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Nathan Pair
Nathan Pair
Head Director
Mr. Pair is in his 23rd year of teaching. The first five years were spent in Clear Creek ISD as an assistant director at Clear Lake, Webster, and Westbrook Intermediates. He then came to Manvel High School, spending nine years as the associate director, and the last eight as Head Director.
Mr. Pair is a 1997 graduate of Clear Brook High School, where he was a Drum Major, and a member of the Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. After graduation he attended Sam Houston State University, where he was a Drum Major and Student Assistant for the Bearkat Marching Band, as well as performing with the SHSU Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Student Brass Quintet. In the summer of 2000, Mr. Pair marched Lead Euphonium with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. He graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music (Magna Cum Laude).
Since 2002, Mr. Pair has been performed with both the Clear Lake Symphony and Galveston Symphony, and is a founding member of the Houston Texans Deep Steel Thunder.
Mr. Pair is married to his wife Christina, and has two sons, Michael and Zachary.
HOKA HEY!
Erin Espinoza
Erin Espinoza
Associate Director
Ms. Espinoza is in her sixth year of teaching at Manvel High School as an Associate Band Director. Originally from Lubbock Texas, Ms. Espinoza graduated from Monterey High School where she was Drum Major of the band. After graduation, she attended Texas Tech University with a concentration in clarinet. During her time in college, she performed as a member of the the Texas Tech Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble with performance experience at TMEA and Midwest Music Conventions. She gained field experience while student teaching at Clear Falls High School in Clear Creek ISD and San Jacinto Elementary in Deer Park ISD. Ms. Espinoza graduated Magna Cum Laude in December 2020, and moved to Houston before accepting her first job at Manvel High School. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree from the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon with plans to graduate Summer 2026. During her time at the American Band College, she has performed with the Boston Brass Ensemble, Frank Ticheli, Emily Threinen, Cynthia Johnson Turner, Travis Cross, Project Trio, Richard Saucedo, Loras Schissel, and the Gordon Goodwin Little Phat Band. Ms. Espinoza has also started to arrange music and write drill for the marching shows at Manvel High School. In her free time (if she has any), she likes to read books, hang out with book club friends, go to the gym, paint, and cook.
Kaitlyn Taras
Kaitlyn Taras
Assistant Director
Ms. Taras is in her second year of teaching and going into her first year at Manvel High School! She is an alumni of Sam Houston State University where she performed in the Wind Ensemble and served as a visual technician for the Bearkat Marching Band. Ms. Taras student taught in Conroe ISD, and spent her first year in education teaching general music and intermediate band at Gordon-Reed Elementary. As a performer, she marched trumpet with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2021, and with Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in 2023 and 2024.
Jerry Lefner
Jerry Lefner
Percussion Director
Mr. Jerry Lefner is the Percussion Director at Manvel High School, Manvel Junior High, and Rodeo Palms Junior High. Prior to joining the Manvel High School Band, Mr. Lefner was an Audio Engineer for Phantom Regiment and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps as well as a percussion instructor for many DFW schools. He is still currently on staff with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps!
Mr. Lefner obtained his bachelor's degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Percussion from the University of North Texas. He was a member of the North Texas Wind Orchestra and recorded with the Wind Orchestra and Wind Symphony for the GIA Publications series. During his time at North Texas, Mr. Lefner also performed with the 2:00 steel band, where he was the Double Tenors section leader, as well as in various other percussion ensembles. While in school, he worked as an Audio Engineer for many high schools in the DFW area. Mr. Lefner also performed with the Green Brigade where, in his last year, he was residing as Audio Engineer/Front Ensemble Technician.
Corky Reyna
Corky Reyna
Color Guard Director
Mr. Reyna is in his 14th year of teaching color guard at Manvel High School. He has worked with various programs through out his career including well known guard groups from the states of Oklahoma and Texas, including Broken Arrow High School and Brazoswood High School respectively. As a performer, Corky has appeared with the final cast of the Black Gold Drum and Bugle Corps from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since then he has performed with the Crossmen World Class Drum and Bugle Corps and Black Gold Independent Winter Guard. Corky has been member of the Texas color guard community since 1993.
Mr. Reyna has also taught at Redemption Independent Winter Guard of Houston, as well as Black Gold World Class Winter Guard.
Mr. Reyna has also taught at Redemption Independent Winter Guard of Houston, as well as Black Gold World Class Winter Guard.
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