Belton High School Band Faculty
Kevin Kwaku
kevin.kwaku@bisd.net
Director of Bands
Kevin Kwaku is currently the Director of Bands for the Belton High School band program. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble and leading rehearsals for the Marching Hundred, as well as overseeing all aspects of the band and its middle school feeder programs. Mr. Kwaku began working at Belton High School in the Fall of 2019 and served as an assistant director for 3 years before moving into the Director of Bands position. Prior to arriving to Belton, Mr. Kwaku spent 2 years as an assistant director at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas.
Mr. Kwaku attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Studies and studied trumpet with Ray Sasaki, music education with Bob Duke and Amy Simmons, and conducting with Scott Hanna, Ryan Kelly and Jerry Junkin. He was a performing member of the UT Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Symphony Orchestra. He was also a member of the Longhorn Band, spending three years as a trumpet section leader and his final year of college as the drum major. After graduating, he has spent his summers working for the university as a coordinator for the Longhorn Music Camp.
Mr. Kwaku was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 and 2015, where he performed as a lead trumpet and soloist for both seasons and was named the Brass Performer of the Year in 2015. He now serves as a member of the Bluecoats brass staff, a role he began in November of 2018. Mr. Kwaku’s professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Chris Kreger
christopher.kreger@bisd.net
Assistant Band Director
Chris Kreger serves as an assistant director of the Belton High School band program. His teaching responsibilities include conducting the Wind Symphony, conducting the Belton High Schoo Jazz Ensemble, and assisting with the direction of the Belton Marching Hundred. Mr. Kreger is in his 3nd year of teaching at Belton High School where he began his teaching career in the year 2020. He graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in 2013 and received his bachelor’s degree in Music Ed. from the University of Houston in 2019. He studied music education and instrumental pedagogy with Mr. John Benzer and saxophone with Mr. Dan Gelok. While attending the Moores School of Music Mr. Kreger was a performing member of the U of H Wind Ensemble under the direction of David Bertman, as well as the Symphonic Winds, and the Symphonic Band. He also performed in several capacities within the Moores School of Music Jazz Orchestra, including principal saxophonist, under the direction of Noe Marmolejo.
Mr. Kreger student-taught in the Houston area at North Shore Senior HS with Mr. Shane Goforth and at Berry Miller JH with Mr. Chris Bennett. While attending U of H he worked with Friendswood High School’s marching band under the direction of Greg Dick and Aaron Brown.
Tyler Hardee
tyler.hardee@bisd.net
Assistant Band Director
Tyler Hardee is beginning his first year as an assistant band director at Belton High School. His responsibilities include teaching the Symphonic Band and assisting with the direction of the Marching Hundred. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston, where he studied euphonium with Danny Vinson. During his undergraduate career, Mr. Hardee was a member of the UH Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Orchestra. He was awarded his Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied trombone performance with Nathaniel Brickens. While at UT, he was a member of the the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Trombone Choir. Prior to being a band director, Mr. Hardee was a private lesson and masterclass instructor in school districts in the Houston and Austin areas. He was also a freelance musician, performing with many community ensembles. In his spare time, Mr. Hardee enjoys playing his instruments, video editing, and working on his health.
Ian Smith
ian.smith@bisd.net
Assistant Director - Percussion
Mr. Smith is excited to be teaching at Belton High School as an assistant band director/percussion instructor, and is starting his 22nd year teaching music in Texas. He received his music degree from LSU where he was a member of the symphony, wind ensemble, and was the drumline captain/staff arranger for the famed “Golden Band from Tigerland.” After college, he taught for two years at Westfield High School where his responsibilities included private lessons and assisting with the defending state champion Big Red Band percussion section. He then spent the next 14 years in Austin at McNeil High School where he conducted the concert band and instructed all aspects of percussion. His concert bands received multiple sweepstakes and the percussion section received many best in class awards during his time there. He spent the past 4 years teaching at Wells Middle School where he conducted bands and taught all of the brass and percussion. In the summers, he has worked as a clinician for N8 Rhythm and Percussion One for schools all over the state. In his spare time he enjoys composing and has music published with Rowloff Productions.
Cody Hudnall
cody.hudnall@bisd.net
Assistant Director - Colorguard / Dance
Mr. Hudnall was born and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas. He studied dance performance and choreography at Stephen F Austin State University, achieving one of his major goals by graduating from his hometown university. He has performed lead roles in multiple ballets, such as Sleeping Beauty and Firebird. He performed with Bluecoats as a color guard member and Black Gold winter guard as a dance soloist. He has danced at Alvin Ailey, Steps On Broadway, and many other reputable dance schools across the country. Mr. Hudnall has been the color guard director at Trinity HS, Corsicana HS, Navarro College, and Robert E Lee HS. He has also choreographed for 19 other color/winter guards including junior high, high school, and independent groups. His next major goal is to develop Belton Guard into a nationally competitive program. He is thankful to return to Belton HS for a fourth year and looks forward to many more.