Kantorei, Schola Cantorum, Chamber Singers, AP Music Theory, Applied Music

Mike Tyer joined the choral department at Friendswood High School as the Assistant Choir Director in Fall of 2013, and continued his work as the Head Choir Director starting in Fall of 2017.  Mr. Tyer directs Kantorei, Schola Cantorum, and the Chamber Singers and teaches the AP Music Theory and Applied Music Classes.  

During the 2017-2018 school year, Mr. Tyer was a member of the fine arts team that won the NFHS National Performing Arts School of Excellence award. Later that year he brought home the Tommy Tune award for "Best Musical Direction" for his work with the cast of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." 

During his four years as assistant director, Mr. Tyer was privileged to lead the Concert Men’s Choir and Bel Canto.  Together with his friend and mentor, Janwin Overstreet-Goode, (Past-President of TMEA and former Head Choir Director at FHS), Mr. Tyer’s ensembles received the highest ratings and sweepstakes each year in annual UIL competitions. 

Prior to his tenure at Friendswood, Mr. Tyer taught at Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas for 10 years as Head Choir Director. His choirs were consistent sweepstakes winners, and performed and competed in many cities including San Antonio, Dallas, Orlando, and New York. Many of his singers were successful in the local and state Solo & Ensemble competitions, and annually represented the school as members of the Texas All-State Choir. Several former students have become successful choir directors, teachers, performers, and composers.  

In addition to his duties as Choir Director at both Lufkin and Friendswood High Schools, Mr. Tyer has also assisted with the campus-wide Musical productions each year. Some of his favorite shows have been, “Annie Get Your Gun” and “The King And I” in Lufkin, and “Beauty And The Beast” and “Les Miserables” at Friendswood. 

Mr. Tyer is passionate about music education and is proud to be able to serve as the Head Choir Director. 

Bel Canto, Cantabile, Choros, Acabellas

Melissa Smith is in her seventeenth year of teaching Choir in Friendswood ISD,  and her twenty-first overall. From 2003-2013, she was the choral director at Friendswood Junior High before serving as Head Choral Director at Clear Creek Intermediate from 2013-2017.  Since Fall 2017, she has been the Assistant Director of Choirs at Friendswood High School. Her choirs have been consistent Sweepstakes and Superior ratings recipients at University Interscholastic League contests, and each year an impressive number of her students are placed in the TMEA All-Region Choir and TCDA State Honor Choir.

In her second year of teaching in FISD, Mrs. Smith was honored with the Making a Difference Award, which recognizes teachers for going above and beyond the daily classroom routine to be a positive figure in the lives of students. In 2010, Mrs. Smith was voted Friendswood JH's Teacher of the Year, and went on to the district level to become the 2010 Friendswood ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. 

Under Mrs. Smith's direction, the Friendswood Junior High Varsity Treble Choir performed by invitation at the Texas Music Educators' Association Convention in San Antonio in February 2010. She served as the Region XVII JH/MS Vocal Chair and Coordinator for several years, and was Vocal Chair of the UIL Prescribed Music List Committee during her fourth year of service. In addition, Mrs. Smith is a highly sought-after judge and clinician for UIL and Region contests around the state of Texas and has taught numerous inservices and sessions for statewide conventions and school districts by invitation.

Her husband, Brian, is a former choral director of church and public school, and today works as Network Administrator for Technology Services in Friendswood ISD.  Mr. & Mrs. Smith sing together in the Houston Symphony Chorus.  They have three children; Aubrey, Zoey, and Bennett.