Meet The Creekview Band Staff

Arturo  J.  Denis is in his twelfth year as the Director of Bands at Creekview High School in Carrollton Farmers-Branch ISD. His responsibilities include direction of both the Creekview Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, the Creekview Marching Band, and overseeing all operations of the Creekview Band program. Under his direction, the Creekview High School Band Program in Carrollton, Texas has cultivated a culture of excellence in music education. The program emphasizes high artistic standards, academic achievement, and student leadership, offering diverse opportunities through concert band, marching band, full orchestra, jazz ensemble, mariachi, color guard  and chamber music.

During his tenure, the program has flourished, earning national recognition as a Mark of Excellence Winner, Medal of Distinction Winner in Full Orchestra and Percussion, multiple appearances at the Music for All National Festival,  Invitation for the Saxophone Ensemble to the  79th Annual Midwest Clinic and consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards. Under his leadership, Creekview ensembles have reached the Area level of the TMEA Honor Band process and students have continued to earn spots in the Texas All-State Band, National Youth Ensembles, and prestigious summer programs. Denis is passionate about building student leadership, fostering cross-curricular excellence, and maintaining a program culture grounded in discipline, artistry, and family.

Previously Mr. Denis was Wakeland High School’s first Associate Director of Bands, where he conducted the Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble , assisted with the Marching Band, including all aspects of the music program and was the AP Music Theory Instructor. While at Wakeland HS, the Wind Symphony was a three-time TMEA State Honor Band Finalist and a three-time finalist in the UIL State Marching Band Contest. Mr. Denis’ Symphonic Bands have consistently earned UIL Sweepstakes Awards, including receiving Superior Ratings in Marching, Concert, and Sight-reading Contests since 2007. As Region Jazz Chair he hosted the All Region Jazz Auditions, Clinic and Concert attracting educators such as Steve Wiest, Ronnie Rios, Kris Berg, Mike Steinel, Tim Ishii and Joe Eckert. Under his direction, the Jazz Ensembles have been presented the “Outstanding Band Award” by the Collin County Community College Jazz Festival. Additionally, the Jazz Ensemble won the AAA Classification of the 2008 Texas Christian University Jazz Festival and has placed in the top 5 finalist bands at the UTA Jazz Festivals. Prior to, Mr. Denis served as Assistant Band Director at Clark Middle School in Frisco alongside David Dunham.

Mr. Denis attended The University of Texas at Austin earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. While studying at Texas, he was part of several organizations including Delta Sigma Phi, and the Longhorn Marching Band where he received an award for Most Outstanding Musician. As a member of the “Showband of the Southwest”, Mr. Denis was a Trumpet Section Leader and a Trumpet soloist for the Longhorn Band. He was also a member of the esteemed University of Texas Wind Ensemble under the direction of artistic conductor Jerry F. Junkin. Mr. Denis is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association and Phi Mu Alpha.

Mr. and Mrs. Denis Reside in Frisco, Texas. His wife, Jenny Denis, is a band director at Fowler Middle School in Frisco. Together, they have two children, Rebecca and Cristian.

Nathanael Salas (Nate) is excited to serve his fourth year as Associate Director of Bands at Creekview High school. His responsibilities include leading both Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band ensembles, assisting with the Creekview Marching Band as visual and fundamentals coordinator, assisting the Wind Ensemble, assisting with the Jazz Band, and club sponsor to the Creekview Mariachi Mesteno.

Mr. Salas' concert bands consistently earn superior ratings at the UIL  Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation as well as earning outstanding non-varsity awards at PEAK music festivals around the DFW area. Most recently, the Creekview Symphonic Band has been named a Commended Winner for the Citation of Excellence national band competition, being the first non-varsity band in history for both CFB and Creekview High School to receive this award.

Mr. Salas completed his student teaching semester at Coppell ISD with Ms. Kim Shuttlesworth, Mr. Rusty Gray, and Mr. Gerry Miller. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches Texas, and holds a Bachelors in Music Education Degree. He studied French Horn under Dr. Charles Gavin and Dr. Andrea Denis.

During his time at SFASU, Mr. Salas was a member and Principal French Horn of the SFA Wind Ensemble, SFA Symphony Orchestra, SFA Horn Choir, Roarin’ Buzzsaws Pep Band, and member/squad leader of the mellophone section in the Lumberjack Marching Band for three years. During his high school career, Mr. Salas had the opportunity to participate in Texas State Solo & Ensemble, State Marching Band contest, and be a member in the TMEA All-State Band.

Mr. Salas’ professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Educators, and honorary band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi. 

Outside of music, Mr. Salas loves exploring national/state parks, being outdoors, playing basketball, baseball, ping pong, chess, and spending time with his friends and family down South.

Bill Holden is in his fourth year as Director of Percussion & Jazz Studies for the Creekview High School Cluster. His responsibilities include teaching percussion classes at Creekview and Blalack Middle School, the beginner percussion class, and the Creekview “Swingin’ Stangs” Jazz Ensemble.

