Shawn Murphy
Mr. Shawn Murphy is joining us for the 2023-2024 school year as the new VRHS Director of Bands! Prior to this season, Mr. Murphy was the Director of Bands for Liberty Hill High School, a position he began in 2021. Under his direction, the band has experienced tremendous growth in both size and skill, and in 2022 was crowned UIL 5A Area H Champions.
Mr. Murphy’s previous bands have won numerous UIL awards, advanced to the UIL State Marching Contest on several occasions and been named a finalist for the TMEA Honor Band competition, among many other accolades throughout his 20+ year teaching career. He attributes his success to the lessons learned from his many mentors who molded him, specifically Don Hanna and Ray Stanizewski, Mr. Murphy’s high school band directors at Denton High School.
Mr. Murphy has been married to his beautiful wife Kim Murphy since 2002, and has two amazing sons, Mason & Hayden, two rambunctious Siberian Huskies, Daphnis and Chloe, and two crazy cats, Cocoa and Mello. Mr. Murphy spends his summers mountain biking, playing disc golf, and traveling around the country with his family.
Zach Santos
Zach Santos graduated from Round Rock High School in 2014. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in music studies in 2018. While attending UT he earned his trumpet performance certificate as well as his business foundations certificate from the McCombs School of Business. Most recently he received his Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University. He is currently in his fifth year of teaching at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, Texas. During these five years the band has won the 2018 UIL 6A State Marching Band Championship, been a 2021 BOA Grand Nationals Finalist, and been invited to march in the 2023 Rose Parade. The band is a consistent finalist at all BOA regionals as well as other local contests. His concert ensembles have received sweepstakes and he has enjoyed conducting the Concert and Symphonic bands, and now the Wind Symphony.
Mr. Santos currently serves as a choreographer and clinician for many programs throughout the State of Texas and is lucky to be able to share his passion with countless students. His marching arts experience includes Program Coordinating for the Guardians, teaching Visual for Blue Knights, Phantom Regiment, and Rhythmic Force as well as giving clinics at System Blue and Blue Knights Experience Camps. He has given presentations at The Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Convention, and the Midwest Clinic. Mr. Santos is also a proud employee of SASI – The Leadership People, teaching students about leadership throughout the country. He is excited to join The Breakdown Camp this summer!
His performance experience includes marching with the Guardians (2013), Crossmen (2014), Blue Knights (15-16), and the world championship Blue Devils (2017). While at UT he performed with the Wind Ensemble under Jerry Junkin, as well as the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Con Moto, Caribbean Ensemble, and Plan Sonidero. He continues to perform as a trumpet player in the Cedar Park Winds and for local churches.
In his free time, Mr. Santos enjoys spending time with his wife, Kendall, and two dogs, Hudson and Hooey. When not with family or doing band you can find Mr. Santos fishing or enjoying the outdoors!
Kate Allen
Mrs. Kate Allen graduated from McNeil High School in 2016. She attended Texas State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies with a trumpet concentration in 2020. Prior to her appointment at Vista Ridge High School, Mrs. Allen taught for two years in Fort Bend Independent School District as Associate Director of Bands at Clements High School where she was named Rookie Teacher of the Year by both the Clements Campus and by the school district. Her concert bands and marching bands received sweepstakes ratings at all UIL contests and her marching band competed at the 6A UIL State Marching Contest.
Mrs. Allen student taught in Leander ISD at Leander High School with Mr. Robert Selaiden. While attending Texas State, she was a marching technician for many schools in the Austin area including Westlake High School, McNeil High School, Dripping Springs High School, and Canyon High School. Mrs. Allen taught at The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2019-2023 as a high brass technician. She is currently a visual technician at The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mrs. Allen’s drum corps experience includes marching with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2019). In the 2018 season, she was named “Visual Member of the Year” and in the 2019 season, she served as trumpet section leader. While at Texas State, she was a member of the Bobcat Marching Band where she served as Drum Major, and was a member of the Texas State Symphonic Band, the Texas State Wind Symphony, the Jazz Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra.
Mrs. Allen resides in Austin with her husband, Donovan, and their dachshund, Penny. She enjoys plants, camping, painting, and spending time with her loved ones.
