vrhs band directors
Robert Herrings, Director of Bands
robert.herrings@leanderisd.org
Robert Tyrome Herrings, III is in his twenty-first year of teaching and has been teaching in Leander ISD since 2004. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands at Vista Ridge High School, he was the Director of Bands at Artie Henry Middle School.
In 2003, Mr. Herrings received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he studied under Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Dr. Kevin Sedatole and Barry Hopper. While in college, Mr. Herrings was a member of the Baylor University performing wind bands, as well as a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.
During his twenty years at Artie Henry Middle School, the Henry Middle School Honors Band was selected to perform at the 2008 and 2013 Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. The program was named the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2024 TMEA Class CCC Honor Band and was also selected to perform at the 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2022 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In June 2011, Mr. Herrings and the program were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, and in July of the same year, Mr. Herrings was named the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year. In May of 2014, the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association awarded the Outstanding Band Program Award to the Artie Henry MS Band Program, and in November of the same year, the Henry MS Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2018, the Henry MS Band Program was selected as the Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Middle School Band Award winner. Most recently, the program at Henry MS was named the National Band Association's Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Band Award winner.
An active clinician and adjudicator around the state, Mr. Herrings is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, American Bandmasters Association as well as an educational consultant for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education. Mr. Herrings also serves as the Vice President of Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter, TMEA Region 32 Band Division Vice President, as well as the Region 32 TBA representative.
Mr. Herrings enjoys motivating young musicians to achieve the highest level of performance by sharing his extreme love and passion for music with them on a daily basis. He feels honored, privileged and extremely blessed to have a loving mother and grandmother, many great mentors, band directors and close friends who have influenced his career thus far.
Above all, his students have been his greatest inspiration!
Kyle Norris, Associate Band Director
Mr. Norris comes to Vista Ridge after serving at Covington Middle School (Austin ISD), Cedar Park Middle School (Leander ISD), and most recently, Vandegrift High School (Leander ISD). Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, he earned degrees in Music Education and Horn Performance from Oklahoma State University.
During his time at Vandegrift, he worked with all four concert bands, the marching band, and multiple chamber ensembles. His ensembles consistently earned Superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight Reading, while the Vandegrift Marching Band achieved incredible success, including two UIL 6A State Marching Championships (Gold Medals), two Silver Medals, one Bronze Medal, a BOA San Antonio Super Regional Championship, and numerous local and regional honors. Under his direction, the Vandegrift Symphonic Band received the Foundation for Music Education's Citation of Excellence in both 2024 and 2025. Mr. Norris was also recognized as a 2025 Yamaha "40 Under 40" Music Educator.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Norris has an impressive background in drum corps. He performed as a mellophone player with Carolina Crown in 2013 and 2015 and currently serves on the Carolina Crown brass staff, helping lead the corps to the 2023 Jim Ott High Brass Award. He has also served on the brass staff of Legends Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Norris is an active leadership clinician with SASI, presenting student leadership workshops across Texas. He is also a respected marching band music arranger, clinician, and adjudicator. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
Mr. Norris and his wife, Kat, along with their dog, Gus, currently reside in Leander. He is excited to join the Ranger family and is looking forward to meeting our students, families, and community as preparations for an exciting marching season begin!
Kate Allen, Associate Band Director
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.
At Clements, she served as brass specialist, choreography teacher, and visual lead.
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, previously, trumpet section leader. In addition, she was a member of the Texas State Symphonic Band, the Texas State Wind Symphony, the Jazz Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra.
This will be Mrs. Allen's third year at Vista Ridge High School. She believes that Vista Ridge is a special place and she is so grateful for her wonderful students, supportive admin and colleagues, and loving parents and community. Her favorite part of her job is being around all different types of students and creating special memories with each of them.
Mrs. Allen resides in Cedar Park with her husband, Donovan, and their dachshunds, Penny and Willow. She enjoys camping, crafts, roller blading, and spending time with loved ones.
Brian Perez, Director of Percussion
Brian Perez is the Percussion Director at Vista Ridge High School in Leander ISD in Cedar Park, Texas, a position he has held since the fall of 2024. He also leads the percussion program at Henry Middle School, which recently performed at the 2025 Western International Band Clinic in Seattle. Since his arrival at Vista Ridge, the percussion program has continued its tradition of excellence, earning the percussion caption at the 2024 6A Texas State Marching Contest Prelims and winning the Linda McDavitt Championship at the 2025 Dripping Springs Thunder in the Hills Drumline Contest.
Prior to joining Vista Ridge, Perez opened Klein Cain High School in Houston, Texas, in 2017. During his seven years there, he directed all percussion and steel drum ensembles, wrote percussion arrangements for the Cain Marching Band, and helped lead percussion classes and ensembles at both Ulrich and Doerre Intermediate Schools. Under his direction, the Klein Cain Percussion Studio was selected as a featured ensemble at the 2023 Music for All Percussion Festival in Indianapolis.
Since aging out as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard (2000–2004), Perez has served on the percussion staffs of several top Drum Corps International programs, including the Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, and The Cadets. He currently teaches with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps under renowned marching percussion innovator Colin McNutt, a position he has held since 2017. During his tenure, the Boston percussion team has pushed the boundaries of the marching arts, earning the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award and securing the title of Drum Corps International World Champions in 2025.
Perez has been an active music educator in Texas for the past 20 years. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Houston, where he studied under Tom Bennett and David Bertman. In 2003, he performed with the UH Moores School Percussion Ensemble at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Additional honors include performing with the 2001 Texas All-State Band, appearing in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, and earning first place in the tenor individual competition at PASIC in 1999.
Brian resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Joni, and their three cats - Ziggy, Biskitt, and Diddle. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the Percussive Arts Society, and serves on the educational teams for Vic Firth - Zildjian and Remo Drumheads.
Erin Kosman, Director of Colorguard
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.