His students have performed at The Midwest Clinic, Music for All National Festival, TMEA Honor Ensembles, the Massachusetts All-State Orchestra, and the Texas All-State Jazz Band, as well as gone on to perform with drum and bugle corps such as The Colts, Guardians, Blue Stars, and The Cadets, and to university and conservatory studies.

Prior to Creekview, Mr. Holden taught at Klein High School in the Houston area, Wakeland High School and Griffin Middle School in Frisco, TX, and Enfield High School in Connecticut.

During his musical career, he has performed with numerous ensembles including The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, Callithumpian Consort, The Woodlands Concert Band, Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, The Valley Winds of Northampton, MA, and the Screamin’ Eagles Big Band of Pratt & Whitney, in addition to various other jazz ensembles, orchestras, chamber ensembles, and percussion ensembles, including performances at Carnegie Hall. Other memorable performances include masterclasses with Bob Becker and She-E Wu, and Music for 18 Musicians under the supervision of Steve Reich.

In addition to his background as a performer and educator, Mr. Holden is an active composer and arranger throughout the US and Europe with works for marching, concert, and percussion ensembles. His front ensemble arrangement of “Take Five” for Wakeland High School Percussion was awarded “Most Creative Show” at the Lone Star Classic Drumline Contest, and his arrangements have won three championships in the Percussion Independent A class of Color Guard Netherlands (CGN) with H!P Harpe Davids Indoor Percussion.

Mr. Holden received a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and a Certification in Music Education from the Central Connecticut State University. His percussion teachers include Frank Epstein, Will Hudgins, Eduardo Leandro, Keith Aleo, Neil Larrivee, Tom Aungst, Colin McNutt, and Thom Hannum, and his composition teachers are Michael Gandolfi and Charles Menoche.

Mr. Holden regularly attends professional development seminars, including the TMEA Clinic/Convention, the Percussion Specialist Academy at the Music for All Summer Symposium, and the New England Conservatory Jazz Lab for Adults. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Texas Jazz Educators Association, and an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Outside of music, Mr. Holden’s hobbies include photography, amateur radio, bowling, road trips, listening to vinyl records, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox.

Andrew Bryson (he/him) is a musician and educator in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area, currently entering his fourth year of his Bachelor’s in Music Education, with a saxophone concentration, at the University of North Texas. Originally hailing from Salem, Oregon, Andrew placed first in the Oregon State Activities Association (OSAA) Solo Competition in the High Saxophone category two years in a row. On full academic scholarship to UNT, Andrew has played in the UNT Green Brigade, UNT Wind Orchestra, and the UNT Wind Symphony, under Professor Eugene Corporon, Dr. Andrew Trachsel, Dr. Daniel Cook, and Dr. Amy Woody, including a premier performance with the Wind Symphony at the 2025 CBDNA Conference. Being a runner-up for the 2024 UNT Concerto Competition, Andrew keeps an active solo and chamber career, playing in one of the top saxophone quartets at UNT. Andrew is the Saxophone Teaching Artist for the Dallas ISD Free Virtual Private Music Lesson (VPML) Program.

Andrew strives for a career involving teaching school bands and has a wide range of experiences in the classroom. Andrew spends his summers in Oregon, teaching at local high schools, including West Salem High School, the first school from Oregon to attend BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis. Additionally, Andrew is a technician at the Metro-Capitol Leadership Academy, developing and growing young student leaders throughout the Salem/Portland Area. Andrew is also an aspiring conductor, having had the opportunity to conduct the UNT Wind Ensemble as well as attend the 2023 Arizona State University Wind Conducting Workshop. 

Andrew is a proud brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity. In his free time, Andrew loves to read non-fiction, go to the gym, and listen to jazz music.

Edgar Monsivais is a Music Education major at East Texas A&M University. He has been an active member of the “Pride” Marching Band, serving not only as a performer but also as part of the Social Media Team. Currently, he holds the position of Marching Intern with the ensemble. Edgar has also served as the principal chair of the university's Symphonic Band.

During his time at East Texas A&M, he has studied under the guidance of esteemed faculty members Mr. Philip Clements, Mr. Garth Gundersen, and Dr. Julee Kim Walker. His performance experience includes appearances at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention (2023) as part of a woodwind trio and the National Flute Association Convention (2024) with the ETAMU Studio Flute Choir.

In addition to his collegiate experiences, Edgar has taught private flute lessons at Sulphur Springs High School and Middle School. Outside of music, he enjoys visiting coffee shops and going thrifting in his free time.

Paul Blanco is a music educator originally from San Antonio, TX, and raised in Jackson, MS. He began his musical journey in 5th grade as a saxophonist in the One Spirit, One Sound Marching Band at Hillcrest Christian School. That formative experience eventually led him to earn a B.A. in Music and Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 2021.

From 2016 to 2022, while pursuing his degree, Paul worked extensively with music programs across the Jackson metro area, serving in roles ranging from technician to caption head. One of his most formative experiences came in 2017, when he was selected as a conductor for The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps based in Rockford, IL.

With a background spanning drum corps, jazz ensembles, and education, Paul now serves as the Head Band Director at Temple Christian School in Fort Worth, TX, and as Percussion Director for the Texas Homeschool Music Trailblazers.