Hector Gil
Hector Gil is in his twenty-first year of teaching and joined the staff at Vista Ridge High School as the Director of Percussion in 2008.
He attended Texas A&M University – Commerce where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2001. He marched the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1998 as a member of the snareline. He was also a member of the 2000 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition winning collegiate ensemble with the Texas A&M University – Commerce Percussion Ensemble. He has been extremely fortunate to study from some incredible teachers that include Carlos Gil, Dr. Brian West, Bobby Francis, Bill Bachman, Jim Yakas, and Matt Savage.
Hector began his teaching career at United High School in Laredo, TX (2002-2005), then moved to Fort Worth to be the Drumline Instructor for the Texas Christian University “Horned Frog” Marching Band (2005-2007) and is now in his 15th year as the Director of Percussion at Vista Ridge High School (2008-Present). In 2022, he served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Bluecoats 50th Anniversary Drum Corps.
In his tenure at Vista Ridge HS and Henry MS, his students have achieved numerous accolades that include being named The TMEA Invited Percussion Ensemble Winner (2023 – Vista Ridge), The TMEA Honor Band Winner (2018, 2014, 2010 – Henry MS), The Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition Winner (2018 – Vista Ridge), The Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition Winner (2014 – Henry MS), The Texas 6A UIL State Marching Band Champion (2018 – Vista Ridge), The Midwest International Clinic Performer (2014 – Vista Ridge), The Midwest International Clinic Performer (2022, 2016, 2012, 2010 – Henry MS), The Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase Winner (2017 – Vista Ridge), The Foundation for Music Education National Percussion Ensemble Winner (2018 – Vista Ridge), The Bands of America Grand National Championship Finalist (2021 – Vista Ridge), numerous finalist performances at Bands of America Regional Championships, and in January of 2023, The Vista Ridge “Ranger” Marching Band represented Texas and Leander ISD at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
In addition to his teaching duties, Hector is an avid designer, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator for various high schools across Texas. His professional affiliations include The Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and he is a proud artist with Innovative Percussion and Sabian Cymbals.
Hector’s wife Brandy is “Superwoman” at everything, and together they have 2 beautiful daughters, Makayla and Elena, and their puppy Stella.
Erin Kosman
Erin Kosman graduated from Stockton University with a degree in Business Studies with a concentration in Marketing and Visual Arts in 2009 and her Bachelor of the Arts in Education in 2012. She has proudly directed the Vista Ridge Color Guard program for the past six years and is in her inaugural year serving as director of the Henry Middle School Color Guard program.
Erin has had an extensive marching arts career and the pleasure of teaching, choreographing, and consulting with many prestigious programs throughout the United States. Erin began her performing arts career as a baton twirler. A multi-time NJ State Champion, she performed and competed for ten years throughout the country. Highlights of her performances include NBTA World Championships at Notre Dame University, Twirl Mania Championships at Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports, The Miss America Parade, and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Erin’s DCI marching career includes the Crossmen in 2003 and the Phantom Regiment in 2004, 2006, and 2007. In the winter months, Erin was a member of the Black Watch Winter Guard, one of the longest running winter guard programs in WGI history. As a member from 2004 – 2014 Erin was a seven-time WGI World Class Finalist performer. She served as captain in 2009 – 2010 and staff member 2011-2012. Erin taught the Colts Drum Corps from 2008 – 2009, served as lead guard instructor for Spirit of Atlanta 2010-2013, and color guard caption head for the Jersey Surf 2016 – 2017. Erin has also had the pleasure of choreographing for United Percussion in 2013 and Phantom Regiment in 2015. This past summer she proudly served as a staff member for the Bluecoats Color Guard.
Under her leadership the Vista Ridge Color Guard program has flourished. During her time with Vista Ridge, they have been a consistent WGI and BOA finalist program, won the 2018 Texas UIL 6A State Champions, were named a 2021 Bands of America Grand National Finalists, and were elected to perform in the 2023 Tournament of Roses Parade. The Vista Ridge winter guard has grown to include three ensembles, in which their Varsity ensemble has been Texas Color Guard State Finalists in 2019 and 2022 and 2021 WGI Virtual World Championship Finalists.
When not teaching color guard, Erin enjoys spending free time with her husband Erik and their two fluffy huskies Dakota and Penny.