Directors
Justin Threadgill
Justin Threadgill serves as The Director of Bands at Tyler Legacy High School in Tyler, Texas. In this role, he serves as conductor of the Wind Ensemble, leads the Marching Band, leads Jazz 1, and assists with all band ensembles on campus. He also assists with teaching in the Tyler ISD Middle School Band Programs.
Mr. Threadgill graduated from The University of South Florida in Tampa, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. During his time at USF, he performed in the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble, as well as National Trumpet Competition Qualifying Trumpet Ensembles, Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Band, and Core 4 Band. He studied trumpet under Dr. Jay Coble and conducting under Dr. Matthew McCutchen and Dr. Marc Sosnowchik. He performed locally with The Tampa Bay Brass Band as well as other smaller ensembles. Mr. Threadgill marched with two World Class Drum Corps, first as Lead Trumpet and Soloist with The Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2019, then as a member of The Cavaliers during the Covid season of 2020 and as Lead Trumpet & Barbershop Quartet member in 2021. Mr. Threadgill also taught at several high schools in the Tampa Bay Area working with Marching Bands, Wind Ensembles, and Jazz Bands.
Aside from his busy schedule as a musician and educator, Mr. Threadgill enjoys spending time with his wife and puppy exploring new areas and the outdoors. He is an avid golf fan and loves to play as well. He also enjoys fishing, boating, coffee, celsius, and grilling! His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Alonso Hernandez
Mr. Hernandez is a graduate from Sam Houston State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. During his time at Sam Houston, he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Clarinet Choir, and the Bearkat Marching Band. He studied clarinet under the direction of Dr. Patricia Card and conducting under Dr. Jacob Sustaita. While completing his degree, Mr. Hernandez worked with several schools in the Houston/College Station area, teaching private lessons and providing clarinet masterclasses. He specialized as a woodwind technician for the marching season and worked with different concert ensembles. Before transferring to Sam Houston State University, Mr. Hernandez attended Blinn Community College where he studied clarinet under the direction of Jill Stewart and served as Drum Major for two years. Mr. Hernandez recently completed student teaching at Travis B. Bryan High School and Sam Rayburn Intermediate School, where he rehearsed and conducted both performing ensembles and had the privilege to teach beginner clarinet/euphonium/tuba students.
Mr. Hernandez has performed locally with the Sugarland Winds as well as other smaller ensembles in the Houston area. He has also performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention with the SHSU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Matthew McInturf. From 2016-2018, Mr. Hernandez was a member of the Texas Community College Band Directors All-State Band, serving as principal bass clarinet.
Besides performing and teaching, Mr. Hernandez likes to live an active lifestyle to keep up with the life of having an energetic husky at home. He is a huge soccer fan, movie enthusiast, gamer, and enjoys trying new things. His professional affiliates include Texas Music Educators Associations, Texas Bandmasters Association, International Clarinet Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Mack Garner
A North Carolina native, Mack Garner received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. At UNCG, Mr. Garner was an active member of the University Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, TubaBand, and many chamber ensembles.
Mr. Garner finished his fourth and final season of drum corps in 2016. He is an alumnus of the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps (2013), the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2014), and the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2015-16). Mr. Garner is also an alumnus of WGI Independent Open Class Finalist, Legacy presented by Carolina Gold (2017-2018); A winter guard based out of Raleigh, NC.
As a marching arts instructor, Mr. Garner has taught many outdoor performance ensembles. Previously, he has taught with the Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps (2017, 2018, and 2020), the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2018), the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps (2019), and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2020 – present).
Mr. Garner finished his student teaching at Cleveland High School in Clayton, NC. During his time at Cleveland, he served as the brass educator for the Cleveland Arts Performance Ensemble Winter Winds, which took the WGI World Class Championship title in 2019.
As a licensed educator in NC, Mr. Garner has previously served as the band director at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School; the Band & Orchestra Director at East Wake High School; and as the Assistant Band Director at Smithfield-Selma High School.
