About The Directors

Ragan Whatley is the Orchestra Director at Canyon Vista Middle School. Currently in his 17th year of teaching, Mr. Whatley has previously taught orchestra in the Katy Independent School District (Katy, TX) and in the Houston Independent School District (Houston, TX). His Orchestras are consistent UIL Sweepstakes Winners, and are frequent winners of “Best in Class” and “Best Overall” awards at state music festivals. In addition, his orchestras are regularly named as National Winners of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence Award, and consistently rank as Finalists in the TMEA Honor Orchestra Competition.

Mr. Whatley is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Studies. While at UNT, Mr. Whatley studied viola with Dr. Susan Dubois. He also performed in the UNT Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Anshel Brusilow.

Mr. Whatley is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron. In 2023, Mr. Whatley was the recipient of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association's "Director of Distinction" Award. He has served as the Orchestra Division Chair and also the Junior High/Middle School Orchestra Coordinator for TMEA Region 23, and the Middle School Orchestra Coordinator for TMEA Region 26. Since 2022, Mr. Whatley has served as a conductor of the Austin Youth Orchestra.

​Mr. Whatley currently lives in Cedar Park, TX with his wife Colleen (an Orchestra director at Westwood High School) their twin sons, Reilly (a cellist) and Connor (a violinist), and their daughter, Nora (a violinist). He enjoys mountain biking, long distance running, and cooking for his family in his spare time.  

Emily Hornbake is the Assistant Orchestra Director at Canyon Vista Middle School and Head Orchestra Director at Grisham Middle School. Previously, she was an Orchestra Director in Katy ISD (Katy, TX). Her students regularly find success with ‘Superior’ ratings at UIL Contest and Sight Reading, Solo and Ensemble, and ‘Best in Class’ and ‘Best Overall’ at state-wide festivals.

Ms. Hornbake received her B.M. in Viola Performance from UNC School of the Arts and her M.S. in Music Education from Indiana University. She also attended New York University and studied in Prague, CZ. Ms. Hornbake's primary viola teachers include Sheila Browne and Dr. Brenda Brenner. She also worked with the prestigious Indiana University String Academy and the Fairview String Project while attending graduate school.

Emily and her husband, Justin, enjoy hiking, travelling, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. They have two daughters, Lillian (a violist), and Adelaide (born May of 2024).