Jerry Choate is proud to be the Director of Bands at Cypress Creek High School in Houston, Texas. He previously taught for three years as Head Director at Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Texas, and for four years as Assistant Band Director at The Woodlands High School in the Woodlands, TX.

He attended Clear Creek High School and graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Mr. Choate’s performing groups have earned consistent UIL Sweepstakes and “Outstanding in Class” festival awards. While he was Director of Bands at Magnolia High School, the band earned its first UIL Sweepstakes award.

Jerry Choate is also a recognized French Horn player. He studied horn with several of the great horn players in the United States, including Thomas Bacon, Founder of Summit Brass; Eric Ralske, 3rd horn New York Philharmonic; Bill Cabellero, Principal Pittsburgh Symphony; William VerMullen Principal Houston Symphony; and Nancy Goodearl, 3rd Horn Houston Symphony. Mr. Choate was principal horn for the University of Houston Wind Ensemble, directed by Mr. Eddie Green, with whom he also studied conducting. While performing with the U of H Wind Ensemble, he participated in many of the National recognized recordings of the Wind Ensemble. Mr. Choate was also a member of the 1985 TMEA All-State Band.

Mr. Choate is a dedicated family man, and is happily married to his wife of eight years, Anna Beth. He has three handsome sons, Kendrick, Carlton and Christian. Mr. Choate enjoys contributing to the musical life of his home church, St. Paul’s UMC in Houston, whenever he has the opportunity.

Doug Herrington has been a free-lance performer and educator in the Houston area since 1988 and has, starting in the summer of 2008, been an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Specialist at Cypress Creek High School. As one of three full time band directors at Cypress Creek High School, Mr. Herrington’s responsibilities include conducting the Concert II Band and assisting with the Symphonic and Concert I Bands, as well as directing the Cypress Creek Marching Drumline, Percussion Ensembles, and overseeing all percussion activities in the Cypress Creek High School Band program.

Prior to joining the band staff at Cypress Creek High School, he was a percussion instructor at numerous area high schools and colleges. In this capacity, his duties have included teaching private lessons, marching drum lines, and percussion ensembles as well as co-directing award-winning WGI indoor drumlins and co-conducting Showcase Concerts at the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions in 1998, 2004, and 2008.

Mr. Herrington maintains an active performing schedule with such organizations as The Woodlands Symphony, Paragon Brass, The Houston Lutheran Chorale, Stages Repertory Theater, Theater Lab Houston, and Masquerade Theater. He has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Cincinnati Composers Guild, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, served as principal percussionist for the Midland-Odessa Symphony, and as principal timpanist with the Amarillo Symphony.

Mr. Herrington received his B.M.E. from Northwestern University where he studied percussion with Terry Applebaum, Tony Caselli and Jim Ross and conducting with John Paynter. He received his M.M. from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati where he studied percussion with Jim Culley, Al Otte and Bill Youhass. In addition, Mr. Herrington participated in the 1999 Cloyd Duff Timpani Masterclass at Colorado State University where he studied with Cloyd Duff and Jim Atwood.

Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Herrington likes to spend his free time with friends, family, and most importantly, his wife JoAnne (since 1987) and his son Jimmy (starting in 1998).

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