Directors

Kevin McNulty has been the Head Director at Keller Central High School since 2009. Mr. McNulty’s responsibilities at Keller Central include conducting the Wind Ensemble, leading the Keller Central Marching Band. In addition, Mr. McNulty facilitates all aspects of the Band program and vertical teaching in the Keller Central feeder pattern.

The Keller Central Wind Ensemble has received division 1 ratings consistently since 2009. In 2016, 2018, and 2022, the Wind Ensemble advanced to the TMEA Honor Band state auditions. The Wind Ensemble has also performed in the Music for All National Concert festival as a featured group in 2019.

The Keller Central Marching Band has received UIL division 1 ratings since the year of 2008. The Marching Band advanced to the UIL state completion in 2011. The Marching Band has been a Bands of America finalist in the St. Louis, and Dallas/Fort Worth Regionals. The Keller Central Marching band was also a semi finalist in the 2015 Grand Nationals Competition.

Before working at Keller Central Kevin McNulty served as Associate Director at Richland High School for five years. Bands under his direction have received UIL Sweepstakes for four consecutive years. The band program also made two appearances at the UIL State Marching Band Contest winning the championship in 2004 and was a finalist in 2008, was a two-time Finalist in the Bands of America Grand National Championships in 2005 and 2007. Jazz bands under Mr. McNulty’s direction have received a first place finish at the TCU Jazz Festival in 2008; they have also received a first place finish at the TWU festival in 2008 and 2009. Mr. McNulty was also a co-director for the 2004 NTCA Scholastic A Marching Percussion Ensemble Champions.

Mr. McNulty received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas in 2003 and recieved his Master’s degree at Southern Methodist University. Kevin resides with his wife, Nicole McNulty, and their two children Kevin III and Emma, in North Richland Hills, Texas.

Will Burson
Associate Director

Will Burson joined the Keller Central Band Staff in 2022. Prior to joining Keller Central, Mr. Burson taught for 3 years at Ridge Point High School in Fort Bend ISD near Houston, Texas as the Assistant Band Director.

Mr. Burson attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. During his time at SHSU, Mr. Burson participated in numerous ensembles including: the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Bearkat Marching Band, and the Jazz Ensemble. As a part of these ensembles, Mr. Burson had the opportunity to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2016 and at the American Bandmasters Association Convention in 2018. Mr. Burson studied Trumpet under Randy Adams and Steve Warkentin. Outside of his musical career, Mr. Burson was part of the inaugural class of Terry Scholars at SHSU in 2014.

Outside of the collegiate world, Mr. Burson performed with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016 and the Silver Medalist Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in 2017. After aging out, Mr. Burson was a part of the Brass Staff for the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps from 2018 - 2020. Mr. Burson currently works with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps as part of the Visual Staff.

Mr. Burson grew up in Richardson, Texas and graduated from Berkner High School. Mr. Burson now resides in Watauga, Texas with his wife Cait and their 3 cats.

Issac Cardona
Associate Director

Mr. Issac Cardona joined the Keller Central band staff in Fall of 2022. Mr. Cardona also works with the Keller Clarinet Choir under Dr. Amanda Cox. Prior to this position, Mr. Cardona was a Long-Term substitute at Indian Springs Middle School in Keller ISD.

Mr. Cardona graduated from Texas Tech University with his Bachelor's degree August 2021. While at Texas Tech, Mr. Cardona performed with the Texas Tech Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and The Goin' Band from Raiderland. In December of 2018, Mr. Cardona had the opportunity to perform at the Midwest clinic in Chicago, Illinois with the Texas Tech Wind Ensemble. Outside of school, Mr. Cardona taught a studio of clarinets in the Lubbock area for Lubbock ISD and Frenship ISD, teaching lessons and masterclasses. During the summers, Mr. Cardona was a marching tech for multiple schools in the Fort Worth area. Mr. Cardona completed his student teaching at Keller Central High School and Hillwood Middle School.

Mr. Cardona is a native to the Fort Worth Area and enjoys spending his free time taking photos and riding his bike on the Trinity Trails.

Matthew Stephens
Percussion Director

Since 2012 Matt Stephens has been the Percussion Director at Keller Central High School, where his responsibilities also include teaching percussionists at Hillwood Middle School and Parkwood Hill Intermediate School. Prior to Keller, Mr. Stephens taught the percussionists at Fowler and Scoggins Middle Schools in Frisco, TX.

Matt Stephens attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While attending TCU, Mr. Stephens participated in numerous ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Horned Frog Marching Band, and the four-time PASIC Champion TCU Percussion Orchestra. He also marched bass drum with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2009 and 2010. Matt has studied with Brian West, Joey Carter, Dave Hall, Paul Rennick, Brian Tinkel, Jim Casella, and Mike McIntosh among others. Matt has also performed in many amazing venues from Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, to New York City’s Merkin Hall, as well as Okayama, Japan and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. Mr. Stephens is an educational artist with Innovative Percussion.

Mr. Stephens grew up in McKinney, TX and graduated from McKinney North High School. He also attended Scott Johnson Middle School where his father, Paul, was his band director. Matt currently lives in Saginaw, TX with his wife, Hannah, and daughter, Clara.