Recently, Mr. Garner served as a brass & visual instructor for the 2024 WGI Winds World Class Silver Medalist, Cleveland High School, and as the Director of the Cleveland Arts Middle School Guard. He also served as a brass & visual instructor at Eva Independent Winds, the 2024 WGI Winds Open Class Silver Medalist. Mr. Garner is on staff with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps serving as the lead tuba instructor and co-assistant brass caption head.
When he’s not banding, Mr. Garner enjoys playing video games, watching anime, trying new recipes, reading, journaling, road-tripping, or playing competitive dodgeball, kickball, and softball.
Mr. Garner can’t wait to move to Texas! Go Red Raiders!
Darriel Montgomery
Darriel Montgomery serves as an Associate Band Director and the Percussion Director of Tyler Legacy High School, in Tyler, TX. Prior to his appointment at Tyler Legacy High School, Mr. Montgomery was the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director of Westwood ISD in Palestine, TX. During his tenure there, Mr. Montgomery was instrumental in the growth of the percussion section, bringing Westwood High School its first-ever competitive (and award-winning) marching percussion section in 2016. Darriel has also taught on the percussion staff of numerous public schools throughout the State of Texas, such as James Martin High School (Arlington, TX), Azle High School (Azle, TX), and many, many others. He is also an active clinician, having served as the 2015 Percussion Clinician for the TMEA / ATSSB All-Region Clinic, hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler.
Darriel is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Music degree, and has studied percussion under Michael Varner, Jim Yakas, Mike Drake, and Mark Maynor. During his tenure at UT Arlington, Mr. Montgomery was a highly-active performer in the music program. He served as a member (and often, section leader) of the Maverick Marching Band, the Wind Symphony, the Symphony Orchestra, the Percussion Ensemble, the Jazz Orchestra (as a bassist), and the Dan Burkholder Jazz Combo (also as a bassist). Darriel received his Associate of Arts degree from Trinity Valley Community College (Athens, TX), and is also an alumnus of Tyler Junior College (Tyler, TX).
From 2006 to 2008, Darriel was a member of the Texas Community College Band Directors Association All-State Band, serving as principal percussionist in 2006 (his first year as a percussionist). In 2009, Darriel was a member of the Tyler Junior College Indoor Drumline, under the direction of Tom McGowan. Darriel was also a member of TJC Indoor in 2010, which was their inaugural year in the Winter Guard International’s acclaimed Percussion Independent World Class. During this time, TJC Indoor served as the ambassadors to Dynasty USA in 2010, and traveled to Belgium to perform their show and offer clinics and masterclasses for the budding indoor drumline programs overseas. Darriel is a former snare drummer for the Dallas Mavericks Drumline, and performed with them from 2013 to 2015.
Mr. Montgomery is a member of many professional organizations, including the Texas Music Educators Association, the Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Kerstin King-Threadgill
Kerstin King-Threadgill serves as the Color Guard Director at Tyler Legacy High School in Tyler, Texas. In this role, she assists with the visual component of the marching band and leads the program into the winterguard season. She is also an Algebra II/Pre-AP Geometry teacher at Tyler Legacy High School.
Mrs. King-Threadgill graduated from The University of South Florida in Tampa, earning a B.S in Secondary Math Education. While being a student at USF, Mrs. King-Threadgill performed and served as Color Guard Captain in the Herd of Thunder Marching Band. She has also competed in WGI in Independent Open & Independent World class from 2018-2020 with the University of South Florida Winter Guard. Since her retirement as a performer, Mrs. King-Threadgill has served as a color guard technician at multiple high schools in the Tampa area and remains involved in her Alma Mater.
Besides being an educator and her love for color guard, Mrs. King-Threadgill enjoys exploring local coffee shops, trying new cooking recipes, learning new things, reading books, and spending time with her husband.
Mrs. King-Threadgill is beyond excited to see growth and success in her students… both as performers and humans.