Alexis Mitchell is a freelance oboist and English horn player previously located in Phoenix and Boston, and now residing in Houston. Alexis has performed with orchestras such as Albany Symphony, Boston Civic Symphony, Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Corpus Christi Ballet Orchestra. She toured and recorded with Ambient Orchestra, performing Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar an orchestral rendition of David Bowie’s last album, orchestrated and conducted by Evan Ziporyn. She was previously the adjunct oboe instructor at Bridgewater State University, and is currently teaching a studio of 40 oboists in FBISD and AISD. Alexis received her Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Arizona State University where she studied with Martin Schuring, former assistant principal oboe and English horn player of the Phoenix Symphony and author of Oboe: Art and Method. Alexis continued her studies and earned her Master of Music in Oboe Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she studied with Rob Sheena, principal English horn player of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

David Angelo is a clarinetist and teacher who previously lived in Boston before moving back to his hometown of Houston. As a fierce advocate for new music, David has taken part in the world premieres of over 100 solo, chamber, and large ensemble works. Some performance highlights include premiering a concerto with the Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble and touring the US with Ambient Orchestra, performing an orchestral version of David Bowie’s final album Blackstar. While living in Boston, David played with many local groups including the Du Bois Orchestra, New England Film Orchestra, New England Philharmonic, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Sound Icon, MIT’s Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, the Boston Opera Collaborative, and MassOpera. David earned his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the Boston Conservatory. He previously worked as the Operations Manager for Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, as a founding organizer and Ensemble and Event Manager for Chimera New Music, Assistant Production Manager for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Artistic Associate for Boston New Music Initiative, and the Assistant Performance Librarian at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He currently teaches a studio of clarinet, piano, and Alexander Technique students. More info can be found on his website: davidangeloclarinet.com. 

Owner and Operator of the Rose Street Saxophone Room, Nicholas Bissen, is an explosion of energy and motivation in the classroom. His students are active members of their band and music communities, performing in competitive recitals, placing in All-State ensembles, and winning concerto competitions. 

Nicholas has been on faculty for Lone Star Community College and Stephen F. Austin State University, currently maintains a full teaching studio, and frequently collaborates with HISD’s High School for Performing and Visual Arts, and the American Festival for the Arts. As an active member of Houston’s vibrant performance community, he has performed with Musiqa, DACAMERA, and is currently producing a performance and recording of new music for saxophone and piano by Nicky Sohn through a grant by the Houston Arts Alliance. 

Michael Woodard serves as the fourth horn of the Central Texas Philharmonic and maintains an active freelance career throughout Texas, performing with the Houston Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Inspira. In addition to his orchestral work, Michael has performed at numerous music festivals such as the National Repertory Orchestra, Britt Music & Arts Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Texas Music Festival, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts—where he was an Emerson Scholar. 

Michael earned his Bachelor of Music from Southern Methodist University, studying under former Principal Horn of the Dallas Symphony, Greg Hustis, and Second Horn Haley Hoops. He furthered his education with a Master of Music from the University of Houston, where he studied with the Associate Principal Horn of the Houston Symphony, Robert Johnson. Prior to college, he studied with Jeff Garza, who was then Principal Horn of the San Antonio Symphony and is now Principal Horn of the Oregon Symphony.

Brandon Padilla is a Tubist based in Houston, TX, and enjoys an active teaching and freelancing career. Barned earned his Bachelor of Music from Cal State Fullerton, and a Master’s of Music from the University of New Mexico. 

Many of the students in Brandon’s low brass studio have found success, placing in Region bands from the Junior High level all the way up to making the All-State Band and Houston Youth Symphony. 

Andres E. Aya is the Assistant Director of Percussion for Westbrook & Brookside Intermediate Schools. Recently, the Westbrook percussion ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Aya, was selected to perform at the prestigious Music for All Festival in Indianapolis. 

Previously, Mr. Aya was the Director of Percussion at Stephen F. Austin High School and its feeders, and was the Director of Percussion Studies at Alvin High School from 2004 until 2016. Ensembles under his direction have earned numerous awards and recognition, including The Mark of Excellence and performances such as the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and most recently the Music For All National Festival.

Mr. Aya graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Human Learning from the University of Texas at Austin. During his percussion studies, he studied under George Frock, David Glover, Lisa Nicol, Tony Edwards, and Thomas Burritt. He was a member of the UT Longhorn Band (1999-2001), Wind Ensemble (2000-04), and Percussion Ensemble (1999-2004).

Mr. Aya was a Snare-line member of the World Champion Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from 2001-03, earning two World Championships. In 2002, he received the bronze medal in the DCI Individual & Ensemble competition with his snare solo, “Palindrome.” He was also a member of the 1999 Texas All-State Band and the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps Snare-line in 1998. Mr. Aya served as the assistant percussion caption head and snare technician for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. At the 2017 TMEA convention, he co-presented the first-ever TMEA special needs inclusion strategies clinic. 

Currently, Mr. Aya is an Ensemble Block masterclass video Creator & Artists Relations Manager. He is sponsored by Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, and Sabian Cymbals. He resides in Missouri City, TX with his wife, Laura.

Avery Willis joins the private lesson faculty at RTMS, having spent the last six years teaching elementary music in Deer Park ISD and Fort Bend ISD. Additionally, she has been teaching percussion privately since 2016 to junior high and high school students and has served as a battery and front ensemble technician. 

Mrs. Willis is a proud graduate of Texas Tech University, where under the tutelage of Dr. Lisa Rogers and Mr. Alan Shinn, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Music Education with a focus in percussion studies. During her time at Texas Tech, Mrs. Willis was a member of the top Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band ‘Apocalypso Now’. With these ensembles, she performed at TMEA, ISME, and NCPP. Mrs. Willis was a member of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Sarah McKoin, and the Symphony Orchestra under Dr. David Becker. Mrs. Willis was also a part of the famed Goin’ Band from Raiderland as a member of the snare-line. 

In her spare time, Mrs. Willis enjoys playing pickleball, trying new restaurants, and enjoying the outdoors with her two dogs. She and her husband, Lee, are fans of the San Antonio Spurs and Texas Tech Red Raiders.