Jacob Arie
Assistant Percussion Director

Jacob Arie comes to Keller Central High School from Fort Worth, where he attended Texas Christian University and received a Bachelor’s in Music Education. While attending TCU, Mr. Arie was involved in many performing ensembles, including the Horned Frog Marching Band, Wind Symphony, the Symphony Orchestra, the TCU Steel Bands, and the four-time PASIC Champion TCU Percussion Orchestra. While at TCU, Mr. Arie was a Presser Scholar, Chancellor Scholar, Resident Assistant, President of the TCU Percussion Club, and a two-year section leader of the TCU Front Ensemble and Drumline. Mr. Arie’s teachers include Brian West, Richard Gipson, Joey Carter, Jeff Hodge, and Andrew Eldridge.

Prior to attending TCU, Mr. Arie grew up in Mesquite, Texas, where he attended John Horn High School and Berry Middle school, where he was instructed by John Bingaman, Todd Burke, Patricia Islas, Clayton Stroup, and Doug Bush. While there, Mr. Arie was selected as an All-State Percussionist, and the percussion program—particularly the drumline—experienced immense growth and success at the local, state, and national levels.

Daniel Hartselle
Color Guard Director

Daniel Hartselle took over as director of the Color Guard program at Keller Central High School in 2013. His responsibilities include teaching the color guard year-round, as well as assisting with design and instruction of the Marching Band show in the fall. In the winter season Mr. Hartselle leads a varsity and junior varsity winter guard that compete both locally and nationally, including a WGI Finals appearance in 2016. Mr. Hartselle is excited to start a middle school color guard program in the near future.

Prior to Central High School, Mr. Hartselle taught at Colleyville-Heritage High School in Colleyville, TX.

Band Staff: Direct Lines & E-MAILS

Kevin McNulty: 817.744.2092 - kevin.mcnulty@kellerisd.net

Will Burson: 817.744.2092 - william.burson@kellerisd.net

Issac Cardona: 817.744.2092 - issac.cardona@kellerisd.net

Matthew Stephens: 817.744.2079 - matthew.stephens@kellerisd.net

Keller Central Band

music and hard work is our passion

About the Band

Keller Central High School is a Texas UIL Class 6A high school in the Keller Independent School District located north of Fort Worth, Texas. Learning opportunities for KCHS Band students include marching band, 3 concert bands, a nationally competitive winter guard, percussion ensemble, indoor drumline, jazz bands, various chamber ensembles, and AP music theory. In twenty years, the band program has seen much success including an appearance at the UIL State Marching Contest and 15 UIL consecutive Sweepstakes Awards. The Keller Central Wind Ensemble was a TMEA Honor Band State qualifier in 2016, 2018, and 2022. The Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble were also invited to perform at the 2019 Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis. The Keller Central Winter Guard has a tradition of excellence at both the local and national levels. In 2017 they traveled to Dayton, Ohio for the first time and became a WGI Finalist. Keller Central’s marching band has been a long-time Bands of America participant competing at BOA regionals in North Texas, Houston, and St. Louis. They also made their first Grand Nationals appearance and advanced to the semi-final round in the fall of 2015.

The Concert Ensembles

While the concert ensembles do the majority of their competing in the Spring semester, they still rehearse and perform concerts regularly throughout the year. Each student is placed via audition in a specific band class based on which ensemble best suits their ability level. Keller Central has four competing and one non-competing band. The hierarchy of the bands is as follows: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Concert Ensemble and Instrumental Ensemble. Wind Ensemble represents the highest level of musical excellence at Keller Central while Instrumental Ensemble is a non-competing band where young students can continue to hone their skills for the future.

Marching Band

The Keller Central Marching Band encompasses all band students during the fall semester of the school year and PE credit is awarded for their participation. The band performs in multiple capacities throughout the semester. The band performs a “Spirit Show” at halftime during football games and supports the team through performances in the stands, at pep rallies, and in parades. The band also prepares and performs a “Competition Show” at a State and National level in University Interscholastic League (UIL) and Bands of America (BOA) competitions. To prepare for these performances the Marching Band rehearses 8 hours per week outside of the school day until the last competition or football game. There are also mandatory pre-season training camps during the summer that prepare the band to perform at early-season events.

Jazz Band

Jazz band is a smaller ensemble that students may join in addition to their participation in a regular concert ensemble. Students in jazz band will learn a variety of musical styles in the traditional jazz “Big Band” setting and will perform a few times a year. Traditional instrumentation for the jazz band includes trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, and drum set.

Percussion Ensemble

In the most general sense, Percussion Ensemble refers to all members of the percussion section as a whole. In addition to being a member of the Marching Band (drumline) and one of the concert ensembles, each percussionist will also participate in a variety of “percussion only” activities throughout each school year ranging from marching percussion competitions in the Fall and Spring, to on-stage concerts using traditional or novelty percussion instruments.

Colorguard

The colorguard is a visual performing ensemble that is considered part of the “band family.” The colorguard performs a combination of dance and drill that incorporates use of flags, rifles, and sabres as well as other props. During the fall, the colorguard provides important visual support for the Marching Band. In November, the colorguard begins preparing for competition in the Winter Guard International (WGI) circuit. The winter guard season is an important opportunity for colorguard students to perform as a stand-alone ensemble in a highly competitive activity, both at the local and national levels.