First Day of School August 19, 2020
Meet the Directors
David McGrath - Head Band Director
David J. McGrath has directed high school bands the past thirty-three years in the states of Michigan, Georgia and Texas. He holds a BA from DePauw University and an MA from Eastern Michigan University. He is currently the Director of Bands at Klein Cain High School, which is the newest high school (opening in August, 2017) in the Klein ISD – Klein, Texas. McGrath also serves as the Program Coordinator for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.
Concert Ensembles under his direction have received numerous honors including: invitations and performances for numerous regional and national concert festivals and clinics (including the 2010 Midwest Clinic, the 2000, 2006 and 2007 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, and numerous state music association performances in both Michigan and Georgia). The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Wind Ensemble had the honor of performing an hour-long concert for President Bill Clinton (1996). The Klein Cain Wind Ensemble has been a UIL Sweepstakes Award Recipient every year since opening in the fall of 2017.
Marching Bands under his direction have also received many honors which include: eleven appearances at the Michigan state marching band championships (capturing nine state championships); being consistent finalists at Bands of America events (the Lakeland High School Marching Band was named the 1992 BOA Class AA Toledo Regional Champion, the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Marching Band was named the 1999 BOA Class AAA and Grand National Champion, the Carlton J. Kell High School Marching Band was a ten-time BOA Regional and Super-Regional finalist, and was named the 2010 BOA Jacksonville Regional Champion and 2010 BOA Akron Regional Champion). The Kennesaw Mountain High School Marching Band was named the 2015 Jacksonville, Alabama Regional Champion, and the 2012 and 2014 BOA Class AAA National Champion(selected as a Grand National Championship Finalist Band both of those years). Most recently, the Klein Cain Marching Band has received Division 1 ratings ever year (since opening) at the UIL Region 9 Marching Band Evaluation and was a top five finalist at the 2019 USSBA Conroe and Spring Regional Competitions.
Mr. McGrath is a six-time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and has been named a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction. He is very active as a concert band, marching band, and drum-corps adjudicator and clinician, having judged finals at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, DCI World Championships (having served on the DCI Judge Liaison team during the 2013 season), and Japan Marching Band Championships. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, the GMEA and the MENC.
He and his wife, Kimberley, are blessed with two wonderful sons – Nathaniel, and Logan.
Kelsey Bradberry - Associate Band Director
Kelsey Bradberry is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Klein Cain High School in Houston, Texas. Ms. Bradberry has been an active educator at the intermediate and high school level in Georgia and Texas.
Ms. Bradberry holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Georgia State University and a Masters in Music Education degree from Boston University. While at Georgia State University, Ms. Bradberry participated in multiple ensembles including: the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Wind Orchestra, the University Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, and Clarinet Choir. She also participated in the Georgia State University Marching Band and was the clarinet section leader during the marching band’s inaugural year.
In addition to being an active private lessons teacher and sectional coach, Ms. Bradberry has worked with multiple nationally recognized band programs across the metro-Atlanta area including: Kennesaw Mountain High School, Harrison High School, Kell High School, Duluth High School, and McEachern High School.
Ms. Bradberry serves as the head director for the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, as well as fulfilling the role of Visual Caption Head for the Klein Cain Marching Band. Concert and Marching Ensembles under her direction have received straight superior ratings at both District and State levels. Ms. Bradberry also leads training and guidance programs for the Klein Cain Band Student Leadership Team and Band Council.
Ms. Bradberry’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the Texas Jazz Educators Association.
Jennifer Hepp - Assistant Band Director
Jennifer Hepp is thrilled to be the newest addition to the Klein Cain Band program as Assistant Band Director. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University and holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education, Trumpet Performance and Journalism. During her time at Northwestern, she studied trumpet under Dave Bilger, Channing Philbrick, Tom Rolfs, Michael Sachs and Bob Sullivan and also performed in several university ensembles, including three years with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble directed by Dr. Mallory Thompson. While attending school in Chicago, Ms. Hepp was recognized as a Theodore Presser Scholar and performed as an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She also marched with The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016 as the featured trumpet soloist, and is currently serving as a member of the brass staff for the corps. Ms. Hepp’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Brian Perez - Percussion Director
Brian Perez is currently the Percussion Director for Klein Cain High School in Houston, TX. Brian has been an active educator in the Houston area for the last 16 years, including Dekaney HS, The Woodlands HS, The Woodlands College Park HS, Clear Brook HS, Pearland HS and Klein HS. He has also served as the Associate Director of Bands / Marching Band Director of the Nimitz HS band (2010-2012). Brian received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Houston.
Brian has been on the percussion staff at several top drum corps. Currently, he is on staff with The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps. Perez has also been on staff with The Cadets (2012-16), Santa Clara Vanguard (2005), Cavaliers (2006-09) and Madison Scouts (2010-11). He has also taught WGI indoor groups such as Clear Brook High School, working alongside Christopher Retschulte as the 2005 Winter Guard International Open Class Competition.
Perez was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard tenor line from 2000-2004 under the instruction of the legendary team Ralph Hardimon, Glen Crosby, Jim Casella, and Murray Gusseck. There he served as the section leader for all five years and was a member of the instructional staff in 2005. Brian was a member of the 2001 Texas All-State Band, performed in Superbowl XXXVIII in 2004 with artists such as Jessica Simpson and also received the honor of the first place tenor individual award at Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 1999.
Brian currently resides in The Woodlands, TX, with his wife Joni and three cats, Buddy, Ditto, and Gizmo. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Texas Music Educators Association, and Percussive Arts Society
Amy Tomsa - Color Guard Director
Amy Tomsa was born and raised in Kennesaw, Georgia and has been involved in the pageantry arts since she was a child. Amy has been a performer, instructor, and designer for over 20 years. As a performer, she appeared with Sprayberry High School, Kennesaw Mountain High School (2005 WGI Open Class World Champions), Phantom Regiment Winter Guard, and Juxtaposition Winter Guard. She also performed with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps in 2007 and in 2008 when the corps won the DCI World Championships.
Amy found a love for color guard at a young age and wanted to share her passion with other young performers after graduating high school. She has had the privilege to work with numerous programs including, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps, Milton HS (GA), Madison Central HS (KY), P.L. Dunbar HS (KY), Kennesaw Mountain HS (GA) and most recently at Klein Collins HS in Spring, Texas. Teaching and inspiring a love for the pageantry arts is one of Amy’s greatest passions. She shares this passion with her husband, Mathew, who is the color guard director at Klein Collins High School. They have a young daughter that brings much joy, laughter, and light to their lives! They reside in Spring, Texas with their fur-children, Bella, Harley and Merlin.
When she is not teaching, Amy enjoys creating and designing whatever she puts her mind to. In the past, Amy ran a successful bridal store and worked with some of the top bridal designers in the industry. Inspiring enthusiasm and a belief that anything is possible with the proper mindset is a goal that Amy continues to instill in her students and pursue for herself in her everyday life. Amy looks forward to leading the Klein Cain Color Guard with some of the best music educators and administration around!