Greg Hames is in his seventh year as the Director of Bands and Chair of the Music Department at J. J. Pearce High School. He is also the Pearce Area Fine Arts Coordinator and the TMEA Region III Band Division Chairman. Mr. Hames began his career in the Richardson ISD as the percussion instructor and arranger for the Lake Highlands High School Band. He then went on to be assistant band director at Berkner High School. Prior to coming to Pearce he took a brief sojourn to Plano as the Director of Bands at Jasper High School

Mr. Hames holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Texas at Arlington. As a percussionist Mr. Hames has performed with the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Irving and Richardson Symphonies, the Imperial Brass and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.

Bands under Mr. Hames’ direction have consistently earned first division ratings in UIL competition and have been named Best-In-Class at festivals in Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, Richardson, San Antonio, and Orlando, Florida. Mr. Hames is a student of Eddie Green, University of Houston, Tom Bennett, University of Houston, Marion West and Claire Johnson. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. He is also a member of Phi Beta Mu, a national honorary fraternity of public school band directors, is listed in the 1978 edition of Who’s Who Among American High School Students and is twice listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Mr. Hames was honored to be the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year for J. J. Pearce, a finalist for the RISD STARS Teacher of the Year, and the recipient of the 2007-2008 Bursting with Pearce Pride Award.

Josh Blankenship is in his fourteenth year of teaching in the RISD. For over 10 years, Mr. Blankenship taught brass pedagogy in the Lake Highlands. In addition to teaching private lessons, sectionals, masterclasses, and concert bands, Mr. Blankenship also founded the award-winning LH Brass Choir in 1996, the LH Woodwind Choir in 2005. All of these groups have received continuous Honor Awards since their inception. Mr. Blankenship is now the Associate Director of Bands at J.J. Pearce High School and in his third year of directing the Symphonic Band.

A native of Richardson, Mr. Blankenship graduated from Richardson North Junior High and in the top 5% of his class at J.J. Pearce High School. He was a trombone student of Don Stewart for seven years before attending Indiana University and graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance. While at IU, he studied extensively with Keith Brown and Edwin Anderson. In addition to being Principal Trombone of the Allen Philharmonic, Mr. Blankenship has performed with the Dallas Opera Orchestra, the symphonies of Richardson, San Angelo, and Shreveport, the Plano Chamber Orchestra, and the Dallas Wind Symphony. Mr. Blankenship’s professional affiliations include TMEA and the American Federation of Musicians.

Stephen Lisko joined the staff of the J.J. Pearce Mighty Mustang Band in the Summer of 2007 as an Assistant Band Director. Steve went to high school in Conroe, Texas at Oak Ridge High School, where he made the 4A All-State Band in 2001. Steve is a recent graduate of the University of Houston, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Music Education. During his time at the University of Houston, Steve participated in the Wind Ensemble, which was conducted by former Pearce Band Director Tom Bennett. Steve also participated in the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band every single year of his college career. As a Section Leader and the Vice President of his service fraternity, Steve served his University with great pride. Steve studied saxophone with Dr. Karen Wylie and participated in two competitive saxophone quartets that were selected to perform at the New England Conservatory and at Notre Dame University.

During his time at the University of Houston, Steve taught private saxophone lessons in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Spring ISD, and Conroe ISD. Steve recently married his college sweetheart Tiffany, who teaches band at Cain Middle School in Rockwall ISD. Steve's professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Fraternity for College Bandmembers.

Samuel Woodfield A University of Oklahoma graduate, Samuel Woodfield is in his 20th year of teaching. He was a Head Junior High Director for 13 years where his groups earned several Outstanding Achievement and Sweepstakes Awards. At Moore West Junior High in Moore/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, his bands earned the 2002 and 2003 Oklahoma Music Educators Association Honor Band 1st Runner-Up in the Middle School/Junior High Division. He has also been an Assistant Band Director at Westmoore HS (OK), Union HS (OK), Brazoswood HS (TX) and Winston Churchill HS (TX) where he conducted the 2nd, 3rd, 4th Bands and also earned Superior Ratings. While at Moore West Junior High and Westmoore High School the Band Program was the recipient of the Sudler Flag of Honor.

Samuel has also been a colorguard/winter guard designer, instructor, director and consultant/clinician in the Midwest and Southwest United States for the past 24 years. Additionally, Samuel designs Flags for American Band Accessories and designs color guard uniforms for Vision Apparel. He has taken several different High Schools to BOA Regionals/Super Regional Finals and WGI Regional Finals.

Eric Gibbons joined the J.J. Pearce Band Staff spring 2009 as Director of Percussion Activities. His teaching responsibilities include rehearsing the percussion ensembles at all Pearce Area schools including J.J. Pearce High School, North Junior High School and Parkhill Junior High School. He will also be actively involved with organizing the J.J. Pearce High School marching percussion section for the fall 2009 UIL contest program.

Mr. Gibbons’ performance experience includes membership with the Magic of Orlando Drum & Bugle Corps and the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. He received two consecutive Drum Corps International Individual & Ensemble awards for Best Bass Drum Line including two reviews in Modern Drummer Magazine during his membership with the Blue Knights.

Mr. Gibbons recieved his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce in May of 2009. While attending classes he studied closely with Dr. Brian Zator and Dr. Jeffery Gershman. He has received numerous accolades including the Ferrell-Freeman Outstanding Musicianship Award, the PASIC Scholarship Award and served as principal percussionist for the Texas A&M-Commerce Wind Ensemble. He has also been chosen to perform and represent the University at numerous professional conferences including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, and the Texas Music Educators National Convention, and the Northeast Texas Wind Symphony Children’s Concert. His professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society and the Texas Music Educators Association.

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