Abraham Nuñez
Assistant Director
Abraham Nuñez is in his fifth year of teaching and will be joining the Conroe Tiger Band as an Assistant Band Director. He will direct the Symphonic Band, the Jazz Ensemble, coached chamber groups, and assisted all woodwinds in the band program.
He has served on the faculty at the Great Plains Saxophone Workshop hosted by the award-winning h2 Quartet at the University of Oklahoma. Recently, Abraham coached the Halcyon Saxophone Quartet which was awarded the Bronze Medal in the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, 3rd Prize in the 2023 Texas UIL Chamber Music Competition, 2nd Prize in the 2024 Texas UIL Chamber Music Competition, and accepted to perform at the 30th Music for All National Festival.
Mr. Nuñez, a product of the greater Houston area, received his B. M. in Music Education and Minor in Jazz Studies from Oklahoma State University. At Oklahoma State, Mr. Nuñez has studied closely with various instructors including Jeffrey Loeffert, Johnny Salinas, Joseph Missal, Kim Loeffert, Thomas Poole, and Tyler Austin.
Mr. Nuñez has performed with numerous ensembles including the OSU Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, Paradigm Saxophone Octet, Akötu Quartet, and the Newfound Chamber Winds. He can be heard on the professional albums Kairos by the Newfound Chamber Winds as well as Angular Tuesday and Room 118 by the OSU Jazz Orchestra. As a member of the Akōtu Quartet, they were awarded 3rd Prize of the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Wind Competition. His quartet was awarded Honorary Mention in the NOLA Emerging Artist Division as well as Finalist in the Senior Division of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition.
His affiliations include TMEA, TBA, and the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Kelly Garcia
Assistant Director
Kelly Garcia is in her fifth year of teaching and is beyond excited to join the staff of the Conroe Tiger Band. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Mrs. Garcia earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas State University, where she studied trumpet.
She began her professional career in 2021 at Hopewell Middle School in Austin before returning to the Houston area. For the past four years, she has taught as an assistant band director at Rowe Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. During her time at Rowe, the program experienced great success in beginner development, region band auditions, and UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contests. The program grew to over 350 students during her time there.
In 2024, Mrs. Garcia co-founded the Cypress Winds Community Band. The professional ensemble presents free concerts and has been invited to perform at the 2026 Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA) Convention.
Mrs. Garcia has been on the visual staff of the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. In 2025, she also served on the visual staff of the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. As a performer, Mrs. Garcia was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard, Boston Crusaders, and Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. She also performed with the Texans Deep Steep Thunder Band for the 2024 NFL season.
When she isn’t making music, Mrs. Garcia enjoys traveling and indoor rock climbing. She resides in the Houston area with her husband Davíd-who is also a band director- and their two cats.
Jake Rollins
Percussion Director
Mr. Jake Rollins is originally from Cleveland, TN, and is in his 1st year as the director of percussion for the Conroe High School cluster. Mr. Rollins attended Tennessee Technological University Where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education while studying with Dr. Eric Willie, Dr. Collin Hill, and Dr. Brad Meyer. While at Tennessee Tech, he performed in numerous ensembles including the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Bands. Mr. Rollins has also performed as the house drummer for the Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado and as a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Front ensemble.
Mr. Rollins has served as instructional staff with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in Fort Worth, TX, and the Music City Drum Corps from Nashville, TN.
Mr. Rollins proudly endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.
Michael Henson
Color Guard Director
Michael Henson is an educator, designer, choreographer, and creative leader who has had the honor of working with programs across the country. With more than fifteen years of experience in pageantry arts education, he is known for creating performances that blend visual storytelling and musical experiences.
Michael currently serves as Director of Colorguards at Conroe High School, where he has led significant program growth while designing award-winning marching band and winterguard productions. Under his leadership, the program has expanded dramatically in both size and competitive achievement, earning recognition at Texas Color Guard Circuit events and Winter Guard International regionals..
Throughout his career, Michael has served on the instructional and creative staffs of numerous competitive ensembles including Black Gold Winterguard, Redemption Guard, ATX Winterguard, ORION Indoor Winds, Lone Star Drum and Bugle Corps, and Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps. His work has contributed to appearances at Bands of America Regionals and Super Regionals, Drum Corps International Semifinals, Winter Guard International World Championships, and multiple state championship events throughout Texas and Indiana.
As a designer and choreographer, Michael specializes in creating visually expressive productions that aim to tell a story. His ensembles have earned finalist and medalist placements in organizations including Winter Guard International, Texas Color Guard Circuit, North Texas Colorguard Association, Indiana High School Color Guard Association, and the Indiana Percussion Association. In 2019, ORION Indoor Winds earned a 4th place finish in Independent World class at the WGI World Championships. In 2018 and 2019, both Black Gold ensembles earned finalist appearances, including a 2018 2nd place finish in Independent A.
In addition to his work in the marching arts, Michael maintains a strong background in music performance and conducting. He previously served as assistant conductor for the opera, ballet, and symphony orchestras at Butler University and has performed as a clarinetist with orchestral and chamber ensembles throughout the United States.
Michael holds a Master of Music degree in Composition from Butler University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from Henderson State University. In addition, he also heavily studied clarinet performance and orchestral conducting.
Michael currently lives in the Houston area with his husband, Sphynx cat (Mama), and dog (Canela).
DIRECTORS & STAFF
Chase R. Giddings
Director of Bands
Chase R. Giddings begins his first year as director of bands at Conroe HS after 12 years of service in Spring ISD. His responsibilities include overall leadership of the band and its auxiliary programs, as well as conductor of the Ralph Rowe Wind Ensemble.
Bands under Mr. Giddings’ direction have received UIL Sweepstakes awards and first division ratings at numerous festivals and contests. His programs have been synonymous with success and have made appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Music for All National Festival, and Texas Bandmaster’s Association Clinic/Convention. He is an active clinician and adjudicator having provided presentations for TMEA, the Midwest Clinic, TBA, and the SHSU Center for Music Education.
A native of Houston, Mr. Giddings is a graduate of Sam Houston State University where he received his Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting. His primary teachers include Dr. Matthew McInturf and Dr. Scott Plugge. He has also benefited from the mentorship of Dr. Richard Crain, Trent Cooper, Dr. Joe Clark, Gabriel Musella, and Philip Geiger.
In his spare time, he enjoys researching family ancestry and spending time with family and friends. He is passionate about student success through the arts and works to promote public school music education, particularly in urban communities nationwide. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, where he has served on numerous state committees and as a Region band chair, the Texas Bandmasters Association, where he served as a region representative, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.
ADDITIONAL STAFF
Quincy Doenges - Percussion
CTB DESIGN TEAM
Jordan Barker
Program Coordinator and Music Arranger
Chris Lambrecht
Drill Writer
Andy Salmon
Percussion Arranger
Michael Henson
Aesthetics and Colorguard Choreographer
Courtney Alyson Mills
Winds and Percussion Choreographer
Pete Crawford
Sound Design
Cluster clinicians
Greg Dick
Dr. Matthew McInturf
Gabriel Musella
Susan Scarborough
Vic Flowers