Band & Orchestra Instructors

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 Brannon Bravo is from Baytown, Texas, and is currently a Senior at the University of North Texas, where he studies Oboe Performance.  His teachers include James Ryon and Dr. Jonathan Thompson. Brannon has performed as a freelance oboist with groups such as the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, The Mansfield Philharmonic, Denton Community Theatre, as well as collegiate groups including the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.

Naz Mendoza graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Texas in 2019 with a Bachelor's in Music Education and with a concentration in Clarinet.

While at UNT, Mr. Mendoza enjoyed marching with the "Best Band in the Land," the Green Brigade, for 3 years. His was member brother and former treasurer of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He also participated in the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps.

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Adrian Ramirez  graduated with a degree in Music Theory/Composition and a degree in Oboe Performance from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. He is currently working on additional degrees in Oboe Performance and Music Theory at the University of North Texas, in addition to continuing his studies on piano and bassoon.

He is currently affiliated with the Mansfield Philharmonic Orchestra, along with the UNT Concert Band as its oboe section manager. He has participated in, and eventually helped manage, oboe summer camps in the Corpus Christi area.

Jordan Stone is currently pursuing a Doctorate of the Musical Arts from UNT. Jordan completed his BM from the University of South Carolina and a MM from the University of Georgia, where he was a teaching assistant for the university. "I have performed with all of the top groups at each school I have attended and have recorded several CDs with those performing groups. I have experience with professional orchestras across the Southeast United States and here in Texas."

Steven Starks is a professional drum set player and educator from Oklahoma City, OK. He was a member of The Buffalo Ruckus, touring and recording with them extensively for 2 and a half years, as well as playing and recording with Derryl Dodd. He received his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas, and while in school played with many different jazz ensembles; including recording and touring with the award-winning U-Tubes jazz group. As an educator he has given drum set clinics at the Cinncinati Percussion Festival and Oklahoma State University, and also has 8 years of private teaching experience. Today Steven maintains a busy schedule working as a freelance jazz musician and teaching drum set and piano lessons.

Camden Hunt has experience playing in the DFW area outside of school with the Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra, The Jordan Khan Orchestra, The Baba Yaga Orkestar, small jazz combos in Denton, and weekly with the Mosaic Jazz Worship group. The groups he has experience performing with at The University of North Texas (UNT) are the Symphonic Band, Concert Orchestra, 3 o’clock lab band, as well as the various trumpet quintets, brass quintets, and mixed brass ensembles he has put together for performances and gigs.

Philip Williams, earned his B.A. in Vocal Performance at Pepperdine University and M.M. Voice Performance and Voice Pedagogy at the University of North Texas. Philip also sings with The Fort Worth Chorale, under the direction of the renowned Dr. Jerry McCoy.

Philip’s recent stage appearances include his e role of Major-General Stanley in UNT’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance (February 2013), Jupiter in Offenbach’s Orphée aux Enfers (2010), Schaunard in La Bohème (2010) with the Pepperdine University Opera Program, Papageno in Mozart’s The Magic Flute (2009) and The Baker in an adaptation of Into the Woods in Hollywood.  Philip has performed in opera scenes during the Heidelberg Opera Program, Summer 2008, where he played Eisenstein in Act 1 of Die Fledermaus (2008).  Along with opera choruses at Pepperdine, he was also selected as a section leader for Pepperdine’s Fall 2007 production of Brigadoon, and understudy for Francis Nurse in The Crucible.  

