DIRECTORS – Dripping Springs Tiger Band

Educational Background

Mr. Woods received his BME at Northern Illinois University. He is in his 29^th year of teaching and his 22^th year as a Texas music educator. Previous teaching opportunities include Watseka HS (IL) 1994-1998, Bear Creek HS (CO) 1998-2001, and Flour Bluff HS (TX) 2001-2003.

Teaching Background

Derek Woods has been teaching at Dripping Springs HS since 2003, starting as an Assistant Band Director/Director of Colorguard. In January of 2018, Mr. Woods was named Director of Bands. A trombonist and sometime pianist, Mr. Woods is a native of Westerville, Ohio.

Beginning his teaching career in 1994 at Watseka H.S. in Watseka, IL, Mr. Woods’ Concert Band and Mixed Choir consistently received straight Superior ratings at all IMEA sponsored festivals. The Watseka Warriors Marching Band was awarded the Illinois State Marching Band Class AA and A Championship in 1997 and 1998 respectively, earning top honors in Color Guard, Visual Execution, and General Effect.

Moving to Bear Creek H.S., Littleon, CO, in 1998, the Wind Ensemble and Concert Bands received straight Superior ratings at the Columbine Festival 1999-2001. The Wind Ensemble qualified and performed at the Colorado Bandmasters Association Concert Band Festival in 1999 and 2000 and received Superior ratings. The Bear Creek H.S. Marching Band was a CSHAA State Marching Band Contest Finalist 1998-2000, BOA Las Vegas Regional Finalist 1998-1999, and BOA Grand Nationals participant 1998-1999. The Bear Creek H.S. Winterguard and Percussion Ensemble competed very successfully at the local and national level through RMCGA, RMPA, and Winter Guard International (WGI). The Winterguard earned 4 WGI Regional Scholastic A Championships and was a WGI World Championships Scholastic A Finalist in 1999 and 2001 and was awarded RMCGA State Champion in SA Class 1999, 2001 and SO Class Champion 2000. The Percussion Ensemble was a WGI Midwest Regional Champion and WGI World Championships Scholastic Concert Finalist in 1999.

Mr. Woods’ Dripping Springs H.S. Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles have earned consistent superior ratings at the UIL Concert & Sightreading contests. The Tiger Marching Band was a BOA San Antonio Regional Class A Champion in 2004 and BOA Houston Regional Finalist in 2012, UIL State Marching Band Finalist in 2007, 2015, 2019 and 2021; 2009 UIL State Marching Band Gold Medalist; 2011 and 2017 UIL State Marching Band Silver Medalist. The DSHS Wind Ensemble has placed in the top 5 twice in the TMEA Honor Band Competition, and was selected as the 2021 TMEA 5A Invited Ensemble. The DSHS Winterguard has been a WGI Regional Finalist every year since first attending in 2006 and the Texas Color Guard Circuit State Championships SA Bronze Medalist 2006 and Silver Medalist 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2017. The Varsity Winterguard earned the TCGC 2016 Scholastic A State Championship Gold Medal and WGI World Championships Scholastic A Finalist, TCGC 2018 Open Class State Championship Gold Medal and WGI World Championship Scholastic Open Bronze Medal.

Professional Recognition and Membership

Mr. Woods has been named 5 times to “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”, and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmaster Association. Mr. Woods has served as President of the Texas Color Guard Circuit 2007-2011 and is past President of the Rocky Mountain Color Guard Association. He performed with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (1985-1988), Pride of Cincinnati (1986), Guardsmen (1987) and The Cavaliers (1988) Winterguards. Mr. Woods has played trombone with the Austin Symphonic Band and the Hill Country Big Band.

