Conductors & Soloist

Keith Marshall
Director of Bands

Keith Marshall is very excited to begin his 19th year of teaching  and 6th year as Director of Bands at Blalack Middle School in Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD.   Under his direction the Blalack Band has consistently earned "Sweepstakes" awards at UIL Contest, has been named a Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence Contest and has reached the area level of the Texas Honor Band Process.   Mr. Marshall's students also grow as individual musicians each year achieving success in the District and Region Band audition process.  Before coming to Blalack, Mr. Marshall worked at Ted Polk Middle School for 8 years and Blalack Middle School  for 5 years as an Associate Director.  During his first tenure at Blalack, Mr. Marshall's Concert Band became the first Middle School Sub-Non Varsity Band (3rd Band) in CFBISD history to be awarded a Sweepstake Trophy at UIL Contest.  

In addition to his work at Blalack, Mr. Marshall is the Middle School Region Jazz Chair for Region 31.  He organizes the CFBISD Sandy Lake Memorial Beginner Band Contest and the CFBISD Non-Varsity Band Contest each spring.   He is also an active clinician, mentoring other teachers across the DFW metroplex and has presented clinics at the TMEA Convention in San Antonio and several school districts across Texas.

Mr. Marshall earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas.  As a trombonist during college, Mr. Marshall performed in the 2002 International Trombone Festival in Denton, TX with the UNT Trombone Choir and in the 2003 International Trombone Festival in Helsinki, Finland as a finalist in the ITA Quartet Competition.  He also performed with the UNT Symphonic Band, UNT Lab Bands, Basketball Band and the Green Brigade Marching Band, where he was awarded the 2004 Outstanding Leadership Award.

Mr. Marshall currently resides in Carrollton with his wife, Jeanette, a Speech Therapist in CFBISD, and his two children Dylan and Keira.  He is a huge sports fan and can be found most free weekends playing outdoor soccer on his "old man" soccer team or watching his favorite soccer team, Tottenham Hotspur.

Hannah Thiessen
Associate Director

Hannah Thiessen is in her 6th year of teaching as Assistant Director of Bands at Blalack Middle School! Ms. Thiessen graduated from the University of North Texas with her Bachelor's in Music Education.

Ms. Thiessen loves playing her clarinet, and enjoyed her time with the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and performing with her brothers and sisters of Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity. She was honored to play with the San Antonio Wind Symphony in her hometown as well as with the Carrollton Wind Symphony.

Ms. Thiessen lives in Lake Dallas with her bunny Santi. Some of her favorite things are the color turquoise, superheroes, and most importantly Star Wars.

Abigail Robinson
Associate Director

Abigail Robinson is in her 4th year as Assistant Director of Bands at Blalack Middle School! Mrs. Robinson graduated from Kansas State University with her Bachelor's in Music Education.

Mrs. Robinson is originally from the prairie state of Kansas, where she attended KSU and participated in the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Woodwind Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, University Band, Cat Band, and Pride of Wildcat Land Marching Band! She loves playing her flute, and was selected to perform in the Collegiate Flute Choir at the National Flute Association conference in 2018.

Mrs. Robinson lives in Lewisville with her husband. She loves being outside, hiking, rock climbing, and playing board games. 

John Guevara
Euphonium Soloist

John Guevara is in his 3rd year as a member of the Blalack Middle School band.  As a euphonium player, John has been named 1st chair euphonium of the Region 31 Middle School Region Band and 1st chair of the CFBISD District Band for 2 years in a row.  He has also been selected 4th chair overall for the Region 31 High School Region Band and would have advanced to the 5A Area round if he had been eligible to do so.  While in 7th grade, John began playing trombone and has was named 1st Chair Trombone in the Region 31 MS Region Jazz Band this year.

Outside of band, John is a part of the 8th grade Blalack basketball team and National Junior Honors Society (NJHS).  He placed 2nd place in the CFBISD District 8th Grade Math UIL competition.  In addition, he is at the top of his class for his academic grades.

John is currently a student of Dr. Zachary Davis.  He has also taken lessons with Brenden Yenzer and Marty Kennedy.  He would like to thank God for his talent, all of this lesson teachers for their support, his parents for their guidance and love, the Blalack and Creekview directors with their help, and all of his peers for creating a wonderful band community to be a part of.