1010Katie Lewis is in her 14th year as the Director of Bands at Maus Middle School. She taught for the previous 5 years in Plano ISD. Bands under her direction have consistently received UIL “Sweepstakes” awards and have been named “Best in Class and “Most Outstanding Band” at various North Texas music festivals. The Maus Wind Ensemble placed in the Area level Competition of the Honor Band process in the summer of 2022. Most recently, the Maus Wind Ensemble placed 7th runner up in the Texas Music Educators Association State CC Honor Band Competition in 2018. In 2022, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014 the Maus Wind Ensemble was named a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project. They were also named a Commended winner in the same contest in 2013 and 2015. Mrs. Lewis earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree with Magna Cum Laude and Distinguished Honors from the Honors College at the University of North Texas.

While at North Texas, she performed with the Concert and Symphonic bands. She also served in many capacities with the “Green Brigade” marching band as the band music librarian, drill technician, flute section leader, and as Assistant to the Director. She served as the Vice President of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and helped found the UNT chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Mrs. Lewis is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer in the area. She has presented at the Texas Music Educators Association annual conference, Midwest International Band and Orchestra convention, as well as the Texas Bandmasters Association annual conference. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Adjudicator’s Association, American School Band Directors Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and Texas Flute Society. Mrs. Lewis is the Area B TMEA Mentor Program Coordinator and serves as the Region 24 TBA Representative. She also serves as the Region 24 Secretary and is on the state board of TMEA.

Mrs. Lewis currently resides in McKinney with her husband, Nathan, and her sweet sons Jackson (10 years) and Micah (8 years).

Mrs. Lewis teaches the Wind Ensemble, assists with the Symphonic band, assists with the Concert Band, and teaches Beginning Flute, Trumpet and Horn classes.

Lauren Solano is in her 5th year as the Associate Director of Bands at Maus Middle School. Prior to Maus, she spent three years as the Assistant Director of Bands at Richardson North Junior High School in Richardson, Texas. Bands under her direction have consistently received UIL “Sweepstakes” awards and “Best in Class” at various music festivals. Ms. Solano is a native of Coppell, Texas and graduated from Coppell High School.

Ms. Solano attended the University of North Texas where she received Bachelors degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance in 2015. While at UNT, she studied clarinet with Daryl Coad, conducting with Dennis Fisher and Nicholas Williams, and was a member of the Green Brigade Marching Band, UNT Concert and Symphonic Bands, and various chamber ensembles.

Ms. Solano regularly performs with the Carrollton Wind Symphony, a community ensemble under the direction of Jim McDaniel that has performed at Midwest, TMEA, and TBA music conventions over the years. Ms. Solano is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Co-Ed Fraternity, International Clarinet Association, and Girl Scouts of America. She loves reading, running, and taking care of her German Shepherd/Husky mix, Finley.

Ms. Solano teaches the Symphonic Band, assists with the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and teaches Beginning Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe/Bassoon classes.

Thomas Brink is in his 6th year as the Associate Director of Bands at Maus Middle School. Mr. Brink is a native of Flower Mound, Texas and graduated from Marcus High School. In 2009, he graduated and went on to attend Oklahoma State University, where he studied trombone under Paul Compton and composition under Igor Karaca. Upon completing a double major in composition and philosophy in 2014, he began teaching trombone lessons in North Texas for 2 years before going to Southern Methodist University for graduate studies in music education. 

Mr. Brink is a member of the Alpha Chi honor fraternity and a 4-year member of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project located in Schladming, Austria. He is also a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Jazz Educators Association. 

Mr. Brink is an avid football fan and arts enthusiast with a passion for music, photography, reading, games, and the outdoors. He loves the color represented by the hex code #FF7300, which is of course, Oklahoma State orange! (Go Pokes!)

Mr. Brink teaches the Concert Band, Jazz Band, assists with the Symphonic Band, assists with the Wind Ensemble, and teaches Beginning Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba classes.

Alan Brawdy is in his 11th year teaching in the Heritage High School cluster. He spent the previous four years teaching in the Plano West High School cluster in Plano. Alan has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s in Music from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

While at NSU, Mr. Brawdy studied under Mr. Kenneth Green and Mr. Bill Brent. He was a member of the Wind Ensemble and served as the drumline captain of the “Spirit of Northwestern” Marching Band. Mr. Brawdy holds professional memberships with Texas Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society.