Levi Chavis, Director of Bands
Levi Chavis is the Director of Bands at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX where he oversees the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band and assists with the Symphonic and Concert bands. Under his direction, the Ronald Reagan High School Wind Ensemble was recently named a state finalist in the TMEA 5A Honor Band competition, placing 6th overall and was also selected to perform at the 2011 Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN. In the fall of 2010, the Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band was recognized as the Class 4A Champion at the Bands of America Woodlands regional and a Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional finalist. The marching band has also been a consistent UIL Sweepstakes recipient and performed at the 2010 UIL 5A State Marching Contest.
Originally from Spring, Texas, Levi attended Spring High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Houston, where he studied with Tom Bennett, David Bertman and Noe Marmolejo. He also maintained a successful trumpet studio in the Houston area and performed with the Wind Ensemble, Marching Band and Jazz Orchestra. After marching with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2002 to 2004 as a trumpet player, Levi served on the Brass Staff from 2006 to 2009. He is now a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard staff, where he serves as Lead Visual Technician and is concurrently serving as a member of the Brass Staff.
Prior to his position at Reagan, Mr. Chavis served as an Assistant Band Director at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Hebron High School in Carrollton, and Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio. He also maintains a private trumpet studio in the San Antonio area. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. Mr. Chavis currently resides in San Antonio with his wife Amanda, a professional flutist.
Daniel Morrison, Assistant Director of Bands
Daniel Morrison is in his second year of teaching at Ronald Reagan High School. He is the director of the Symphonic Band and assists with the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Marching Band. Mr. Morrison attended Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. As a student at U of I, he was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, British Brass Band, Brass Choir and Brass Quintet and studied with James Keene, Joseph Manfredo, Ronald Romm and Michael Ewald. He was also awarded the Daniel J. Perrino School of Music award for excellence in music education.
Mr. Morrison has performed with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, The Danville Symphony, the Whiting Park Symphony Orchestra, and the Wheaton Municipal Band. He is currently a member of the Music Educators National Conference, The National Trumpet Guild, and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Greg White, Assistant Director of Bands
Greg White, a native of Round Rock Texas, graduated Cum Laude from Texas Tech University in May of 2011. Greg started his musical career as a saxophone player in 6th grade at Chisholm Trail Middle School, and later at Round Rock High School where he was a drum major in the Dragon Band.
At Texas Tech, Greg was a two year section leader in the award winning, 450 member, Goin’ Band from Raider Land where he performed in parades and football games across the country. In his final year at Texas Tech Greg was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with the staff of the Goin’ Band as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant. Greg also had the opportunity to play in several Concert Bands, Saxophone Quartets, and to sit in the Lead Tenor Chair of Texas Tech’s top Jazz Ensemble.
Greg has taught privately, as well as tech for several programs from Austin to Lubbock, but is incredibly excited to be joining in the rich tradition that is the Reagan High School Band. Greg’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Ray Ulibarri, Director of Percussion
Ray is beginning his sixteenth year as a percussion instructo in public schools. Prior to teaching at Reagan High School in San Antonio Texas, Mr. Ulibarri was the percussion director at Klein Forest high School and Pomona High School in Arvada Colorado. During his tenure with Pomona, the band won an unprecedented 11 State Marching Band Championships. In addition the Percussion ensemble was a two time medalist at the WGI World Championships and perennial finalist. In 2002-03 Mr. Ulibarri was the percussion instructor of the University of Colorado Golden Buffalo Marching Band.
Mr. Ulibarri is currently the former Percussion Arranger for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp and the former caption Head of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He is also the former front ensemble arranger and caption head of the Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble. Both groups are recognized as nnovators in the world of percussion and have placed in the top three in the world. As an arranger Ray has arranged music to be played in two Tournament of Roses Parades. His custom percussion arrangements are in demand throughout the country and he is a freelance composer.
Mr. Ulibarri has studied with Ralph Hardimon Gray Barrier, Doug Walter Doug Rosener, Amy Smith and Mark Foster. He is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Evans, Zildjian and Yamaha. Ray Ulibarri is an active music adjudicator and clinician throughout the country.
Christy Tench, Director of Color Guard
A native of San Antonio, I started my color guard career in high school at Winston Churchill High School here in San Antonio under the direction of Mike Sloan. After high school I attended Texas Tech University where I graduated with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. In the summers after my junior and senior years of college, I marched Drum Corps with the Crossmen (2007) locally here in San Antonio and then with the Santa Clara Vanguard (2008) out of Santa Clara, California. In my time in drum corps I learned new skills and developed existing skills. This has given me the ability to be a better teacher and to have more creativity in developing a show. I spent the last school year working with the Wagner band and colorguard program. I fully enjoyed my time working with the Wagner students and was able to learn a lot of valuable lessons as an instructor with them. Some of our accomplishments from last year consist of winning first place at USSBA Marching Band State Contest in guard and coming in 2nd place at TECA State Winterguard Competition. I have now gladly taken on the Colorguard Director here at Ronald Reagan High School and I could not be more excited. I am looking forwad to the things this year will bring!