Our Feeder Band Program

Debra Vandergriff is the Director of Bands at Willow Wood JHS in Tomball ISD, where she directs the Honor Band and Concert 2 Band and teaches the beginner horns at Northpointe Intermediate. She has over 18 years of teaching experience both as a director and a private horn instructor. The bands under her direction have consistently earned first division ratings in UIL and other band festivals and contests, and members of her private studio have been selected as members of Region, Area, and the Texas All-State Bands. 

Mrs. Vandergriff holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University. During her time at SHSU, she held the positions of Principal Horn in both the Wind Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra and studied conducting with both Dr. Matthew McInturf and Dr. Carol Smith. She was also the Drum Major of the Bearkat Marching Band.

Mrs. Vandergriff taught previously in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD before serving as the graduate assistant for the Sam Houston State University band program. She has presented on horn pedagogy, teaching non varsity bands, and recruitment at the Texas Bandmaster Association Convention, the Sam Houston State director workshops, and for district professional development sessions in local school districts. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda and lives in Tomball with her husband, Bryon, and their two children.

Makaela Martinez is the Assistant Band Director at Willow Wood Junior High in Tomball ISD. She is the lead instructor of the Concert and Cadet Bands, assists with the Symphonic and Honor Bands and teaches the beginning low brass classes at Northpointe Intermediate. Under her direction in the 2021-2022 school year, the WWJH Concert Band earned a sweepstakes award at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest!

Mrs. Martinez is a graduate of The University of Houston, where she graduated with her Bachelors of Music Education degree in 2021. While pursuing her education at UH, she performed with the UH Wind Ensemble and Trombone Choir, studied trombone under Mr. Brian Kauk and taught private low brass lessons in the greater Houston area.

Brooke Mikeska is the Assistant Band Director at Grand Lakes Junior High School. She teaches the Symphonic Band, Cadet Band, and Percussion class at GLJH. 

Austin de la Rua is the Director of Band at Oakcrest Intermediate School in Tomball ISD. This is Mr. de la Rua’s 7th year of teaching and his 4th year in Tomball ISD. Previously, he taught in Cy-Fair ISD at Arnold Middle School.

Mr. de la Rua is a graduate of Sam Houston State University, where he graduated with his degree in Music Education in 2018. At Sam Houston, Mr. de la Rua performed in principle roles with the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jacob Sustaita, and the Wind Ensemble under Dr. Matthew McInturf. Mr. de la Rua has also performed with multiple drum corps, including The Troopers, The Blue Knights, and The Blue Devils. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mr. de la Rua enjoys being outdoors in his spare time, usually spent camping as well as the occasional round of golf.