Gary Williams
Gary Williams is beginning his 10th year at Cockrill Middle School in McKinney TX where he has been since the school opened in 2008. Under his leadership, the Cockrill Band Program has grown to over 400 students in Grades 6, 7, and 8. Mr. Williams’ responsibilities include directing the Honors Band, Assisting the Symphonic and Concert Bands, and teaching beginner brass and woodwind classes.
Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned Superior ratings at U.I.L. Concert and Sight-Reading Contests and have been awarded “Best in Class” at festivals around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The Cockrill Middle School Honors Band has been named a “National Winner” in the National Wind Band Honors Project sponsored by Mark of Excellence in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016 and was named a “Commended Winner” in 2014. In 2015 and 2017, the Cockrill Middle School Honors Band advanced to the state level of the TMEA Honors Band competition, most recently placing 6th overall. In December of 2016, the CMS Honors Band was invited to perform at The 70th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL.
Prior to his appointment at Cockrill, Mr. Williams taught in Duncanville ISD and Clear Creek ISD serving as an assistant at Byrd MS, Reed MS, and Space Center Intermediate. In 2006 he was appointed as the first head director of Kennemer MS. Under his direction, the Kennemer Symphonic I Band placed in the TMEA State Honor Band competition in its very first year of existence. Mr. Williams is also very proud to have served on the staff of two consecutive CCC Honor Bands, Reed MS in 2002-03 and Byrd MS in 2004-05.
Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce where he was a saxophone player in the Wind Ensemble. During the summer, he stays very active in teaching Band Camps around the state of Texas. Mr. Williams was elected Middle School Chairman for Region 20 and Region 25, the latter being a position he still serves today. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Williams was also named the 2016 Teacher of the Year for Cockrill Middle School and was named 2nd runner up for all of McKinney ISD.
Mr. Williams resides in McKinney with his wife Brittney, who is the head band director at Evans Middle School and their two kids, Olivia Paige and Joshua Grant.
Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned Superior ratings at U.I.L. Concert and Sight-Reading Contests and have been awarded “Best in Class” at festivals around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The Cockrill Middle School Honors Band has been named a “National Winner” in the National Wind Band Honors Project sponsored by Mark of Excellence in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016 and was named a “Commended Winner” in 2014. In 2015 and 2017, the Cockrill Middle School Honors Band advanced to the state level of the TMEA Honors Band competition, most recently placing 6th overall. In December of 2016, the CMS Honors Band was invited to perform at The 70th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL.
Prior to his appointment at Cockrill, Mr. Williams taught in Duncanville ISD and Clear Creek ISD serving as an assistant at Byrd MS, Reed MS, and Space Center Intermediate. In 2006 he was appointed as the first head director of Kennemer MS. Under his direction, the Kennemer Symphonic I Band placed in the TMEA State Honor Band competition in its very first year of existence. Mr. Williams is also very proud to have served on the staff of two consecutive CCC Honor Bands, Reed MS in 2002-03 and Byrd MS in 2004-05.
Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce where he was a saxophone player in the Wind Ensemble. During the summer, he stays very active in teaching Band Camps around the state of Texas. Mr. Williams was elected Middle School Chairman for Region 20 and Region 25, the latter being a position he still serves today. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Williams was also named the 2016 Teacher of the Year for Cockrill Middle School and was named 2nd runner up for all of McKinney ISD.
Mr. Williams resides in McKinney with his wife Brittney, who is the head band director at Evans Middle School and their two kids, Olivia Paige and Joshua Grant.
Matthew Harp
Matthew Harp is in his fourteenth year of teaching, and this is his eleventh year at Cockrill Middle School. He began teaching in McKinney ISD as a private lessons teacher and taught at Faubion Middle School for two years before opening Cockrill Middle School with Gary Williams in 2008.
At Cockrill Middle School, Mr. Harp conducts the Symphonic Band, Cowboy Band and assists with the Honors Band and the Concert Band. He also teaches beginning oboe, bassoon, tuba, euphonium, and horn. His bands have consistently earned superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest as well as other festivals and contests.
Mr. Harp earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2002 from Stephen F. Austin State University where he studied with Fred Allen, Brian Britt, and Charles Gavin. He has also taught at numerous band camps over the years. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
When he's not teaching, Mr. Harp enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He is married to his wife, Rachelle, who is a writer and teaches private flute lessons in McKinney. They are proud parents of their daughter, Margaret, age 5.
At Cockrill Middle School, Mr. Harp conducts the Symphonic Band, Cowboy Band and assists with the Honors Band and the Concert Band. He also teaches beginning oboe, bassoon, tuba, euphonium, and horn. His bands have consistently earned superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest as well as other festivals and contests.
Mr. Harp earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2002 from Stephen F. Austin State University where he studied with Fred Allen, Brian Britt, and Charles Gavin. He has also taught at numerous band camps over the years. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
When he's not teaching, Mr. Harp enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He is married to his wife, Rachelle, who is a writer and teaches private flute lessons in McKinney. They are proud parents of their daughter, Margaret, age 5.
Robin Winter
Robin Winter joined the Cockrill MS Band team in August, 2016, making this her twentieth year of teaching middle school band students in Texas. Mrs. Winter compares her current experience in McKinney ISD to her former years working in other reputable school districts, such as Round Rock ISD, Plano ISD and Prosper ISD. When her two daughters were younger, Mrs. Winter gained an additional ten years teaching experience as a private flute specialist while working close to home.
Robin Winter has had the great honor and fortune of having nearly every band under her direction to earn UIL Band Competition Sweepstakes honors. Other honors include serving as a Student Council sponsor and having these student leaders earn state recognition for innovative alcohol/drug prevention campaigns. Also being involved in the opening of two new middle schools and the development of their band programs has given Mrs. Winter a much deeper pride of this multi-faceted job: guiding children to their maximum potential.
Robin Winter is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin and worked towards music education graduate studies at the University of North Texas. She is a member of the Texas Flute Society and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Having met at the University of Texas School of Music, Robin and her husband, Bill, recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary. Although he's a fabulous trumpeter, Bill works at Slalom Consulting as a Principal Consultant. Robin and Bill have two beautiful girls: Hannah, an honor student at Texas A&M studying Biochemistry and Genetic, and Abigail, a percussion prodigy on her high school drum line.
Robin Winter has had the great honor and fortune of having nearly every band under her direction to earn UIL Band Competition Sweepstakes honors. Other honors include serving as a Student Council sponsor and having these student leaders earn state recognition for innovative alcohol/drug prevention campaigns. Also being involved in the opening of two new middle schools and the development of their band programs has given Mrs. Winter a much deeper pride of this multi-faceted job: guiding children to their maximum potential.
Robin Winter is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin and worked towards music education graduate studies at the University of North Texas. She is a member of the Texas Flute Society and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Having met at the University of Texas School of Music, Robin and her husband, Bill, recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary. Although he's a fabulous trumpeter, Bill works at Slalom Consulting as a Principal Consultant. Robin and Bill have two beautiful girls: Hannah, an honor student at Texas A&M studying Biochemistry and Genetic, and Abigail, a percussion prodigy on her high school drum line.