Directors

Benold Middle School Band

Directors

Steve Stevenson (512) 943-5000 x6995

stevensons@georgetownisd.org

Steve Stevenson is the Band Director at Benold Middle School. In this role, he directs the Benold Middle School Honors Band and teaches 6th grade woodwinds. In addition, Mr. Stevenson assists with various ensembles, both at Benold Middle School and Georgetown High School. He is the Assistant Camp Coordinator at the Texas State University Summer Band Camps and has also taught conducting and low brass masterclasses there. Mr. Stevenson is an active music arranger and has had his arrangements performed by several university and high school bands.

Prior to his arrival at Benold Middle School, Mr. Stevenson was an Associate Director at Lehman High School in Kyle, TX and Director of Bands at Livingston Junior High School in Livingston, TX. He has also taught private lessons for New Braunfels ISD, Hallsville ISD, Alto ISD, and Timpson ISD as well as low brass sectionals during summer band camps for Gladewater High School, Pine Tree High School, and Hallsville High School.

Mr. Stevenson has an article published in the South Central Music Bulletin of the College Music Society entitled “Band Music of Art and Craft: A Portrait of, and Interview with, Composer and Conductor Fred J. Allen.”

Mr. Stevenson, a native of Gladewater, Texas, holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he studied privately with Mr. Fred J. Allen, Mr. Christopher M. Anderson, and Mr. Brian A. Britt. He recently completed graduate studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where he received his Master of Music in Conducting while studying with Dr. Rodney C. Schueller, Dr. Joey Martin, and Mr. Howard Hudiburg. He has also participated in conducting symposiums with Mr. Keith Brion, Dr. Gary Hill, and Dr. Sarah McKoin. His professional memberships include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society, National Association of Military Marching Bands, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Kristina Certain (512) 943-5000 x6995

certaink@georgetownisd.org

Kristina Certain is the Assistant Band Director at Douglas M. Benold Middle School. She received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Texas Christian University. Ms. Certain joined the Georgetown Independent School District in 2007. Before teaching in Georgetown, Ms. Certain student-taught in Lewisville, Texas at Marcus High School and Briarhill Middle School. Her ensemble responsibilities at Benold include directing the Symphonic Band, assisting with sixth grade beginners, and assisting with the Honor Band. Her professional affiliations include: the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the National Honorary Band Service Sorority -- Tau Beta Sigma

Jed Leach (512) 943-5000 x7188

leachj@georgetownisd.org

This will be Jed Leach’s second year as the Percussion Director for Georgetown ISD. He oversees all percussion studies from grades 6-12, as well as teaching marching percussion, percussion ensembles, concert percussion, and assists with Jazz band. Mr. Leach received his BM in Music Education from Morehead State University in Morehead, KY under the tutelage of Frank Oddis and Dr. Brian Mason.

While attending Morehead State, Mr. Leach performed throughout the United States, China, and Brazil with the MSU Percussion Ensemble and Symphony Band. His additional performances with the MSU Percussion Ensemble include being featured at the North American Brass Band Association Conference, the KMEA Conference, and a PASIC 2003 new music showcase.

Mr. Leach is also an alumnus of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. He marched in the tenor line in 2001 and played marimba in the front ensemble in 2002, finishing in the top 6 in DCI both years.

As an educator, Mr. Leach was previously the Percussion Director at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. During his time there, the PCMB placed first in the state marching competition and placed 9th in the BOA Grand Nationals competition. Under his direction, the Plymouth-Canton Indoor Drumline placed 6th and 10th places in WGI Scholastic World Finals in 2007 and 2008, as well as winning the MCGC State Indoor Drumline Championships both years. Mr. Leach has also taught with the KMEA State Champion Lafayette High School band in Kentucky as well as other high school programs before teaching in MI.

Mr. Leach is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and is a proud Artist/Educator for Evans Drumheads, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, and Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments.

Dr. Jeff Otto

jotto1071@gmail.com

Dr. Jeff Otto is the Percussion tech assisting Mr. Leach and more specifically teaching the pit for the GHS Drumline fall season. He will also be taking over the private lesson studio for Georgetown ISD – all students are encouraged to call or email Mr. Otto immediately to set up your lesson schedule for the year.

Dr. Otto is recently completed his doctorate in percussion performance at the University of Texas at Austin. Before moving to Austin, he received his master’s degree from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, where he was the graduate teaching assistant to Gordon Stout, and his bachelor’s degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas under the direction of Kevin Bobo.

In addition to his studies over the last three years, Dr. Otto performs regularly with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra, and was just recently placed on the sub-list of the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami, Florida. He has also performed in concert with Dr. Tom Burritt at the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar and was a soloist with the UT Graduate Percussion Quartet at the 2006 PASIC.

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