wallace worked in Lewisville ISD, Houston ISD, and Katy ISD. Mr. Wallace’s groups have been both state honor band finalists and state marching band contestants and have also performed at the prestigious National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN. Under his direction, the TC Drum Line became the official drum line of the NHL™s Dallas Stars for 2006 and 2007, performing at playoff games, in television commercials, and various Stars promotional events. While in Houston, Mr. Wallace’s West Briar MS percussion ensembles won the U.S. National Grand Championship from Music Showcase Festivals with a perfect score of 100. They were featured on many local news stations and toured the Houston area performing in several select venues.
Mr. Wallace received his B.S. in Music Education from Austin Peay State University where he studied with David Steinquest. While at APSU he arranged and instructed for The Governor€™s Own marching band and played set for the Jazz Band I and the Jazz Combo I. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer throughout Texas and his native Tennessee. He holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Wallace is an educational endorser of Evans Drum Heads and Innovative Percussion. Mr. Wallace also writes and arranges percussion arrangements for many high schools and colleges throughout the United States. Mr. Wallace resides in Frisco with his wife Robin, son Logan, and two dogs.
Mr. Wallace received his B.S. in Music Education from Austin Peay State University where he studied with David Steinquest. While at APSU he arranged and instructed for The Governor€™s Own marching band and played set for the Jazz Band I and the Jazz Combo I. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer throughout Texas and his native Tennessee. He holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Wallace is an educational endorser of Evans Drum Heads and Innovative Percussion. Mr. Wallace also writes and arranges percussion arrangements for many high schools and colleges throughout the United States. Mr. Wallace resides in Frisco with his wife Robin, son Logan, and two dogs.
Jesse Ramirez
Assistant Percussion Director
Mr. Ramirez joined the Centennial band staff in 2020. Mr. Ramirez assists in percussion studies at Centennial High School, Lawler Middle School, & Wester Middle School. Prior to his appointment in Frisco ISD, Mr. Ramirez served as a percussion specialist for Azle ISD where he taught private lessons and classes throughout the district. Before that, he served as the Director of Percussion at Victoria West High School in Victoria, Texas.
Mr. Ramirez received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas in 2018. During his time at UNT, he performed with the Green Brigade Marching Band, 8 o’clock steel band, Percussion Players Ensemble, Gamelan, Afro-Cuban Ensemble, and Brazilian Percussion Ensemble. Mr Ramirez also played on the UNT ‘A’ drumline that performed at Drumfest in Poland in October of 2014. He also played in the UNT Symphonic Band under Dennis Fisher, and served as principal timpanist for the Concert Orchestra. He studied percussion privately with Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, and Mark Ford, as well as Ed Soph, Stockton Helbing, and Jose Aponté for drumset. Mr. Ramirez also sang in in the Men’s Chorus and the student-led UNT Barbershop chorus. He also marched in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015, and taught the bass drum line at the Jersey Surf drum and bugle corps in 2017 and 2018.
Mr. Ramirez grew up in the Keller area, learning music from his father and teaching himself drumset. He played his first professional gig at age 16 and has performed with groups in all styles of music across the metroplex. He also played drumset for the Victoria Jazz Ensemble during his time there.
Mr. Ramirez lives in Denton, Texas with his fiancé, Aranka and their dog, Apollo.
Mr. Ramirez joined the Centennial band staff in 2020. Mr. Ramirez assists in percussion studies at Centennial High School, Lawler Middle School, & Wester Middle School. Prior to his appointment in Frisco ISD, Mr. Ramirez served as a percussion specialist for Azle ISD where he taught private lessons and classes throughout the district. Before that, he served as the Director of Percussion at Victoria West High School in Victoria, Texas.
Mr. Ramirez received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas in 2018. During his time at UNT, he performed with the Green Brigade Marching Band, 8 o’clock steel band, Percussion Players Ensemble, Gamelan, Afro-Cuban Ensemble, and Brazilian Percussion Ensemble. Mr Ramirez also played on the UNT ‘A’ drumline that performed at Drumfest in Poland in October of 2014. He also played in the UNT Symphonic Band under Dennis Fisher, and served as principal timpanist for the Concert Orchestra. He studied percussion privately with Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, and Mark Ford, as well as Ed Soph, Stockton Helbing, and Jose Aponté for drumset. Mr. Ramirez also sang in in the Men’s Chorus and the student-led UNT Barbershop chorus. He also marched in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015, and taught the bass drum line at the Jersey Surf drum and bugle corps in 2017 and 2018.
Mr. Ramirez grew up in the Keller area, learning music from his father and teaching himself drumset. He played his first professional gig at age 16 and has performed with groups in all styles of music across the metroplex. He also played drumset for the Victoria Jazz Ensemble during his time there.
Mr. Ramirez lives in Denton, Texas with his fiancé, Aranka and their dog, Apollo.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions.
Brad Smith - smithb@friscoisd.org
Allison Jadvani - jadvania@friscoisd.org
Chad Wallace - wallacec@friscoisd.org
Jessie Ramirez - ramirezj@friscoisd.org
Allison Jadvani - jadvania@friscoisd.org
Chad Wallace - wallacec@friscoisd.org
Jessie Ramirez - ramirezj@friscoisd.org