Directors

Katherine Norris has been at Henry Middle School for 6 years and enters her 7th as the new Director of Bands! At Henry, she conducts the Honors Band and teaches the beginning flute, clarinet, and double reed classes. She also assists with the Concert and Symphonic Bands. Katherine’s bands have consistently received Superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. In 2022 and 2023, her band was selected as a Citation Winner in The Foundation for Music Education’s Citation of Excellence Project. Under her direction, the Symphonic Band has also been named the Non-Varsity Grand Champion at the North Texas Festival of Distinction.

Katherine graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston in May 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. During her time there, she learned from master teachers: Eddie Green, John Benzer, and David Bertman. Katherine was a drum major for the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band. She was also president of the UH chapter of the National Association for Music Education and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity. 

Katherine has been a clinician at the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and Texas Music Educators Convention. Katherine has been a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps brass staff since 2019. She is also a part of the SASi Leadership Staff. Katherine's professional memberships include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. She works with bands in the Austin area as a clinician.

In her free time, she enjoys visiting local coffee shops, reading books, finding new restaurants to try with her husband, Kyle, and spending time with their Cavie, Gus!

A proud alumnus of Texas Tech University, Mr. Sommer earned his bachelor’s degree in music education in December 2022. During his time at Texas Tech, Mr. Sommer studied under Dr. Sarah McKoin, Dr. Eric Allen, Dr. Andrew Stetson, and Professor James T. Decker. His dedication and talent led him to serve as the principal tenor and bass trombonist of the Texas Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble and University Symphony Orchestra. Notably, he emerged as a finalist in the Texas Tech Concerto Competition. As a member of the Texas Tech School of Music, Mr. Sommer served as the treasurer and president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Iota Tau Alpha, the official Texas Tech trombone studio organization. In addition to his academic pursuits, Mr. Sommer shared his expertise as a private lesson and masterclass teacher for middle school students in Lubbock. 

Prior to working with the Henry Middle School Band, Mr. Sommer was a substitute teacher in Leander ISD. This role allowed him to be immersed in many band programs and learn from various directors in the Leander community. This is actually how he was able to meet both Mr. Herrings and Mrs. Norris! After that, Mr. Sommer worked as a math teacher at Leander High School where he was able to learn and grow as an educator outside of the bandhall. 

When away from work, Mr. Sommer loves to spend time with his wife, Lupe. Together they enjoy watching movies, cooking, running, and being with their families.

Mr. Jorge Rivera is originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and grew up in San Antonio, Texas graduating from Judson High School in 2019. He recently graduated from Texas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Studies with a minor in Business Administration.

While at Texas State, he studied trumpet under Dr. Keith Winking and was actively involved in many ensembles earning principal and lead chairs in the Texas State Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Bobcat Marching Band, Salsa Del Rio, Orquestra Del Río, Centennial Brass, Vox Luminis Brass Quintet, and the Texas State Trumpet Ensemble. Additionally, Mr. Rivera participated in the National Trumpet Competition (2022 & 2023) achieving the quarter-finalist position both years. He also participated in the World Youth Orchestra Project as principal trumpet in Austria. During his final year at Texas State, Mr. Rivera was awarded the TMEA Collegiate Music Educator Award. 

Mr. Rivera student taught at Cedar Park High School, where he worked with the concert band and the jazz band, and at River Place Elementary School, where he taught all grade levels. He also teaches trumpet privately at Barton Middle School, with many of his students earning chairs in the TMEA region bands. He has also worked with the Dripping Springs High School marching band as a high brass tech. In his free time, Mr. Rivera enjoys photography, hanging out with friends, and hopes to one day travel extensively.

Mr. Perez has served as the Percussion Director at Klein Cain High School in Klein ISD since 2017. At Klein Cain HS, his roles have been directing all percussion & steel drum ensembles, writing the Cain Marching Band percussion arrangements, and helping direct and manage the percussionists at Ulrich and Doerre Intermediate Schools. The Klein Cain marching percussion has been awarded top percussion honors at several area competitions over the years, most recently receiving Grand Champion in 2022 and 2023 at the Aldine Percussion Invitational drum-line contest. The Klein Cain percussion studio also performed as a featured ensemble at the 2023 Music for All Percussion Festival in Indianapolis. 

Since aging out as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard (2000-2004), Mr. Perez has been on the percussion staff of several world class drum corps in Drum Corps International (Santa Clara Vanguard, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts and The Cadets). Currently, he is on staff with The Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps where he has taught since 2017. Over the years, the Boston Crusaders percussion team continues to revolutionize what is possible in the marching arts. 

Mr. Perez has been an active educator in the Houston area for the last 20 years and received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Houston. He grew up in the Austin Area and is looking forward to being back in central Texas with his wife, Joni, and their three cats (Ziggy, Biskitt and Diddle).