Meet The Directors
CPHS - Director
christopher.yee@leanderisd.org
512.570.1258
Christopher Yee
Christopher Yee is the Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School and the co-founder of the Cedar Park Winds Community Band.
Born and raised in Klein, Texas, Christopher received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York where he studied trumpet with Frank Campos. Upon graduation in 2005, he began teaching middle school band in Austin, Texas as an assistant band director at Canyon Ridge Middle School. In 2010, Christopher opened Four Points Middle School as its Director of Bands and served in that position until 2017. The Four Points Middle School Wind Ensemble, under Mr. Yee’s leadership, was invited to perform at the 2015 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. He is now thrilled to serve as the Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School beginning in the Fall of 2020.
Christopher co-founded the Cedar Park Winds in 2007 with Manuel C. San Luis. Since then, the band has grown in size and quality, performing free concerts for local music students and their families. The Cedar Park Winds was invited to perform at the 2013 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention and at the 2017 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
In July 2019, Mr. Yee was elected to the Texas Bandmasters Association Board of Directors and is honored to serve Texas band directors and students through board membership. Most recently, the Cedar Park High School Timberwolf Marching Band, under Mr. Yee’s leadership, was crowned Champion of the 2019 Conference 5A State Marching Contest.
Christopher enjoys conducting all-region bands, teaching summer band camps, serving as a clinician for local band programs, and teaching/writing curriculum for the SASi Leadership Company. He lives in Leander, Texas, with his wife Jenna and two sons, Noah and Ashton. His favorite hobbies include home-brewing coffee and camping with family and friends.
Kendall Santos
CPHS - Associate Director
kendall.santos@leanderisd.org
512.570.1258
Kendall Santos is an Associate Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, TX.
Mrs. Santos grew up in Flower Mound, TX and graduated from the University of North Texas with honors in May of 2018 with her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She began her college career at the University of Minnesota and later transferred to UNT to finish out her degree and study with Dr. Terri Sundberg on flute. Mrs. Santos was a member of UNT's Green Brigade Marching Band, led by Dr. Nicholas Williams, where she participated as the lead field technician for two seasons. During her time at UNT, she was the 2017 President for UNT’s Marching Arts Forum and a flute player in the UNT Symphonic Band under the direction of Mr. Dennis Fisher.
Mrs. Santos has a passion for the marching arts that extends beyond high school. She joined The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012 and later performed with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2013 to 2016. After serving her third year as head drum major, Mrs. Santos finished her marching career in 2016 as a Jim Jones Leadership Award Second Place Recipient (2015), Cadet of the Year (2015), and Cadet of The Decade (2016). In 2017, Mrs. Santos joined The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps staff. Over the last several years, she has worked with their leadership, design team, and brass staff. In January of 2018, Mrs. Santos was invited to speak at the Drum Corps International Drum Major Leadership Summit as a group leader and presenter and also joined the SASi Leadership Company.
Mrs. Santos joined the Cedar Park High School staff in 2018. During her time here, she has worked with the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and currently works with the Wind Symphony. These concert ensembles have consistently received Superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-reading under her direction. In the fall, Mrs. Santos serves as the marching band director and has helped the marching ensemble win its third and fourth consecutive goal medal as the Conference 5A State Marching Contest Champions.
Kendall spends her summers teaching leadership camps and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys being outside hiking, swimming, or kayaking in her spare time, soaking up the sun!
Jeremiah Armstrong
CPHS - Associate Director
jeremiah.armstrong@leanderisd.org
512.570.1258
Jeremiah Armstrong is an Associate Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, TX.
Mr. Armstrong is originally from West Columbia, Texas, and graduated from Columbia High School's Class of 2016. He received his bachelor's in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas in the Spring of 2021. While enrolled in the Music Education program, he studied trombone under Dr. Deb Scott and received private conducting lessons from Dr. Chris Kaatz. He completed his student teaching at Ridgeview Middle School and Round Rock High School. He completed and presented undergraduate research focused on the impact of hybrid teaching on music education.
In the summer of 2017, he marched baritone with The Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps directed by Adam Chrobak. In the summers of 2018 & 2019, he marched euphonium with The Bluecoats under the direction of Mike Scott. Since the summer of 2020, he has been serving as a marching tech and/or movement choreographer for multiple programs across the state including: Pottsboro High School, Columbia High School, Tom Moore High School, Jourdanton High School, Cedar Ridge High School, Hendrickson High School, & Creekview High School. In the spring of 2022, he joined the staff of Rhythmic Force under the direction of Jordan Garza. Rhythmic Force placed 14th in world-class finals. This was the first time in the organization's history to qualify for finals.
Mr. Armstrong held his first position as Associate Director of Bands at Burnet Middle School in Austin ISD under the direction of Javier Ayala. He taught beginning Trumpet, Horn, & Trombone classes in addition to the Concert Band.
