Directors
Bryan Wright
Bryan Wright, Head Band Director
Bryan Wright was born and raised in west Forth Worth and Crowley and comes from a very musical family. His father played drum set in the very first Paschal High School jazz bands (under the direction of Phil Hewett), and his uncles have been part of many area musical groups including the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, UNT One O'Clock Lab Band, Casa Manana pit orchestra, and the local blues scene. Having such a close personal connection to the history of local jazz, blues and public school music, Mr. Wright is anxious to continue building on the great traditions of the PHS Band program. Mr. Wright currently lives in Aledo with his wife, Lisa, and their beagle and two cats. Lisa has taught high school and middle school English and journalism for the past 19 years and recently earned her counselor certification.
As a graduate of Southwest Texas State University, Mr. Wright was active in all areas of the music department. Athletic, concert and jazz bands, symphony orchestra, percussion ensemble and steel bands were a part of every semester at SWT, as well as performances at the 1991 PASIC College Drumline Competition and the 1992 Montreux Jazz and World Music Festival. While working on his master's degree and serving as a graduate teaching assistant at Southwest Texas, Mr. Wright was actively involved in the SWT Athletic Bands and taught percussion methods and private lessons to undergraduate music majors.
Mr. Wright began his teaching career in Georgetown, Texas. During Mr. Wright's time at Georgetown High School, the band was a three-time participant in the 4A and 5A UIL State Marching Contest and was named Best in Class at regional marching band contests. Having just won their third Honor Band award in 1992, the concert bands at Georgetown High School were very successful in state-level taping events and were consistently selected as the Best in Class and Grand Champion while traveling to a variety of destinations in the spring semester. The percussion program at Georgetown was also very strong during Mr. Wright's tenure. The GHS drumline was a consistent winner of top overall and section honors at various drumline contests, and their percussion ensembles frequently won Best in Class in middle school and high school divisions of the Westlake Percussion Ensemble Festival. Individual percussionists were very successful at the region, area and state level of the TMEA All-State Band auditions with multiple students reaching the area and state levels in consecutive years.
As a member of the Waxahachie High School band staff, Mr. Wright helped the marching band reach the UIL 4A State Marching Band contest for the first time in the school's history. In addition to earning this great accomplishment, the "Spirit of Waxahachie" marching band also participated in the 2000 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. WHS concert bands, percussion ensembles, winterguards and drumlines all earned top honors at region and state-level contests.
As a member of the band staff at Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas, Mr. Wright helped bring the band to new levels of success. The CHS marching band was consistently ranked in the top five of the Arlington and Houston BOA Regional marching band contests and were finalists at the BOA Super Regional in San Antonio. In 2004, the Creekview High School marching band competed in the UIL 5A State Marching Band contest in San Antonio.
Most recently, Mr. Wright has been the director of bands at Faubion Middle School in McKinney and Hall Middle School in Weatherford. Although the bands at Faubion Middle School had not previously been successful at UIL contests, Mr. Wright doubled the size of the program and earned UIL Sweepstakes for the first time in school history, continuing to do so throughout his tenure at Faubion. In 2007 and 2008, the Faubion Middle School Wind Ensemble was recognized through the National Wind Band Honors as were many individual soloists. The FMS Wind Ensemble was also earned the Best in Class award at the Peak Music Festival in Denton, Texas.
In addition to his responsibilities at Faubion and Hall middle schools, Mr. Wright was elected as the TMEA Region 25 and Region 7 Middle School Band Division Chairman. Although he will no longer serve as a leader of the local Middle School Band Division, Mr. Wright plans to stay actively involved in the region.
Throughout his career, Mr. Wright has worked with numerous mentors who have had a significant impact on his teaching philosophy, including Jack Rumbley, Rodney Klett, Eddie Green, Marion West, Joe Dixon, John Whitwell, John Stansberry, and John Lopez. Mr. Wright credits his mentors for helping shape the teacher he is today.
Mr. Wright is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, Percussion Arts Society and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity.
Matt Sawyer, Assistant Director
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Originally from Paris, TX, saxophonist and woodwinds player Matt Sawyer is excited to join the staff at Paschal HS as an assistant band director and as the director of the Paschal Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Sawyer played alto and tenor saxophone in the world-renowned University of North Texas (UNT) One O'clock Lab Band under the direction of Neil Slater for four years. He appeared with the band on four studio albums (Lab 2004-2007) and two live albums (Live From Thailand and Live At Blues Alley). He was also a two-time Finalist in the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Jazz Competition, and his group The Matt Sawyer Orchestra was selected to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands. His arrangement for his group of John Coltrane's Dear Lord was Downbeat Winner of Best Arrangement the same year. Most recently, Mr. Sawyer performed as a featured jazz soloist at the NASA Biennial Conferences in Lubbock, TX, and Champaign, IL with the TWU/Brookhaven Saxophone Ensemble.