matthew.ehlers@dsisdtx.us – 512-858-3217

Matt Ehlers is in his third year serving as Director of Percussion for Dripping Springs High School and Middle Schools. As Percussion Director, Ehlers coordinates all of the high school and middle school percussion curriculum (6th-12th grade). Prior to his appointment at Dripping Springs he served as Director of Percussion at A.N. McCallum High School and Lamar Middle School Fine Arts Academies in Austin, Texas. Originally from Seward, Nebraska, he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas. The Advanced Steel Band at McCallum had the honor of performing at the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the 2012 P.A.S.I.C., and the 2012 Midwest Clinic. McCallum’s percussion ensemble was also selected as a winner of the 2015 Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase, winners of the 2015 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble contest, and were selected to perform at the 2019 Midwest Clinic. In 2013, with the help of a Creative Classroom grant, Ehlers founded the thirty piece Brazilian Samba School, known as the “Samba Knights,” at McCallum High School and created a community partnership with the Austin Samba School. Ehlers also appeared as a guest soloist in 2015 with the Lamar Middle School Jazz Factory at the Midwest Clinic and in 2017 with the Lamar Middle School Wind Ensemble at the Midwest Clinic. At Dripping Springs Ehlers helped the band advance to the UIL 5A State Marching Contest Finals in 2021 and qualify for the UIL State Marching Contest in 2022, their first year competing in the 6A classification. The marching percussion section was also named class champion in the 2021 South Texas Classic Drumline Invitational and were invited to present a clinic at the Texas Bandmasters Convention in 2023. The Dripping Springs Percussion Ensemble placed 2nd in the 2023 Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase. His compositions and arrangements for both steel band and percussion ensemble can be found at Boxfish Music Publishing and Row-Loff Productions. Matt and his wife Katie live in Dripping Springs with their daughter Lily and dog Carter. They enjoy a good BBQ, listening to records, and attempting various renovations on their house.

brian.mayer@dsisdtx.us – 512-858-3233

Brian Mayer is currently going into his 13th year of teaching and his 2nd year with the Dripping Springs Tiger Band. Prior to his time at Dripping Springs, he served as the Director of Bands at LASA High School in Austin. Under his direction, the Raptor Band was named Class AA Champions and Finalists at the BOA Waco Regional, Finalists at the Vista Ridge Marching Festival, and 2nd Place Overall at the USBands Remo Austin Finals. The Raptor Band also received 1st division ratings for all of their ensembles at the UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest.

Prior to this, Mr. Mayer served as the Director of Bands at LBJ High School from 2015-2021, and as an Assistant Band Director at LBJ from 2011-2015. During his time at LBJ, his bands have received consistent UIL Division 1 ratings at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest and have had numerous students named to the TMEA All-State Band. In 2018, the LBJ Wind Ensemble was a National Winner for the “Foundation of Music Education’s” Mark of Excellence Competition.

Mr. Mayer is a native Austinite and received his Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011. During his time at UT, Mr. Mayer was a member of the prestigious UT Trombone Studio and Choir, and performed across the US and at the International Trombone Festival in 2009.

Mr. Mayer is also an avid rock climber and loves to spend time with his dog, Eliza.

daniel.cuevas@dsisdtx.us – 512-858-3234

Daniel Cuevas is a music educator and visual design coordinator with over a decade of experience in the pageantry arts. Mr. Cuevas is currently entering his 13th year teaching and his second year at Dripping Springs High School where he conducts the Concert Band, Gold Jazz Band and helps oversee the color guard program. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music where he studied with Tom Bennett, David Bertman, John Benzer, Dr. Karen Wylie and Valerie Vidal. In addition, prior to coming to Dripping Springs Mr. Cuevas completed his coursework for a Masters in Music Education degree from the University of Michigan. Daniel has previously served as Associate Director of Bands at Trinity High School (2016-2022), Clear Creek High School (2012-2015) and Harrison High School (2010-2012). His performance experience includes performing as a member of the colorguard in several World Class Drum Corps, including the Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard and the 2008 World Champion Phantom Regiment.

In addition to his years of service as a band director, Mr. Cuevas has served as a visual designer, drill writer and consultant for numerous ensembles competing in UIL and BOA Regional and Grand National Championships. His professional affiliations include TMEA and TBA, and he is currently an active adjudicator for Bands of America.

derek.vereen@dsisdtx.us – Derek Vereen — 512-858-3250

Derek Vereen was born in Minot, North Dakota on the air-force base. Shortly after, his family took roots back in South Carolina. Mr. Vereen attended Winthrop University in South Carolina studying for his BA in Dance Education from the years of 2011-2015. While attending school he performed with both dance companies and winterguards. Groups such as Staib Dance Company, Caroline Calochue Arieal Company, First Flight Winterguard and Etude Winterguard. Most of his summers were spent competing for Drum Corps International (DCI), with Carolina Crown from 2012-2016. After finishing school Mr. Vereen decided to move his marching career to Cincinatti; where he would perform, and medal, with the Pride of Cincinatti Winterguard (2016-2018). While he resided in Ohio, he taught two scholastic world class finalist groups: Bellbrook and Miamisburg High School. During this same time, he was offered the opportunity to tour with “Blast! The Music of Disney Japan,” (2017-2019). After his final tour with “Blast!,” he came to Austin, TX to teach several high schools like Leander, Cedar Park, Cedar Ridge, Westlake, Moe & Gene Johnson. Now Mr. Vereen is excited to direct his own program, and share his knowledge of dance and colorguard with his students.