Director

Ms. Jolette Wine

Jolette Wine is the Director of Bands at Birdville High School.  Prior to her arrival at Birdville, she was the Associate Director of Bands at L.D. Bell High School.  The Bell Marching Band was selected as the Bands of America Grand National Champion in 2007.  Ms. Wine also taught in the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD at both Cross Timbers Middle School and Colleyville Middle School.  The 2002-2003 Cross Timbers Band placed 3rd in the TMEA state honor band competition in the CC middle school division.  The Colleyville Middle School band was named the 1994 Class CC State Honor Band of Texas and performed at the 1995 Texas Music Educators Convention in San Antonio.  Additionally, Ms. Wine taught at Euless Junior High in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, and at Hedrick Middle School in the Lewisville Independent School District.

Ms. Wine attended West Texas A&M University where she studied flute with Dr. Gary Garner and began her studies in music education.  She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Music in flute performance from the University of North Texas.

Ms. Wine was named Teacher of the Year in 1994 and 2004 and was also honored by the Parent Teacher Association as a Lifetime Member.  Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu.  Ms. Wine is an active clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the state of Texas.  She has served as a clinician for the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and the Mid-West Clinic in Chicago. 

Assistant Band Director

Mr. Michael Cheripka

Michael Ian Cheripka began his musical career in western Pennsylvania where he played the trumpet in the East Allegheny School District under the direction of Mr. Robert Rizzo. It was through his guidance and his teachings that Mr. Cheripka chose to pursue his career and future in Music Education. He currently holds his Bachelor's Degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a focus on brass, percussion, and jazz. During his time at IUP, he studied trumpet under both Karen Sloneker and Dr. Kevin Eisensmith (the current Vice President / President Elect of the International Trumpet Guild) and conducting under Dr. Jack Stamp (renowned composer for the Manhattan Beach and Neil J. Kjos publishing companies). Mr. Cheripka also played in many of the top ensembles, including the University Wind Ensemble and "Heads", the Premier University Jazz Ensemble. It was also at this time when he established himself in the "Marching Music" arena as the Visual Caption Head at Norwin High School and Percussion Instructor for the Dubois High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble. He was also a member of many Drum and Bugle corps including the General Butler Vagabonds 1995-2000, Pioneer 2001, and the 2002 DCI World Champion Cavaliers.

Upon graduation in May of 2004, Mr. Cheripka relocated to the great state of Texas where he served as the Head Band Director at Kerens Middle School in Kerens ISD for one year. In 2005, he relocated to the Houston area, and became the assistant Director of Bands at Waller High School. While at Waller High School, Mr. Cheripka served as not only the Visual Caption Head of the marching band, leading them to three consecutive sweepstakes awards and the 2007 Texas State Marching Contest, but was also the conductor of both the Symphonic Band, and the award winning Waller High School Jazz Ensemble. Under his direction, the 2007 Jazz Ensemble placed 5th in the Yamaha / Music and Arts Nationwide "Spring Swing" Jazz Festival. He was also one of the founding directors and music arranger of the Waller High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble.

Assistant Band Director

Mr. Gary Barnard

Gary Barnard received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Arlington, and graduated Magna Cum Laude, in May of 2006.  He is working on a graduate degree in Educational Administration at the University of North Texas.

Mr. Barnard has taught band at every level from sixth through twelfth grade in the Birdville High School cluster.  In 2006 he served as the assistant director at Richland Middle School and in 2007 accepted his current position at Birdville High School.  He is also co sponsor of the BHS Fishing Club.

Throughout his undergraduate career Mr. Barnard was a visual instructor in Missouri and Texas at both Kickapoo High School (2001) and Birdville High School (2002-2006).  He was also selected as a student teaching assistant for the UT Arlington Marching Band (2004).

Notable performance experience includes the nationally recognized Tulsa Union High School "Renegade Regiment," the UT Arlington Marching Band, the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps (Dubuque, IA) and the Phantom Regiment Drum Bugle Corps (Rockford, IL).

He is currently Assistant Brass Caption Supervisor for the 22 time DCI Finalist Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps (San Antonio, TX).

Mr. Barnard enjoys anything related to music, running, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago White Sox, the Dallas Stars, fishing, hunting duck and pheasant, and visiting his family in Minnesota and Oklahoma.  He resides in North Richland Hills.

Director of Percussion

Mr. Taylor Belt

Taylor Belt is currently serving as the Director of Percussion at Birdville High School cluster.  Taylor grew up in Mesquite, TX and attended Poteet High School where he was a member of the 1997 State Marching Champions.  Upon graduating from Poteet in 1999 he attended Stephen F. Austin State University where he earned his bachelor's degree in Music Education and studied under Dr. Scott Harris.  While at SFA Taylor was in such performing groups as the Lumberjack Marching Band Drumline, SFA Percussion Ensemble, SFA Steel Band, SFA Symphonic Winds and Wind Ensemble, Roaring Buzzsaw Pep Band and the Orchestra of the Pines. Last school year Taylor was the Associate Director at Lee High School in Midland, TX.  While at Lee his duties included directing all percussion in the Lee High School cluster.  He was also the conductor of the Lee High School Symphonic Band in the spring semester. Taylor is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society.

In his spare time Taylor enjoys singing with his brothers in their gospel quartet, spending time with family and friends and reading.  Taylor is currently living in Lewisville and is to be married to his fiancée Kristi this December.

Color Guard Director

Ms. Renee Cantrell

Renee Cantrell is excited to join the staff of the Birdville Band as the colorguard director.  She has recently finished her fourth year as an Associate Director of Bands at JJ Pearce High School in Richardson TX.  During her last year at JJ Pearce, the marching band made an appearance at the Texas State Marching contest.

Mrs. Cantrell is a graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington and holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.  Her honors include graduating Magna Cum Laude and consistently making the deans list.  Before college Renee was an all-state flute player for the Grapevine High School band.  While at The University of Texas at Arlington, she was a member of the Wind Ensemble and was the principle flute player in the concert band.  Renee also served as a colorguard drill instructor in 2001 and guard captain in 2002.  During her last year in college, Renee joined the UTA's marching band staff for the 2003 season.

Mrs. Cantrell has performed with top colorguards including the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and Ars Nova Independent Winterguard.  For the 2004 season, she was a staff member of Insignia Winterguard, a 2004 Winter Guard International Open Class Finalist.  She has also taught at L.D. Bell High School, a Grand National finalist as well as a UIL state champion.  She completed her student teaching internship at Grapevine High School and Cross-Timbers Middle School under the supervision of Steve Andre, Danny Prado, Jolette Wine and James McNair.  Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association and Kappa Kappa Psi National Bandsmen Fraternity.

Mrs. Cantrell is currently working on her Masters Degree in School Counseling at the University of North Texas.