Matt Sawyer has performed with Jimmy Heath, Pete Christlieb, Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Lou Marini, His Majesty The King of Thailand, Nick Payton, Rufus Reid, Lynn Seaton, Ed Soph, Fred Hamilton, Wayne Bergeron, Dallas big band Rebel Alliance Jazz Ensemble, Michael League and Chris McQueen of Snarky Puppy, indie artist and America's Got Talent finalist Cas Haley, and many others. He has performed in groups as the opening act for Wayne Newton, Barbara Fairchild, Maroon 5, Dave Douglas, and Chick Corea. He has toured and performed all over the US, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Poland, and the Netherlands, and also performed clinics in the US, Canada, Japan, and Thailand. Mr. Sawyer holds both a Masters in Music Education and MA in Teaching from Texas Woman's University (TWU) and a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from UNT. He studied saxophone with Roy Allen, Jim Riggs, Gary Meggs, Tom Luer, David Lown, Dave Chael, and Andrew Dahlke, and flute with Mary-Karen Clardy.
In addition to being a performer, Mr. Sawyer is an active teacher and clinician in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and is an applied instructor of jazz saxophone at Brookhaven College. Mr. Sawyer was the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo Director at TWU for three years, and he taught saxophone and woodwind lessons for North Lamar, Mesquite, and Richardson ISDs. He was also a band director for Music Learning Band Programs for five years, teaching at over fifteen private schools in the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan area. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA), Jazz Education Network (JEN), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), National Flute Association (NFA), and North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA).
Mr. Sawyer is looking forward to making Fort Worth his new home with his wife Yukari and son Hayato, along with their two cats, Misia and Oscar.
Originally from Paris, TX, saxophonist and woodwinds player Matt Sawyer is excited to join the staff at Paschal HS as an assistant band director and as the director of the Paschal Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Sawyer played alto and tenor saxophone in the world-renowned University of North Texas (UNT) One O'clock Lab Band under the direction of Neil Slater for four years. He appeared with the band on four studio albums (Lab 2004-2007) and two live albums (Live From Thailand and Live At Blues Alley). He was also a two-time Finalist in the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Jazz Competition, and his group The Matt Sawyer Orchestra was selected to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands. His arrangement for his group of John Coltrane's Dear Lord was Downbeat Winner of Best Arrangement the same year. Most recently, Mr. Sawyer performed as a featured jazz soloist at the NASA Biennial Conferences in Lubbock, TX, and Champaign, IL with the TWU/Brookhaven Saxophone Ensemble.
Matt Sawyer has performed with Jimmy Heath, Pete Christlieb, Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Lou Marini, His Majesty The King of Thailand, Nick Payton, Rufus Reid, Lynn Seaton, Ed Soph, Fred Hamilton, Wayne Bergeron, Dallas big band Rebel Alliance Jazz Ensemble, Michael League and Chris McQueen of Snarky Puppy, indie artist and America's Got Talent finalist Cas Haley, and many others. He has performed in groups as the opening act for Wayne Newton, Barbara Fairchild, Maroon 5, Dave Douglas, and Chick Corea. He has toured and performed all over the US, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Poland, and the Netherlands, and also performed clinics in the US, Canada, Japan, and Thailand. Mr. Sawyer holds both a Masters in Music Education and MA in Teaching from Texas Woman's University (TWU) and a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from UNT. He studied saxophone with Roy Allen, Jim Riggs, Gary Meggs, Tom Luer, David Lown, Dave Chael, and Andrew Dahlke, and flute with Mary-Karen Clardy.
In addition to being a performer, Mr. Sawyer is an active teacher and clinician in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and is an applied instructor of jazz saxophone at Brookhaven College. Mr. Sawyer was the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo Director at TWU for three years, and he taught saxophone and woodwind lessons for North Lamar, Mesquite, and Richardson ISDs. He was also a band director for Music Learning Band Programs for five years, teaching at over fifteen private schools in the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan area. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA), Jazz Education Network (JEN), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), National Flute Association (NFA), and North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA).
Mr. Sawyer is looking forward to making Fort Worth his new home with his wife Yukari and son Hayato, along with their two cats, Misia and Oscar.
