Our Directors
Christopher Brown
Director of Bands
Christopher Brown became the Director of Bands at Morton Ranch High School in July 2019. Prior to this position, he held the same position at McMillen High School in Murphy, Texas and West Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Texas. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (2002) from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA and a Master’s Degree in Conducting (2010) from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston.
Mr. Brown’s responsibilities at Morton Ranch High School include conducting the Wind Ensemble, co-teaching the Concert Band and Symphonic Band, and team-teaching the Honors Band and the Maverick Marching Band. Bands under Mr. Brown’s direction have earned superior ratings in University Interscholastic League Marching, Concert, and Sight Reading contests, and have earned “Best in Class” at various music festivals around the state. The McMillen High School Wind Ensemble was selected the Overall Outstanding Band at the Alamo Showcase of Music in San Antonio in 2015, 2017, and 2019 and at the Lonestar Showcase of Music in Dallas in 2016.
While serving as a Graduate Assistant with the University of Houston Bands, responsibilities with the UH band department included directing the University Band for non-music majors, the Symphonic Band, and the “Cougar Brass” basketball band. Additionally, he assisted with instruction of the “Spirit of Houston” Marching Band, the Symphonic Winds, and the acclaimed UH Wind Ensemble. During his time at UH, Mr. Brown had the opportunity to come under the mentorship of David Bertman, John Benzer, Marion West, and Eddie Green.
Prior teaching experience includes positions at McKinney High School in McKinney, TX, the Plano East Senior High School cluster of schools in Plano, TX, and A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, TX.
Coming to Texas from Louisiana, Chris received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA. During his time at Northwestern, Chris had the honor to serve as Drum Major of the “Spirit of Northwestern” Demon Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Jeff Mathews for three years, the last two of those as the Head Drum Major, and served on the instructional staff of the NSU Drum Major camp from 2002-2011. As a performer at NSU, Chris played in the saxophone sections of the NSU Wind Symphony under the direction of Mr. William (Bill) Brent, the NSU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Ken Green, the NSU Jazz Ensemble, the Natchitoches/Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles.
As a clinician, adjudicator, and performer, Chris has had the opportunity to work with directors and students around the country.
Mr. Brown is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Chris lives in Katy, TX with his wife, Candice, daughter, Lochlyn, and their English bulldog named Maestro.
Ryan Pride
Assistant Band Director/ Percussion Director
Originally from Pflugerville, TX, Ryan is an active performer and educator in the greater Houston area and has toured the United States and Europe with various performing groups. He has worked with numerous programs in Texas and Georgia, including the Georgia Institute of Technology. As a band director, Ryan has held positions at the James E. Pearce College Preparatory Academy in Austin, TX and Katy High School in Katy, TX.
Ryan began his corps teaching experience in 2007 for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps. Since, he has had a variety of roles for various groups, including Memphis Sound, Forte, and Glassmen. He joined the staff at Phantom Regiment in 2015 and has served in multiple positions, including front ensemble instructor and Battery Coordinator. In addition to drum corps, Ryan has worked with WGI groups Odyssey Percussion Theatre, Terminus Atlanta Percussion, Austin Independent, Gateway Independent, and Rise Percussion.
As a performer, Ryan has played as a soloist or ensemble member with Off the Left Percussion Group, Longmont Symphony, Boulder Symphony, New Orleans Volunteer Orchestra, and the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition to teaching and performing, Ryan is an active composer and arranger. He has written for many programs in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas State University and a Master’s in Percussion Performance with certificates in Music Theory and College Teaching from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Ryan is endorsed by Zildjian, Innovative Percussion, is an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi, and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Bandmaster’s Association.
EMMA WADE
Assistant Band Director
Emma Wade is the Assistant Band Director and conducts the Concert, Symphonic, and Honors Bands as well as the Jazz Band and Brass Choir.
Emma’s love for music began young- being whisked away to the opera. Years later, she began playing the trumpet and attended Mayde Creek High School where her love of Jazz was born. The decision to become a band director came very easily from a desire to bring a love of music to anyone who would listen.
Emma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Sam Houston State University. There she participated in the Marching Band, Baroque Trumpet Ensemble, Jazz Band, Brass Choir, and Symphonic Bands. While at Sam Houston she also served in several officer positions within the School of Music.
Additionally, Emma also has experience with the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps where she performed in 2013. Emma is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Women’s Fraternity as well as Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association, and Texas Jazz Educators association.
Eddie Jimenez
Color Guard Director
Eddie Jimenez has a long history with the MRHS Maverick Band. As a member from 2006 – 2010 he was not only on the color guard but also a tuba player and an active member on the SLT serving as a Lt. his junior year and then as Captain his senior year. After graduation Mr. Jimenez continued his color guard education in DCI World Class with The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, Co for 3 summers, again working his way up the ranks and becoming a section leader his third summer. As well as performing during his summers, during winter season he performed with the world class organization Cypress Independent for three years finishing his marching career with CI in their highest ranking year at WGI Finals.
Even while a performer Mr. Jimenez was focused on learning as much as possible in order to transfer as much information as he could to his students. Mr. Jimenez has worked at various schools in KatyISD in various roles such as choreographer, designer, clinician, and as a technician. Even while serving as a director for other high schools, he never strayed too far from helping out as often as he could as a choreographer and technician. He spent the first 5 years after high school as a director on his own; in 2015 he decided to dedicate his full time to Morton Ranch as the assistant director of color guard under his mentor and former director Juan Artavia. After serving as the assistant director for 3 years, Mr. Jimenez stepped into his role as Director of the color guard at the start of the 2018 school year. This will be his third year in this position at Morton Ranch.
Outside of Ranch, he has worked with many Independent Winter Guards in Texas, Louisiana, and Michigan as a choreographer, technician, or movement specialist with Redemption Winter Guard, HVA Winter Guard, Linden Wings Winter Guard, Industry, Axis, Undaunted, and Lake Area Independent. He served as a choreographer and technician with Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2017 and 2018 summer as well as a Co-Caption Head for the 2019 summer. His high school experience ranges from a variety of programs over the last 10 years but with Morton Ranch having three winter programs he focuses heavily on those teams as well as Lumberton High School as their main show designer for the last 5 years.
Mr. Jimenez has thoroughly enjoyed his time working with Morton Ranch and plans a long career at his alma mater. He wholeheartedly believes that color guard has a way of reaching students way past teaching them to be strong spinners and performers. He hopes to impact his students in a way that will teach them to push themselves to their fullest potential and to breathe passion into whatever task is in front of them.