UTC Tri-States Honor Band

Bryan Christian has 32 years of experience directing, teaching, and conducting Texas high school bands. He is currently on the faculty of the Interlochen Center for the Arts serving as the conductor of the Wind Symphony. Previously, he served as the Director of Bands at Vista Ridge High School since its opening in 2003 until his retirement in 2023. His Vista Ridge Band Program was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield in 2017 and the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2021. His Wind Ensemble performed at the Midwest Clinic in 2014, placed in the top five and top ten in the TMEA Honor Band Process, and was a frequent National Winner of The Foundation for Music Education’s National Wind Band Honors. Additionally, the Vista Ridge Marching Band competed in the Texas State Marching Contest eight times, including being named the 2018 UIL 6A State Champions. His bands were frequent finalists in BOA Regional and Super Regional Championships and were finalists in their first BOA Grand National Championships in 2021, which led to their invitation to perform in the 2023 Tournament of Roses Parade. 

Studying under Dr. John Whitwell and Gary Lewis, Mr. Christian received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Abilene Christian University before receiving his Master of Arts Degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, again under Dr. John Whitwell. He continues to enjoy serving as a frequent guest conductor, clinician, consultant, mentor, and adjudicator. Professional memberships include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Bandmasters Association. Additionally, he is a Founding Board Member and Vice-President of the recently created “SLAM” (Servant Leadership Association for Musicians). He believes in the importance of Culture, Relationships, Excellence, Service, and Transformative experiences through music. 

Mr. Christian has been married for 37 years to his college sweetheart, Cheryl (oboist and 7th grade Math Teacher). They have two beautiful adult daughters, Caroline (Horn) and Cassie (Oboe), both of whom were in the Vista Ridge Ranger Band & Wind Ensemble.

Mary K. Schneider is Professor of Conducting and Director of Bands at Eastern Michigan University where she conducts the EMU Wind Symphony, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting and music education, and oversees the comprehensive university bands program. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Schneider held a teaching position at the University of Minnesota School of Music and had a successful career as a secondary school instrumental music educator. 

Active nationally and internationally as a guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Schneider has served as an adjudicator for the Music For All National Concert Band Festival, the Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition, and the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival. She served as clinician and chief adjudicator for the Victorian School Music Festival in Melbourne, Australia, and featured instructor of the ABODA Conducting Symposium in Sydney, New South Wales. Schneider has been an invited guest conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band, Dallas Winds, Sydney Conservatorium of Music Wind Symphony, Concordia Santa Fe, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Festival & Staff Bands, and Wheaton Municipal Band, and is a frequent guest conductor of regional and All-State honor bands throughout the United States. 

Elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2013, Dr. Schneider served as President of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association from 2021-2023—the first woman elected to leadership since the inception of the division—and currently serves on the Music Education Committee of CBDNA. A strong advocate for new wind music, she has participated in commissioning and/or premiering over three dozen works for wind band, and her ensembles frequently collaborate with a diverse group of composers. In addition to published articles in the GIA book series, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, she has presented on the topic of wind band repertoire at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and is a frequent invited lecturer on the celebrated American composer, John Corigliano, and his Symphony No. 3 for large wind ensemble, “Circus Maximus.” Schneider holds a doctoral degree in conducting from the University of Texas at Austin, and degrees in horn performance and music education from the New England Conservatory of Music, and the University of Connecticut, having graduated with Distinction in Performance honors from the former. She is a member of MSBOA, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and serves as Michigan Chair for the National Band Association.