Band Directors
Mr. Chris Meredith, Director of Bands
Contact Information
Phone: 469-948-3187
Email: MeredithC@lisd.net
Bio
Chris Meredith is currently the Director of Bands at Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas. Prior to his position at Lewisville, Mr. Meredith served as Director of Bands at Shadow Ridge Middle School in Flower Mound, Texas for thirteen years. In addition to his graduate degree in Music Education from Southern Methodist University, Mr. Meredith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas’ acclaimed College of Music.
Mr. Meredith’s bands has consistently sweepstakes award winners at UIL and invitational festivals. The Shadow Ridge MS Band had been selected by the Foundation for Music Education as a National Winner in the National Wind Band Honors Project (2010-2018), were official performers at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL in 2012 and 2018, had placed as a top 5 Finalist in the Texas CC Honor Band Contests multiple occasions, and was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Cup in 2017.
As an active trombonist, Meredith performed twice at the 2003 International Trombone Festival in Helsinki, Finland as a Finalist in both the ITA Solo and Quartet Competitions, has performed as principal bass trombonists of multiple groups including San Angelo Symphony Orchestra, North East Orchestra and at the Pierre Monteux School. Meredith has also been a multiple recipient of the Lewisville Education Foundation’s “Foundation Award”, honored with the Texas PTA Lifetime Member Award, and was the 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year at Shadow Ridge Middle School.
Mr. Meredith is an active adjudicator, guest clinician and lecturer, and is honored to have professional affiliations with Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Current projects include the Musical Mastery Beginner Band series with Asa Burk, Alicia DeSoto, Kathy Johnson, and Dominic Talanca. Meredith resides in Highland Village with his wife, Kimberly, and their daughter, Charlotte.
Ms. Alicia DeSoto, Associate Director of Bands
Contact Information
Email: DeSotoA@lisd.net
Bio
Alicia DeSoto serves as Associate Director of Bands at Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas. Prior to working with the Lewisville Band, Ms. DeSoto spent eleven years as Associate Director of Bands at Shadow Ridge Middle School in Flower Mound, Texas. Ms. DeSoto earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree with Magna Cum Laude and Distinguished Honors from the Honors College at the University of North Texas, and her Master of Music in Music Education degree from Southern Methodist University.
Ms. DeSoto’s ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL and local festivals. Additionally, the bands at Shadow Ridge were selected by the Foundation for Music Education as a National Winner in the National Wind Band Honors Project (2010-2018), and were official performers at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL in 2012 and 2018. The Shadow Ridge Honor Winds had placed as a top 5 Finalist in the Texas CC Honor Band Contests multiple occasions and was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Cup in 2017.
Ms. DeSoto has been a multiple recipient of the Lewisville Education Foundation’s “Foundation Award” and has been honored with the Texas PTA Lifetime Member Award. Ms. DeSoto is an active guest clinician and lecturer, and has professional affiliations with the Texas Bandmasters Association and Texas Music Educators Association. Current projects include the Musical Mastery Beginner Band series with Asa Burk, Kathy Johnson, Chris Meredith and Dominic Talanca. As the chief editor for Musical Mastery, Ms. DeSoto has enjoyed the opportunity to compile an instrument-specific beginner curriculum to share with thousands of students throughout the country.
Mr. David Kraft, Associate Director of Bands
Contact Information
Email: KraftD@lisd.net
Bio
David Kraft has been teaching in the LHS Band cluster since 2008. Mr. Kraft began teaching at Huffines Middle School as the Associate Director in charge of woodwind classes and the Symphonic Band. In 2010 Mr. Kraft moved into his current position at Lewisville High School where he conducts the Concert Band and Jazz Band.
Originally from Porterville, California, Mr. Kraft grew up in a very musically rich community. He had plenty of performance opportunities across the nation, including a Christmas Performance at the White House in 2001. Starting the clarinet in the 4th grade, Mr. Kraft knew from a young age that music was going to be a major part of his life. Graduating from The University of North Texas in the summer of 2008, he has performed with the Northwest Community Orchestra, UNT Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and was a recording soloist for the Green Brigade, UNT’s marching band.
Most recently, Mr. Kraft has lead the LHS Jazz Band to new heights with local appearances and top ratings at the Chet Baker Jazz Festival.
Mr. Koby Chiou, Director of Percussion Studies
Contact Information
Email: ChiouK@lisd.net
Bio
Mr. Chiou is originally from Houston, TX where he went to school in Spring Branch ISD graduating from Stratford HS. He then went to Baylor University where he received a degree in Music Education. During his time at Baylor, he performed with the Baylor Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and served as the Drumline Section Leader for the Golden Wave Band. At Baylor, Mr. Chiou studied with Dr. Todd Meehan, Dr. Ed J Taylor, Mr. Arlo Schultis, Mr. Scott Taylor and Mr. Chris Sies.
In addition to his Baylor Education, Mr. Chiou also has a background in the highest level of the marching arts. He has experience in both World Class Drum Corps and Indoor Percussion Groups, most recently Monarch Independent.
Mr. Curtis Green, Color Guard Director
Contact Information
Email: greencr@lisd.net
Bio
Mr. Green is originally from Mesquite, TX and has been teaching dance and color guard for many years. He has past experience as a teacher and clinician at Beyond Belief Dance Company, Azle High School, Burleson High School, Summit High School, and North Crowley High School. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the School for Classical and Contemporary Dance at Texas Christian University in 2009.
Being a dancer first and foremost, Mr. Green has trained and danced in New York City with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and also in Pittsburgh, PA with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Along with teaching color guard, Mr. Green serves as the choreographer of the Contemporary and Hip Hop Company members at Laura’s Dance Dynamics in Hurst, TX. He is currently the color guard director at Northwest High School and is also on staff as the movement and dance choreographer for the Dallas based World Class Independent Winter Guard, Black Gold.
Some of his achievements include choreographing the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show in 2008, and also auditioning for and advancing to “Vegas Week” of the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance in 2007. Mr. Green has also served as a guest choreographer for the UTA Dance Ensemble in Arlington, TX. Mr. Green has danced in the American College Dance Festival Association Adjudication Concert, PILOT Choreographers Taking Flight, company member at Texas Dance Theater, and has also performed as a lead dance soloist at Black Gold Winter Guard. Along with his background in dance, he currently is serving in the United States Army Reserves.