Catherine Raible, soprano, is from Kingsport, Tennessee where she graduated magna cum laude from East Tennessee State University. She is finishing her master’s degree in vocal performance at the University of North Texas, studying with Dr. Carol Wilson.  Catherine has performed the roles of Birdie Hubbard (Regina), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni, cover)Magda Sorel (The Consul, cover), Anna Maurrant (Street Scene, cover), The Forester’s Wife (Cunning Little Vixen), 2nd Lady (The Magic Flute), Announcer (Gallantry); studied the role of Mimi (La Boheme); sung in scenes from Norma (Adalgisa), Don Giovanni (Donna Anna), and Dialogues des Carmelites (The New Prioress).  Catherine has sung in masterclasses and concerts in Utah at Temple Square, Tennessee, North Carolina at the Biltmore Estates, and New York City with the New York Dramatic Voices.  She has appeared in concert with Kelli O’Hara and masterclasses with conductor Will Crutchfield, coach Margaret Singer, and Deborah Voigt, American Dramatic soprano. 

Catherine has directed children’s choirs, elementary school musical theater programs, and taught voice lessons for several years.  Some of the past organizations she has worked for include Barter Theater in Abingdon, VA, East Tennessee Children’s Choir, and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in McKinney, TX. 

Classically-trained vocalist Kayla Nanto is a Performing Artist with The Dallas Opera's Education and Outreach program and a Studio Artist at Ft. Worth Opera.  Through these programs, she performs children's operas weekly at elementary schools throughout the DFW metroplex. Kayla completed her Master of Music at University of North Texas and her Bachelor of Music at University of Northern Colorado.  She performs regularly with companies around DFW, and some of her recent professional engagements include the role of Frida Kahlo in Fort Worth Opera’s world premiere of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, the role of Eustazio in Rinaldo with American Baroque Opera, Alto soloist in Messiah with the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the role of Ulisse in Orchestra of New Spain’s world premiere of Achillo in Sciro.

Bruno Ribeiro, a native of Porto, Portugal, started studying piano at the age of six. Bruno obtained his first Master’s Degree in Chamber Music at Stellenbosch University in South Africa where he studied with Luis Magalhaes. During his time at Stellenbosch, Bruno was chosen to perform solo with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and also won the Lionel Bowman prize for the best interpretation of a Beethoven sonata.

Bruno went on to Stephen F. Austin State University to earn his second Master’s Degree in Piano Performance. In 2014, Bruno started working on a Ph.D. in Music Theory at the University of North Texas, where he also studied piano with Mr. Vladimir Viardo.

Aruem Kim from Korea and before moving to the United States she majored in music composition. She received her bachelors degree in jazz studies with piano from the University of North Texas. Aruem is currently completing her master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. "I can teach music in various styles, including pop, jazz, classical, to suit the needs of students.  I play a role that helps students to have a sense of accomplishment and confidence through music and helps students not to lose interest in music."

Nick Woodhouse has been playing music since he was three years old! "I started on piano and eventually moved to guitar, bass guitar, drums, trumpet, ukulele, singing, and some other odd things here and there." Nick performed in drum corp on snare for the Colt Cadets in 2015 and Hershey Park's Soda Pops in 2019. 

Max first began his guitar career when he was in elementary school under the teachings of his father, a seasoned musician.  Max first began as a student at School of Rock Flower Mound during his sophomore year of high school. He remained in the program until he graduated, participating in House Band, three Summer Tours and as an instructor of the 101 students. He was then hired as a guitar instructor for the Flower Mound and then Plano School. Max's musical influences include mainly classic rock but range from funk to heavy metal. Max is a positive and charismatic leader whose main goal is to sow positively into others lives using music.

Mitchell Jantzie is a Canadian professional bass player who lives, teaches, and performs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Having recently earned his jazz studies degree from the University of North Texas, He is currently teaching bass, guitar, piano, and drums, as well as performing with a variety of musicians in a variety of styles on electric and upright bass.

Steven Sellers is a multi-instrumentalist from San Antonio who has been performing and teaching for over a decade and is an active local musician in Dallas/Fort Worth. Steven specializes in a variety of styles including jazz, bluegrass, country, and rock.  Stephen is currently at the University of North Texas pursuing a degree in jazz performance for guitar. In addition to guitar, Steven also teaches piano, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele.