Mason England

Mason England is the Director of Bands at Grisham Middle School in Austin, Texas. Prior to coming to Grisham, Mr. England served as the Director of Bands at Manor Middle School in Manor, Texas and at Brownfield High School in Brownfield, Texas. At Grisham Mr. England directs the Honors Band and the Saxophone Ensemble, assists with the Symphonic Band, and teaches all beginning woodwind classes. Mr. England also coaches the Sonoro Quartet at Westwood High School.

Since beginning his career in music education, ensembles under Mr. England’s baton have received consistent sweepstakes ratings in the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert and Sight Reading Evaluations, while also earning Best in Class and Outstanding Performance awards at festivals around the state of Texas. Under Mr. England’s direction, the Grisham Honors Band has placed 3rd in the TMEA CC Honor Band Finals, and has been a consistent recipient of the National Mark of Excellence Award for Wind Band Honors.

The Grisham Honors Band and the Grisham Saxophone Ensemble were both recently invited to perform at The 78th & 79th Annual Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In the spring of 2026 the Grisham Band program was named the National Winner of the National Band Association Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award. This fall, the Grisham Honors Band will be a featured ensemble at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington.

Before moving to Texas, Mr. England received his undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. In addition to his teaching at Grisham Middle School, Mr. England is an active clinician, drill writer, and music arranger for band programs in both Michigan and Texas. Mr. England is also a concert band adjudicator through the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Mr. England has been published in the National Band Association Journal and has presented clinics at the Michigan Music Conference and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. Mr. England is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of young musicians and is excited to begin rehearsing with the students of the North Austin Youth Wind Ensemble in 2027.

Robert Herrings

Robert Tyrome Herrings, III is in his twenty-third year of teaching and has served in Leander ISD since 2004. He currently serves as Director of Bands at Vista Ridge High School. Prior to his appointment at Vista Ridge, Mr. Herrings served as Director of Bands at Artie Henry Middle School from 2004–2024.

Mr. Herrings earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in 2003, where he studied under Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Dr. Kevin Sedatole, and Barry Hopper. While at Baylor, he performed in the university’s wind bands and was a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.

During his twenty-year tenure at Artie Henry Middle School, the Henry Middle School Honors Band achieved national recognition. The ensemble was selected to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington, in 2008 and 2013; named a TMEA Class CCC Honor Band in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2024; and invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2022. In 2011, the program received the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, and Mr. Herrings was named the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year. In 2014, the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association honored the Henry Middle School Band with its Outstanding Band Program Award, and the Henry Middle School Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. In 2018, the Henry Middle School Band Program received the Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Middle School Band Award and was named a National Band Association Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award winner.

Since moving to Vista Ridge High School, Mr. Herrings has continued to build a program recognized at the highest levels. The Vista Ridge High School Band was invited to perform at the 2025 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and most recently, the Vista Ridge High School Wind Ensemble was named the 2026 TMEA Class 6A Honor Band.

An active clinician and adjudicator throughout Texas, Mr. Herrings is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and American Bandmasters Association. He also serves as an educational consultant for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education, President of the Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter, TMEA Region 32 Band Division Vice President, and Region 32 TBA Representative. Most recently, he was inducted into the Conn-Selmer Institute Hall of Fame.

Mr. Herrings is passionate about motivating young musicians to pursue excellence by sharing his deep love of music with his students each day. He considers himself blessed to have been supported throughout his career by his mother, grandmother, mentors, band directors, and close friends, all of whom have played an important role in shaping his life as an educator.

Above all, his students have been - and continue to be - his greatest inspiration.

Katherine Norris

Katherine Norris is in her eighth year at Henry Middle School, where she serves as Director of Bands. She conducts the Honors Band, teaches beginning flute, clarinet, and double reed classes, and assists with the Concert and Symphonic Bands. Under her guidance, Henry ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation. From 2022 through 2024, the Symphonic Band was recognized as a Citation Winner in The Foundation for Music Education’s Citation of Excellence project and was named Non-Varsity Grand Champion at the North Texas Festival of Distinction. In her first year as Director of Bands, the Honors Band was honored with an invitation to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, WA, and selected as a National Winner in The Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence Project.

Katherine graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, where she studied with Eddie Green, John Benzer, and David Bertman. Outside of her work at Henry, Katherine enjoys supporting students and directors as a clinician and educator at the state and national levels. She has presented at the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, and the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. From 2019–2025, she served on the brass staff of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and she is also a member of the SASi Leadership staff, working with student leaders in schools across the country. She is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and continues to work with ensembles throughout the Austin area. In addition to her work as a teacher and clinician, Katherine regularly plays with the Cedar Park Winds.