In his free time, Mr. Armstrong enjoys the company of his friends, family, boyfriend Matt, and his Golden Retriever - Aspen. He enjoys weight lifting, discovering new restaurants, brewing coffee, and spending time outdoors - camping, hiking, swimming, and playing various sports.
Roland Chavez
CPHS - Director of Percussion
roland.chavez@leanderisd.org
512.570.1258
Roland Chavez is currently the Director of Percussion at Cedar Park High School in Austin, TX.
During his tenure at Cedar Park the group has received numerous awards and honors, including 4 Texas UIL State Marching Band Championships (2011 4A, 2015 5A, 2017 5A, 2019 5A), the 2013 TMEA 5A Honor Band and the 2012 PASIC Standstill Marching Drumline Championship. Mr. Chavez served as the Director of Percussion at Legacy High School in Mansfield, TX where his group won the 2010 P.A.S. Call for Tapes Percussion Ensemble Competition. Mr. Chavez was also the Director of Percussion at perennial Bands of America standout Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX from 2004 to 2009.
Mr. Chavez was a member of the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps snare line from 1991 to 1992. He also was a member of the World Champion Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps snare line from 1995 to 1996 where he earned the DCI High Percussion Award and DCI World Championship in 1996. Mr. Chavez has also served as the Percussion Caption Head & Arranger for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps during the 2007 & 2008 seasons. He is a graduate of The University of Texas, earning a degree in Economics, and a graduate of Texas State University, earning a Bachelor of Music degree. Mr. Chavez is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Mr. Chavez is also an active adjudicator, arranger and clinician throughout Texas. He is an educational endorser for Innovative Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Yamaha Percussion and Zildjian Cymbals.
CPMS - Director
britni.hummel@leanderisd.org
512.570.7098 ext. 43161
Britni Hummel
Britni Hummel is the Head Director at Cedar Park Middle School in Leander ISD and is currently in her thirteenth year as a band director.
Mrs. Hummel teaches the Symphonic Band and the beginner horns, oboes, bassoons, and clarinets. Mrs. Hummel began teaching at Cedar Park, under the direction of Manuel San Luis, as the primary conductor of Concert Band Two, before becoming the Director of Bands in 2017. During her time at Cedar Park Middle School, her bands have received consistent UIL Sweepstakes and Best in Class Honors at festivals. She guest conducted the Cedar Park Middle School Saxophone Ensemble at their Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic’s performance in 2011. The Cedar Park Middle School Band was also recognized as the Texas Bandmasters Association’s Exemplary Band Program in 2015. In addition, Cedar Park Middle School’s Symphonic Band has been a consistent National Wind Band Honors Mark of Excellence winner from 2008 through 2019. Most recently, the program at Cedar Park MS was selected to perform at the 2019 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and chosen as a finalist in the 2019 TMEA Honor Band Process.
Before teaching, Mrs. Hummel received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. While there, Mrs. Hummel was a member of the Wind Ensemble, serving as principal clarinetist for three years, and also served as drum major of the Bobcat Marching Band, under the direction of Dr. Caroline Beatty. At Texas State, Mrs. Hummel was inducted as a member of Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society and also received the Presser Foundation Scholarship from the School of Music. The Texas Bandmasters Association selected her as the Malcolm Helm Endowed Scholarship Recipient. She was also chosen to represent the Who’s Who among Colleges and Universities at Texas State. In her final semester, she was nominated for the upper-level Presidential Scholarship before graduating Sum Cum Laude. Mrs. Hummel is originally from Lake Jackson, Texas, and is a graduate of Brazoswood High School. While there, she was a member of the Band, Jazz Band and Orchestra, serving as clarinet section leader, and drum major under the direction of Jim Koch and Brian Casey. She was also a member of the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Band.
Mrs. Hummel lives in Leander, Texas, with her husband David and her dog Dixie. She enjoys performing with the Cedar Park Winds Community Band, comprised of directors and teachers from the greater Austin Area. She has worked as a director at both the Texas State University and Baylor University Summer Band Camps. Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the Texas Bandmasters Association. Ms. Hummel also serves as the Region 32 Middle School Band Treasurer.
She feels honored to have been brought up in a musical family that has influenced her overall love of music, band, and teaching.
Brandon Morrison
CPMS - Associate Director
brandon.morrison@leanderisd.org
512.570.7098 ext. 43162
Brandon Morrison is an Associate Director of Bands, Director of Concert Band, and Beginning Instructor for Trumpet, Trombone, and Euphonium at Cedar Park Middle School.
Originally from Cypress, Texas, Mr. Morrison is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied euphonium under Charles Villarrubia and performed as a three-year member of the UT Wind Ensemble under Professor Jerry Junkin. While at UT, Mr. Morrison was awarded the Texas Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Music and was a four-time recipient of the TMEA Undergraduate Music Education Scholarship. He was also a four-year member of the Longhorn Band. Outside of UT, he performed as a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.
