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- Mollie Ward
- Brigette Parsons
- Mark Piwetz
Mollie Ward Mollie Ward spent her entire childhood performing for family &
friends, and being told to sit down & hush. Fortunately, she
found a career that put those experiences to good use. As she
explained to her mother, "Teaching middle school band is the the
best; they're so weird that they make me seem normal."
After growing up on a farm in southeast Arkansas and performing
as a member of both the Arkansas All-State Band and Choir, Mollie
fled to the Ozarks to attend the University of Arkansas where she
majored first in zoology. Upon realizing that the only classes
that were any fun at all were her music classes, she came to her
senses and became a Music Education major, but still manages to
put those zoology (& cattle management) skills to work in the
bandroom.
After four glorious years in Fayetteville, Mollie married her
husband Rob, in 1990, and promptly moved to West
Point, NY, where he had a job playing percussion in the Army
band. She taught at two middle schools in the Hudson Valley,
Monroe-Woodbury and Brewster, which is where she learned the
proper usage and pronunciation of "fuggiddaboudit".
In the 1994, the Wards moved to Austin; Rob went to grad school
for architecture while Mollie was the middle school
director/asst. high school director two years each at Hutto (yes,
she has hippo earrings) & Manor. In 1998, the Wards moved to
beautiful Denver, Colorado, where Mollie taught band AND
orchestra in Parker, CO and had their delightful daughter
Miranda in 2003. However, it was very apparent that Colorado has
many great things, including lifelong friends & amazing scenery,
but a strong basis for band programs was not one of them.
So, the Wards packed up once more in May of 2005 to return to the
Austin that they had loved so much, where the bands are great,
and everything is warm - the weather, the people, and the pico de
gallo.
She believes that Canyon Vista is truly one of the greatest
blessings in her life, because she gets to work with incredible
students, amazing parents, and the best co-directors on the face
of the planet. She can't help smiling as she's driving in for
those pre-dawn sectionals, because, at that quiet time of day,
she knows that THIS is where she's supposed to be.
She is mildly insane, but in a good way, and believes that life
is best when you work hard & play hard She believes that life is
too short not to attempt your dreams.
Brigette Parsons Brigette Parsons grew up in Texas and wanted to be everything
from an author,a singer, an astronaut, a doctor, a teacher, even the President
of the United States! Her mother always told her she could be anything she
wanted,and in 6th grade, Brigette found out that she wanted to be a musician
more than anything! Starting out as a trumpet player, Brigette was quickly
moved to French horn and fell in love with the instrument. A tried and
true "band nerd", she went through middle school and high school practicing
hard, hanging out in the band hall a lot, and making the best friends ever. At
Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, TX, Brigette was drum major, band
president,and a member of the All-State band.
After liberating from high school in 1999, Brigette attended The
University of Texas at Austin where she was a member of the Longhorn Band, Wind Ensemble,and Symphony Orchestra. College was
so much fun that after receiving her Bachelors degree in Music Education in
2004, she decided to stay at UT for her Masters in Horn Performance and serve as the Teaching Assistant
for the studio.
After completing her Masters degree in 2006, Brigette spent two
years as a professional freelance horn player, playing in several
area symphonies and chamber groups. She also had a large private
studio of horn and trumpet players (Canyon Vista included!) that kept her very
busy. Very soon, however,the itch to teach came back in full force and
Brigette knew itwas time to use her degree. Luckily, the best job in the world
opened up and she jumped at the opportunity!
In addition to teaching at Canyon Vista, Brigette is a part-time
instructor of music at Southwestern University in Georgetown. There she
teaches music and non-music majors horn lessons and also plays with the faculty
woodwind quintet. You could pretty much say it's the best of both worlds!
Brigette is indebted to her family, her friends, and especially
her amazing husband John for their love and patience throughout
the years. She looks forward to inspiring new generations of
musicians and creative thinkers!
Mark Piwetz Although still not the most talented and intelligent of the band
directors, Mark Piwetz is once again the most handsome (since he
is currently the only male). He is, however, the oldest (VERY
much the oldest) and the widest(although not quite as wide).
(I prefer to think of myself as distinguished, experienced, and
substantial).
He was born in Houston , Texas, and attended a one room, red
brick school house at Spring Woods in the Spring Branch ISD
where he played trombone in the band with Jack Green, Director
of Bands at Westwood High School. (Yes, Gregorian Chant was still
the most popular form of music of the day.)
He was drum major and a member of the All-State Band while in
high school.
Following his graduation, he attended Southwestern University in
Georgetown, Texas. For two years he was a Chemistry/Education
double major with a Math /Physics double minor. Realizing that he
was not on the verge of discovering how to turn lead into gold,
he changed his major to Music Education and received his
Bachelor's degree from Southwestern in 1980.
While at Southwestern, he met the love and light of his life,
Eddy, who in a moment of weakness agreed to be his wife. They are
now in their 29th blissful year of matrimony.
After student teaching at the then existent Round Rock
Middle School, he was hired as a band director at the then brand
new middle school, Chisholm Trail. Following his tenure at
Chisholm Trail, he was named Director of Bands at Grisham Middle
School, where he remained for 4 years.
He was a founding director at McNeil High School upon its opening
in 1991, and was named the Director of Bands there in 1996. In
2001 he resigned his post at McNeil to seek a position that would
allow him more time to spend with his family. That family has now
grown to include two sons (Jacob - currently a senior education
major at Sam Houston State, and Logan - currently a sophomore at
the University of Hawaii, 1 very psychotic cat (is there any
other kind of cat?),and a very large copper-colored truck. He is
an avid outdoorsman and tinkerer, and firmly believes that he has
the very best job, family, and co-workers on the planet.
Wave a stick, drive a big truck, collect the big bucks.......
Life is good!
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