DIRECTORS
Kevin Erickson
Director of Bands
Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Head Director
Kevin Erickson is currently in his eleventh year as the Director of the Dobie Band program, serving the previous six years as Assistant Director. Mr. Erickson conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and oversees all aspects of the Dobie Band program. Before he arrived at Dobie in 2007, Mr. Erickson served on the faculties of the University of Houston and San Jacinto College-South, and was a member of the instructional staff at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Pearland High School, and Lincoln High School (Stockton, CA). He also served as the Percussion Coordinator and Arranger for Super Bowl XXXVIII, directing the 60-member percussion section and collaborating with pop superstar Janet Jackson on the musical arrangements. Mr. Erickson was named a national quarterfinalist for the prestigious GRAMMY Music Educator Award in 2021 and 2022.
An avid performer, Mr. Erickson has appeared as percussionist/timpanist with the Houston Symphony, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria (Mexico City), the Stockton Symphony (CA), and regional orchestras throughout southeast Texas. From 2007-2012, he served as the Principal Percussionist & Timpanist for Opera Vista in Houston, TX. His performances as a drumset/percussion artist include: jazz legend Dave Brubeck, country superstar Shania Twain, Latin great Pete Escovedo, La Mafia, Jack Sheldon, Mel Martin, Mike Vax, Vocal Flight, and he has appeared as a featured guest artist at the Midwest International Clinic & Convention. Mr. Erickson’s performance experience also includes four years as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, winning the 1989 DCI World Championship and three DCI High Percussion titles.
Mr. Erickson’s compositions have been performed worldwide by world-renowned artists and ensembles such as Don Liuzzi (Principal Timpanist for the Philadelphia Orchestra) and the Ju Percussion Group (Taiwan). His compositions have also been featured in international clinics and conventions such as: the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), the Music for All National Percussion Festival, and the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic & Convention. His composition for percussion ensemble, “At the Dawn of War,” is featured on the compact disc Surge by the University of Houston Percussion Ensemble and was performed at the world-famous Sydney (Aus.) Opera House by the West Percussion Group. “In the Valley of the Kings,” for solo timpani, was the 3rd Prize Winner in the 1998 PAS International Composition Contest. C. Alan Publications and Musicon Publications publish Mr. Erickson’s compositions.
Mr. Erickson holds degrees from the University of the Pacific (B.M. Performance) and the University of Houston (M.M. Applied Music), where he also completed all coursework requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He is an educational/performing artist & clinician for Pearl Drums & Adams Musical Instruments, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Drumsticks & Mallets, and Remo Drumheads. Mr. Erickson resides in Houston with his wife, Keely (Music Teacher at McMasters Elementary), and their four sons: Camden, Collin, Connor, and Caleb.
Daniel Giedraitis
Jazz & Symphonic Band Director
Daniel Giedraitis is in his fifth year as Assistant Director of Bands at J. Frank Dobie High School where he conducts the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, and assists with all of the bands at Dobie High School and the Dobie Ninth Grade Campus. Prior to Dobie, Mr. Giedraitis served for two years as a graduate teaching assistant at West Texas A&M University. He previously held teaching positions at James Earl Rudder High School in Bryan, TX, and Tennyson Middle School in Waco, TX. Mr. Giedraitis currently serves as the Jazz Coordinator for TMEA Region 19.
As a performer, Mr. Giedraitis has shared the stage with Allen Vizzutti, Chris Wabich, Katisse Buckingham, Clay Jenkins, Bob Sheppard, and Bill Watrous. He performs as a freelance saxophone and woodwind specialist in both the classical and jazz idioms, and previously played in a touring Broadway production of “Chicago”.
Mr. Giedraitis holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Sam Houston State University and Master of Music degree from West Texas A&M University.
Clay McNeill
Steel & Percussion Band Director
Clay McNeill is in his seventh year as Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Director of the Dobie Band program, where he conducts the Concert Band, Percussion Ensembles, and oversees the percussion programs within the Dobie feeder cluster. Prior to Dobie Mr. McNeill taught at Lockhart High School where he served as Director of Bands (2014-17) and as Assistant Director & Percussion Director (2007-14). Mr. McNeill previously held positions at North Shore Senior High School, Wylie High School, and San Marcos High School. Mr. McNeill has served on the faculty of the University of North Texas Percussion Camp, and is a frequent adjudicator for TMEA and UIL events.
Mr. McNeill has a diverse performance background, including the Austin Symphonic Band and steel drum groups such as the Texas Symphony of Steel, featuring Andy Narell. His performance experience also includes the Velvet Knights and the Sky Ryders Drum & Bugle Corps. Mr. McNeill has arranged percussion music for numerous high schools throughout the State of Texas, and his compositions have been featured at Texas State University's "Mysterium for Modern Music" forums.
Mr. McNeill is a graduate of the University of North Texas (B.M. Music Education) and Texas State University (M.M. Composition).
Tyler Scarberry
Colorguard Director
Ty Scarberry is in his second year as Assistant Director & Colorguard Director for the Dobie Band program, having previously served as Colorguard Coordinator at Dobie from 2014-2016. During his previous tenure at Dobie, Scarberry led both the Varsity and Junior Varsity Winterguards to Gold Medals in their respective classifications at the Texas Color Guard Circuit Championships in 2015. Prior to returning to Dobie, Scarberry served as Colorguard Director & Dance Teacher at Summer Creek High School from 2016-2022, and he also previously served as the Colorguard Coordinator at Pasadena High School in 2013-14. In addition to his position at Dobie, Mr. Scarberry also currently serves as the Colorguard Director for Crawford High School in Fort Bend ISD.
Mr. Scarberry is a dancer & bassoonist, and currently performs with the modern dance company '6 Degrees' under the direction of Toni Valle. His performance experience includes two seasons with Code Black Independent Winterguard (2012-2013), placing in Independent Open finals both years at the Winter Guard International World Championships and earning the Silver Medal in 2013. Mr. Scarberry has previously served on the instructional staffs for Redemption Guard, Spirit Independent, and Guardians Drum & Budge Corps, and he is currently on the visual staff for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.
Scarberry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Houston (2015) and is a graduate of Dobie High School (2010), where he played bassoon in the Wind Ensemble, marched cymbals in the drumline, performed with winterguard, and served as Drum Major of the Longhorn Band.
