DIRECTORS & STAFF

Billy Skembos

Director of Bands

Mr. Billy Skembos is originally from Fort Wayne, IN, and joined the staff as Director of Bands at Conroe High School in 2021. He attended R. Nelson Snider High School in Fort Wayne, IN under the direction of Mr. Kevin Klee. Mr. Skembos received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Ball State University in 2010. While at Ball State University, he studied Saxophone with Dr. George Wolfe and conducting with Dr. Thomas Caneva. Mr. Skembos student taught at Lawrence Central High School in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, IN with Mr. Randy Greenwell and Mr. Matthew James.

Mr. Skembos served as the Associate Director of Bands at Westfield High School in the Spring Independent School District of Houston, TX for three years. Before his time in Spring, he graduated with a Master of Music degree in 2018 from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX, where he served as a graduate teaching assistant. While at SUSU, he studied conducting with Dr. Matthew McInturf and Dr. Brain Gibbs and had the privilege of conducting the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Angry Orange Basketball Band, and the Bearkat Marching Band (Eat Em Up Kats!). The culminating experience of his degree was the premiere performance of his transcription of the piece Solo de Concours by Henri Rabaud for band and clarinet soloist by the Sam Houston Wind Ensemble at the American Bandmasters Association Convention in March of 2018 featuring soloist Dr. Patricia Card, Sam Houston’s clarinet Professor.

Before attending SHSU for his graduate degree, Mr. Skembos was the Director of Bands at Basic Academy of International Studies in Henderson, NV from 2010-2016. While at Basic Academy, the band experienced tremendous growth, growing from less than 60 musicians to more than 200. In addition to the growth, the program’s concert bands, jazz bands, marching band, color guard, and drumline received consistent superior ratings and were extremely successful in circuits in both Southern California and Nevada.

Mr. Skembos has held leadership positions with the Southern Nevada Band Association, Nevada Music Educators Association, The Desert Winds, and the National Association for Music Education-Ball State Chapter. Additionally, he is a regular volunteer at Conn-Selmer Institute and was inducted into the Conn-Selmer Institute Hall of Fame in 2015. Mr. Skembos was also named in the School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” for the state of Nevada in 2015.

Aaron Hernandez

Assistant Director

aarhernandez@conroeisd.net

936-709-5809

Mr. Hernandez is a proud graduate of Spring High School, and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

During his time at the University of Houston, Mr. Hernandez had the privilege to study Trombone with Brian Kauk who had served as Principal Trombone for the Houston Ballet Orchestra and the Houston Grand Opera. Mr. Hernandez also had the opportunity to work closely with John Benzer, Cory Meals, Erin Hansen, and Julie Derges who served as the Music Education Faculty.

Mr. Hernandez was a member of various ensembles at The University of Houston including the Spirit of Houston Marching Band, and The Symphonic Band under the direction of David Bertman. He was also a member of the Choir under the direction of Betsy Weber.

In 2014 Mr. Hernandez marched with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps as a member of the hornline. The Cavaliers earned 6th place at the Drum Corps International World Championships.

Mr. Hernandez has led private lessons, and masterclasses at various campuses across the Greater Houston area. He has also served on the marching band staff at Spring High School for 6 years.

When Mr. Hernandez isn’t teaching band he is training for marathons, playing with his three pups, watching sitcom re-runs, and enjoying time with his friends and family.

Jake Rollins

Percussion Director

jbrollins@conroeisd.net

936-709-5807

Mr. Jake Rollins is originally from Cleveland, TN, and is in his 1st year as the director of percussion for the Conroe High School cluster. Mr. Rollins attended Tennessee Technological University Where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education while studying with Dr. Eric Willie, Dr. Collin Hill, and Dr. Brad Meyer. While at Tennessee Tech, he performed in numerous ensembles including the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Bands. Mr. Rollins has also performed as the house drummer for the Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado and as a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Front ensemble.

Mr. Rollins has served as the percussion director at Ellison High School in Killeen ISD for the past five years. During that time, he has also been a part of the instructional staff with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in Fort Worth, TX, and the Music City Drum Corps from Nashville, TN.

Michael Henson

Color Guard Director

Michael Henson is an active designer, and choreographer in the marching arts. He has served on the staff of a number of programs in Arkansas, Indiana, and Texas that have received state-wide recognition, including Berkner High School, Grapevine High School, Plano East Senior High School, Redwater High School, Shortridge Magnet High School, and Triton Central High School. His ensembles have appeared at the state levels in Arkansas, Indiana, and Texas; Bands of America Regionals, Super Regionals, and Grand Nationals; Drum Corps International semifinals; and Winter Guard International finals. He was on the staff of the Black Gold Independent Winterguards from 2017 to 2019. In 2018, Black Gold “A” received the silver medal in Independent A class at the Winterguard International World Championships and the World guard was a finalist. Black Gold World and Open were both WGI finalists in 2019. He is also a designer for the independent world winds ensemble Orion. In 2019, Orion finished 4th place at the Winter Guard International World Championships.

As a colorguard performer, Michael has been a part of the Dallas Cowboys Colorguard, the North Mesquite High School Colorguard/Winterguard, and the Henderson State University Colorguard.

Michael holds a Master of Music degree in Composition from Butler University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from Henderson State University.