Directors & Instructors
Directors Adjunct Faculty
Directors
Ryan Zysk, Anderson High School Band Director, is a McCallum High School graduate. He attended The University of Texas graduating with a degree in Music Studies in the Spring of 2003. During his years at The University, Mr. Zysk was actively involved with many student organizations including The Longhorn Band, in which he served as Drum Major during his final year.
Mr. Zysk taught privately in Austin I.S.D.
and Round Rock I.S.D. for several years before being asked to join
the staff at Anderson High School. He holds professional affiliations
in the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association,
Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha.
Shannon Gill, Assistant Director
Shannon Gill is a graduate of Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas. She attended Southwest Texas State University where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1997 and a Master of Music Education degree in 1998. While at Southwest Texas, Mrs. Gill was a member of many performing groups. She has performed nationally and internationally with these ensembles and has also been a member and instructor of the award winning P.A.S.I.C. Drum Line at SWT. Mrs. Gill served as a Drum Major of the Southwest Texas State University Marching Band during her 4th year and as a Teaching Assistant, teaching percussion lessons, conducting percussion ensemble, and assisting with the SWT Drum Line, during her graduate studies.
Upon graduation, Mrs. Gill began teaching in the public schools. She has taught at McNeil High School in Round Rock and at Georgetown High School. She has also taught in middle school and at Southwestern University in Georgetown. Mrs. Gill was on the faculty at Southwestern as an Adjunct Percussion Instructor.
Mrs.Gill is a member of the Texas Music Educator's Association, the Texas Bandmaster's Association, and the Percussive Art's Society (P.A.S.).
She is married to Mr. Brian Gill, who is currently assisting with the Anderson Drum Line. They have one furry little "son" (a pug) who is deathly (and most inconveniently) afraid of drums!
Corey Bergdorf, Assistant Director
Corey Bergdorf is a graduate of Kewaskum High School in Kewaskum, Wisconsin. He attended Carthage College in Kenosha Wisconsin, and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1999.
Mr. Bergdorf started his teaching career after moving to Texas and accepting the band director position at Reagan High School in Austin, Texas, where he remained for 5 years. He moved to Anderson High School for the 2005-2006 school year.
Mr. Bergdorf is currently a member of the Texas Music Educator's Association, and the Texas Bandmaster's Association. He is married to Charlotte and has a beautiful daughter named Adeline.
Jesus Torres, Assistant Director
Jesus Torres is a product of the Austin Independent School District and an alumnus of McCallum High School. Mr. Torres attended The University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Music degree and a Certificate of Achievement in Trumpet Performance. While at The University, Mr. Torres performed in numerous ensembles including the Longhorn Band and the world renown University of Texas Wind Ensemble.
Mr. Torres comes to us from the Lockhart Independent School District where he taught middle school and high school band. He maintains an active career as a trumpeter and as a conductor in central Texas. Mr. Torres¹ memberships include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Adjunct Faculty
Shane Pitsch, Trumpet Instructor
Shane Pitsch is currently working on the completion of his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance and literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he studied with Ray Sasaki, Michael Ewald, and Ronald Romm (formerly with the Canadian Brass for 29 years). Mr. Pitsch received his master's degree from Eastern Illinois University and has his bachelor's degree in trumpet performance (jazz emphasis) from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied with Ray Crisara.
Mr. Pitsch has been active as a private trumpet teacher for the last twelve years with students ranging from the elementary school level through the college level. During his time at Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois, Mr. Pitsch served as a teaching assistant in each school's jazz program, directing both small and large ensembles.
As a professional musician, Mr. Pitsch has performed in a wide variety of settings including classical, jazz, funk, rock, soul, western swing, and salsa. He has performed with artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, The Drifters, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sam Moore (Sam and Dave) to Maria Schneider, Wayne Shorter, and Steve Turre.
Throughout his academic and professional career, Mr. Pitsch has been recognized for his accomplishments as a versatile performer who is comfortable in multiple styles, as well as for his accomplishments as a pedagogue.
Brian Gill, Percussion Instructor
Brian Gill is a graduate of Crockett High School in Austin. For two years he marched as a snare drummer in the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps, and attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of the Longhorn Band. He later attended Southwest Texas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Music education degree in 1998. While at Southwest Texas, Mr. Gill was a member of the Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Steel Band. He also marched as section leader of the Bobcat Band drumline for two years, followed by another two years as the snare/lead battery tech. While involved with the SWT Drumline, Mr. Gill earned a 4th place finish in the PASIC International Snare Drum Solo Competition in 1996. He was on the visual design staff for the 1998 PASIC show, and music arranging staff for both the 1996 and 1998 seasons. He also was an instructor for the Yamaha Sounds of Summer Camp held in San Marcos.
Mr. Gill worked with many schools in the Austin and San Antonio areas before assisting with Anderson's indoor line in 2005.
Mr. Gill is a member of PAS, the Procrastinators urban Percussion, and plays live around Austin oftern. His "day job" is working for IBM and running a recording studio. He has been a ProMark endorser since 1998.
He is married to Mrs. Shannon Gill, who is currently an assistant director for the Anderson Band. Their dog is the current world record holder for "Laziest and Most Spoiled Dog on the Planet".
Leon
Prause, Trumpet Instructor
Joel Taylor, Color Guard Instructor
Joel Taylor ("Mr. T") has extensive Color Guard experience both at the high school and collegiate level. In high school he was the guard captain for 2 years and Drum Major his senior year. He traveled extensively throughout the country with the Madison Scouts Drum Corps International. In 1998 and 1999 he went to the nationals and performed in front of thousands of spectators. Mr. T graduated from Trinity University and besides directing the Color Guard, teaches biology at Anderson.
Michael C. Allen, Percussion Instructor
Michael C. Allen hails originally from Wichita Falls, Texas and graduated from Wichita Falls High school. For two years (1988 & 1991) he marched in the drumline of the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps. In 1992 he started college at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. Michael was the tenor line section leader of the Cowboy Marching Band Drumline which placed 3rd at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) Indoor Marching Percussion Festival. In addition, Mr. Allen received the honor of Best Individual Tenor in PASIC's 1992 International Tenor Drum Individual Competition. He later went on to attend Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. While in college, he was also a member of the Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, University Jazz ensembles and the Lake Charles Symphony. From 1998-2000 and again in 2006, Mr. Allen taught the SWT Drumline as the tenor line technician and co-arranged for 2 PASIC shows in 1998 & 2000.
Mr. Allen has worked with numerous percussion programs in the North & South Central Texas areas as well as the Southwestern & Central Louisiana areas before assisting with the Anderson drum line in 2006.
Mr. Allen is a member of PAS, is an avid sports fan (HOOK'EM HORNS!), has a dog, a boxer named “Chance”, and plays live around the Austin Metro area often. His "day job" is working as a Software Analyst.
Michael C. Allen has been a ProMark endorser since 1998.
Emily Ferris, Color Guard Instructor
Ms. Ferris graduated from Fort Worth Country Day School where along with academic work, studied ballet and theater. She started dancing at age four at Dian West Dance Studio and was a part of the Dian West Performing Group for nine years. Her first two years of college were spent at Stephen F. Austin University where she was a member of the SFA Repertory Dance Company. She then moved to Central Texas and graduated magna cum laude from Texas State University with a Bachelors of Science in Dance with Secondary Teaching Certification and a minor in Psychology. She was a member of Orchesis Modern Dance Company for two years before serving as Vice-President her third year. Her studio training includes ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, contact improvisation, and gymnastics from studios across Texas as well as Los Angeles and Seattle.
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Updated July 2, 2008