As a teacher, Mr. Morrison has taught masterclasses, private lessons, and worked with local marching bands around Austin. He is also on the brass staff of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Morrison lives in Austin and spends most of his free time taking care of his cat, Boots, and watching UT and Houston sports. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
CPMS - Associate Director
Michelle.kim@leanderisd.org
512.570.7098 ext. 43161
Michelle Kim
Michelle Kim is an Associate Director of Bands at Cedar Park Middle School that teaches Concert Winds as well as beginner alto saxophone, flute, and tuba.
Ms. Kim is originally from Garden Grove, California before her move to Cedar Park, Texas. Upon her move, she started her band career in LISD at Artie Henry Middle School and is a graduate of Vista Ridge High School. While there, she was a member of the Ranger band and served as a flute section leader.
Ms. Kim received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. While there, she studied flute under the wonderful guidance of Christina Guenther and Teresa Powell. Throughout her four years, she was a member of the SFA Flute Choir, the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, serving as principal flutist multiple times, and a member of the Lumberjack Marching Band where she served as a piccolo squad leader. Prior to graduating Magna Cum Laude, she was welcomed back home into LISD and student taught at Cedar Park Middle School with Britni Hummel and Cedar Park High School with Steve Wessels.
Over the past two years, Ms. Kim has been teaching at many different middle and high school band programs throughout LISD. Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Ms. Kim currently lives in Cedar Park, Texas with her dog, Mowgli. She is thrilled to come back home to Cedar Park Middle School where she learned to love teaching and all things band! She is extremely humbled with the continuous support from her friends, family and mentors in the LISD Band Director community who have helped her grow both as a musician and a person.
Steve Michael Wessels finished his twenty-second year at Cedar Park High School and his seventeenth year as Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School in the Leander Independent School District.
During his tenure at Cedar Park, the band won UIL 4A / 5A State Marching Contest in 2001, 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2019, UIL 5A Silver 2004, UIL 4A Silver 2013, BOA Grand Nationals Finalist 2010 and 2016, The Sudler Shield 2007, Numerous Marching Festival Championships, Concert Music Festivals Championships, UIL Concert & Sight Reading First Divisions all years, and TMEA Honor Band finalist 4A / 5A 2002, 2007, 2012, 2018 and 2014 TMEA Honor Band, 2018 Texas Bandmasters Association Meritorious Achievement Award, 2020 Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Band Award to Cedar Park High School, Steve Wessels Director.
Steve retired in 2020, completing thirty-four years as a Texas Music Educator. He began his band directing career in 1986 at Shamrock HS and MS as an associate to Daryll Kaire. In 1988 he was an associate with Rusten Hess at Galena Park HS while director at Woodland Acres MS in GPISD. In 1992, Steve taught as an associate and director of bands, respectively at Spring Oaks MS in Spring Branch ISD with Ron Morrison (Dir of Bands) and Bob Navaro, in Spring Branch ISD. All of the bands were successful UIL, Marching, Concert & Sight Reading bands.
Steve was fortunate to have band director icons who blessed him with countless enriching experiences in his hometown of San Angelo, Texas. He began band on the cornet at Edison JH under director Don Hayes (Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame 1992), then to Central HS, where he played alto saxophone under the direction of Gary Wylie. He has also been under the direction of Harris Brinson at San Angelo State University and Lee Boyd Montgomery (PBM Hall of Fame 2001) at Texas Lutheran University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education in 1983. Steve finished his formal education in graduate school in piano performance at Texas Christian University.
Steve attributes learning to teach ensemble to band directors, clinicians, and CEOs of our field: Tom Bennett, Eddie Green, Tom Shine, and Matthew McInturf.
The people that touch our lives are the people we work with day to day. Steve has learned from his colleagues, who have enriched his life and teaching experiences beyond measure. Thank you to Ron Morrison, with whom he taught in one capacity or another for some 15 years! He owes gratitude to gifted teachers with a continuous learning attitude: Evan VanDoren, Jeremy Spicer, Christopher Yee, Jason Robb, and Bob Chreste. One band director who gave of himself to Steve and his family and will forever be a model is Evan VanDoren.
Steve is an active clinician and adjudicator for festivals and competitions in marching and concert-related events. His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association Vice-President Marching 2016 - 2020.
After God, Steve is most thankful for Melanie, his wife since 1985, and the love of his life. Steve would do anything in life for Melanie, even if it took away from band directing! Melanie has shown her love with patience, support, commitment, serving, working, in love of God, Steve and family. Steve’s and Melanie’s children are Micah, Daniel, Anna, and son-in-law Bradley. All three participated in the Cedar Park Band program and enjoyed their experience in music education. Micah is a chemical engineer, Daniel passed away in 2015, and Anna is a band director.
His heroes are all the men and women who are currently in this profession and continue to give of themselves to others and LISD Band Director community who have helped her grow both as a musician and a person.