Ben Hall
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Benjamin Hall is excited to continue his teaching career as Associate Director of Bands and Coordinator of Percussion at R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Hall, a native of Highland, Illinois, received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2009. Ben previously taught at Western Hills and Arlington Heights High Schools, also in Fort Worth ISD, where he served as Associate Director of Bands. Prior to coming to Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Hall served as a permanent substitute teacher with the Indian Prairie School District and Francis Granger Middle School Bands in Aurora-Naperville, Illinois. In addition, he is currently a Percussion Clinician with the Smith-Walbridge Clinics, based in Charleston, Illinois, and formerly served as the Snare Drum Technician with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, from Boston, Massachusetts, in 2011.
Mr. Hall studied percussion with world-renowned marimba virtuoso William Moersch, Mr. Doug Smith at the St. Louis Symphony Community Music School, Mr. Terence Mayhue, Mr. Brett Kuhn, and virtuoso timpanist Jonathan Haas. He is a former Principal Percussionist with the Danville Symphony Orchestra, and three-time Drum Corps International World Champion with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. While attending Eastern Illinois University, Mr. Hall studied conducting with Drs. Milton Allen and Barry Houser. He also served as the Percussion Arranger and Instructor for Eastern Illinois University's Panther Marching Band and Eastern Music Camps.
Mr. Hall remains active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. His professional affiliations include: MENC, PAS, and TMEA.
Benjamin Hall is excited to continue his teaching career as Associate Director of Bands and Coordinator of Percussion at R.L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Hall, a native of Highland, Illinois, received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2009. Ben previously taught at Western Hills and Arlington Heights High Schools, also in Fort Worth ISD, where he served as Associate Director of Bands. Prior to coming to Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Hall served as a permanent substitute teacher with the Indian Prairie School District and Francis Granger Middle School Bands in Aurora-Naperville, Illinois. In addition, he is currently a Percussion Clinician with the Smith-Walbridge Clinics, based in Charleston, Illinois, and formerly served as the Snare Drum Technician with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, from Boston, Massachusetts, in 2011.
Mr. Hall studied percussion with world-renowned marimba virtuoso William Moersch, Mr. Doug Smith at the St. Louis Symphony Community Music School, Mr. Terence Mayhue, Mr. Brett Kuhn, and virtuoso timpanist Jonathan Haas. He is a former Principal Percussionist with the Danville Symphony Orchestra, and three-time Drum Corps International World Champion with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. While attending Eastern Illinois University, Mr. Hall studied conducting with Drs. Milton Allen and Barry Houser. He also served as the Percussion Arranger and Instructor for Eastern Illinois University's Panther Marching Band and Eastern Music Camps.
Mr. Hall remains active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. His professional affiliations include: MENC, PAS, and TMEA.
Brian Taylor
Mr. Taylor grew up in Austin, Texas where he played in the Westlake HS band. He continued his studies at the University of Texas at Austin where he majored in Plan II and Music Studies. At UT he was a five-year member of Longhorn Band and a three-year member of the Wind Ensemble under Jerry Junkin. He studied trumpet with Ray Sasaki, and performed as a member of the Wind Ensemble on their World Tour in 2014. Mr. Taylor is excited to join the Paschal band staff and continue a long tradition of educators in his family.
Mr. Taylor grew up in Austin, Texas where he played in the Westlake HS band. He continued his studies at the University of Texas at Austin where he majored in Plan II and Music Studies. At UT he was a five-year member of Longhorn Band and a three-year member of the Wind Ensemble under Jerry Junkin. He studied trumpet with Ray Sasaki, and performed as a member of the Wind Ensemble on their World Tour in 2014. Mr. Taylor is excited to join the Paschal band staff and continue a long tradition of educators in his family.
Gary Locke, Color Guard Director
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Gary Locke was born and raised in Franklin Tennessee. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1992 and was an All-State Tuba musician. Gary marched in the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 1993-1995, the Chimeras Winter Guard in 1993 and 1994, and marched Everybody Winter Guard in 1995 and 1996. He was also feature dancer in the Canopy dance company. Gary has taught Color Guard from 1993 to the present.
Gary Locke was born and raised in Franklin Tennessee. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1992 and was an All-State Tuba musician. Gary marched in the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 1993-1995, the Chimeras Winter Guard in 1993 and 1994, and marched Everybody Winter Guard in 1995 and 1996. He was also feature dancer in the Canopy dance company. Gary has taught Color Guard from 1993 to the present.