Nathan Carter, Director of Bands  (Director's website)

Nathan Carter is Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at William B. Travis High School in Richmond Texas. Prior to opening Travis High School in 2006, Mr. Carter worked as band director at Bush High School, Sartartia Middle School and the High School For Performing and Visual Arts in Houston.

Prior to teaching in Texas, Nathan taught in the California public school system for 4 years. While in California, he helped form the Omni Brass Quintet which, in addition to concert performances, recorded for radio and television. A native of Oklahoma, Nathan has earned degrees from Oral Roberts University and West Texas A&M University.

This is Nathan's 22nd year as a music educator.  Bands under his direction have given acclaimed performances in numerous prestigious concerts halls and have received the Down Beat Magazine Outstanding High School Symphonic Band Recording Award. Nathan has twice been honored by Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Under his direction, the Travis Band received a Superior Rating at their first ever appearance at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest.

His professional associations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the International Trumpet Guild. He is the author of Fundamentals and Technique for Band and is currently writing a book on the art of practicing.

In spite of his busy teaching schedule, Nathan remains active as a performer, believing that it is essential to his teaching to maintain performance proficiency on his instrument.

Nathan and his wife, Anna, are the proud parents of two budding young musicians, Ethan and Micah.

Brad Huneycutt, Associate Director of Bands

Brad Huneycutt is currently the Associate Director of Bands at William B. Travis High School from Richmond, Texas remaining in his third year with the Fort Bend ISD. Previously he was the Associate Director of Bands at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas where he taught as Director of the Lake Highlands Wildcat Marching Band and Director of the LHHS Winterguard. Under his direction, these programs shared numerous awards and honors.

Mr. Huneycutt is currently on the adjudication panel for the Drum Corps International Summer Music Games and was a member of the DCI World Champion Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois. In addition, he served on the visual staff and as a designer for the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps from Seattle, Washington.

While earning his degree in all-level instrumental music education from the University of Texas at Arlington, he served as visual coordinator and staff to the UTA Marching Band as well as an instructor, music arranger, visual designer, and program consultant to schools around the US including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan, and New York. He spent several years on staff with the Richland High School Band from N. Richland Hills, Texas and has studied with Bill Watson, Cindy Lansford, and Marion West.

Mr. Huneycutt helped in establishing a leadership curriculum and participated as a leadership clinician for Fred J. Miller, Inc., and the University of Texas at Arlington drum major camps, and continues to be very influential in his students' successes.

Professional affiliations include: Music Educators National Conference, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Texas Classroom Teachers Association.

 Chelsea Waite – Movement Coordinator

Ryan Lucas – Color Guard Designer / Visual Consultant

Ellis Hampton – Percussion Arranger / Clinician

Ellis Hampton has been a member of the Guyer High School Band staff since the fall of 2009.  His duties include coordinating all aspects of the percussion programs of Guyer HS, Crownover MS, and Harpool MS.  In addition, he assists with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band at Guyer HS.

He is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas under Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Ed Soph, and Paul Rennick.  Prior to attending UNT, Mr. Hampton received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky under James Campbell.

As a performer, Mr. Hampton was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from 1996-2001, The Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, a founding member of the UK Percussion Quartet and winner of the 2003 PASIC Intercollegiate Solo Competition.

As an educator, Mr. Hampton has served on the Cavaliers and Phantom Regiment percussion staffs and is currently the percussion caption head of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.