JOSHUA THOMPSON
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Joshua Thompson has been the Orchestra Director at Westwood High School since 2017. During his six years leading this storied program, the orchestra program has grown to five performing orchestras and the Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in 2019. Previously, Joshua was the Orchestra Director at Shepton High School, in Plano, Texas. In his 13 years at Shepton, he grew the orchestra program from 79 students in 2 performing groups to 172 students in 5 performing orchestras. In 2011, the Foundation of Music Education named the Shepton Chamber Orchestra one of three National Winners in the Mark of Excellence – National Orchestra Honors Competition, despite Shepton High School being a campus of only 9th and 10th graders. He previously taught at Haggard Middle School in Plano, and South Cobb High School, in Austell, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.
Joshua holds a Master of Music degree in Music Performance in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Kentucky (Lexington) and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kentucky, he conducted all of the university bands, the Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles. As an undergraduate conductor, Joshua became co-director of the Dana Brass Ensemble, founded a studio orchestra devoted to the performance of film music, and guest conducted both university concert bands and the Youngstown Youth Symphony Orchestra. His final conducting appearance at Youngstown State was a highly successful, full production of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. A lifelong learner, he has recently attended several conducting workshops around the world, including the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, working with Larry Rachleff and Donald Schleicher.
As a trumpeter, Joshua was chosen to perform as part of a solo clinic at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Richmond, Virginia, where he performed the Sonata for Trumpet and Piano by Peter Maxwell Davies with pianist Rebecca Wilt. He was a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition’s Masters Division in 1998, and was chosen as an alternate for the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida after completing graduate school. As an undergraduate, he won the Dana School of Music Concerto Competition and was the winner of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Solo Competition in 1996. Originally from Steubenville, Ohio, Joshua first took up trumpet studies with his grandfather, a successful high school band director. He remains an active freelance trumpeter, and is in high demand as a performer, adjudicator, and clinician. In his free time, Joshua is a former competitive distance runner, racing distances from 5 kilometers to 50 miles. In 2015, he represented the City of Dallas as a citizen ambassador to Sendai, Japan, taking part in the Sendai International Half Marathon.
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Joshua Thompson has been the Orchestra Director at Westwood High School since 2017. During his six years leading this storied program, the orchestra program has grown to five performing orchestras and the Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in 2019. Previously, Joshua was the Orchestra Director at Shepton High School, in Plano, Texas. In his 13 years at Shepton, he grew the orchestra program from 79 students in 2 performing groups to 172 students in 5 performing orchestras. In 2011, the Foundation of Music Education named the Shepton Chamber Orchestra one of three National Winners in the Mark of Excellence – National Orchestra Honors Competition, despite Shepton High School being a campus of only 9th and 10th graders. He previously taught at Haggard Middle School in Plano, and South Cobb High School, in Austell, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.
Joshua holds a Master of Music degree in Music Performance in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Kentucky (Lexington) and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kentucky, he conducted all of the university bands, the Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles. As an undergraduate conductor, Joshua became co-director of the Dana Brass Ensemble, founded a studio orchestra devoted to the performance of film music, and guest conducted both university concert bands and the Youngstown Youth Symphony Orchestra. His final conducting appearance at Youngstown State was a highly successful, full production of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. A lifelong learner, he has recently attended several conducting workshops around the world, including the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, working with Larry Rachleff and Donald Schleicher.
As a trumpeter, Joshua was chosen to perform as part of a solo clinic at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Richmond, Virginia, where he performed the Sonata for Trumpet and Piano by Peter Maxwell Davies with pianist Rebecca Wilt. He was a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition’s Masters Division in 1998, and was chosen as an alternate for the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida after completing graduate school. As an undergraduate, he won the Dana School of Music Concerto Competition and was the winner of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Solo Competition in 1996. Originally from Steubenville, Ohio, Joshua first took up trumpet studies with his grandfather, a successful high school band director. He remains an active freelance trumpeter, and is in high demand as a performer, adjudicator, and clinician. In his free time, Joshua is a former competitive distance runner, racing distances from 5 kilometers to 50 miles. In 2015, he represented the City of Dallas as a citizen ambassador to Sendai, Japan, taking part in the Sendai International Half Marathon.
COLLEEN WHATLEY
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Colleen Whatley is joining Westwood High School as the Associate Orchestra Director this fall. Previously, she was the Head Director at Pearson Ranch Middle School, where she taught for 6 years before stepping into her current role.
Prior to opening PRMS in 2017, Mrs. Whatley taught in the Katy Independent School District (Katy, TX) and Houston Independent School District (Houston, TX). Currently in her 15th year of teaching, she has taught strings to all grade levels from 1st to 12th grade. Her orchestras consistently receive Superior Ratings at UIL and festival performances. In 2017, her orchestra was invited to perform at the Music for All's national festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. In Spring of 2020, her orchestra was selected as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors Project by The Foundation of Music Education, and was named a Commended Winner in 2023.
Mrs. Whatley received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied double bass. She is currently the President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron, and has served as the conductor of the Austin Youth Orchestra Intermezzo Orchestra since 2022. In her time outside of the classroom, Mrs. Whatley enjoys long-distance running, road cycling, and playing music with her husband and children.
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Colleen Whatley is joining Westwood High School as the Associate Orchestra Director this fall. Previously, she was the Head Director at Pearson Ranch Middle School, where she taught for 6 years before stepping into her current role.
Prior to opening PRMS in 2017, Mrs. Whatley taught in the Katy Independent School District (Katy, TX) and Houston Independent School District (Houston, TX). Currently in her 15th year of teaching, she has taught strings to all grade levels from 1st to 12th grade. Her orchestras consistently receive Superior Ratings at UIL and festival performances. In 2017, her orchestra was invited to perform at the Music for All's national festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. In Spring of 2020, her orchestra was selected as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors Project by The Foundation of Music Education, and was named a Commended Winner in 2023.
Mrs. Whatley received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied double bass. She is currently the President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron, and has served as the conductor of the Austin Youth Orchestra Intermezzo Orchestra since 2022. In her time outside of the classroom, Mrs. Whatley enjoys long-distance running, road cycling, and playing music with her husband and children.
RAGAN WHATLEY
CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Ragan Whatley is the Orchestra Director at Canyon Vista Middle School. Currently in his 15th year of teaching, Mr. Whatley has previously taught orchestra in the Katy Independent School District (Katy, TX) and in the Houston Independent School District (Houston, TX). His Orchestras are consistent UIL Sweepstakes Winners, and are frequent winners of “Best in Class” and “Best Overall” awards at state music festivals. In addition, his orchestras are regularly named as National Winners of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence Award, and consistently rank in the top 3 orchestras in the state of Texas through the TMEA Honor Orchestra Competition.
Mr. Whatley is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Studies. While at UNT, Mr. Whatley studied viola with Dr. Susan Dubois and conducting with Dr. Clay Couturiaux. He also performed in the UNT Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Anshel Brusilow.
Mr. Whatley is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron. In 2023, Mr. Whatley was named as the Texas Orchestra Directors Association's "Director of Distinction". He has served as the Orchestra Division Chair and also the Junior High/Middle School Orchestra Coordinator for TMEA Region 23, and the Middle School Orchestra Coordinator for TMEA Region 26. Since 2022, Mr. Whatley has served as the conductor of the Austin Youth Orchestra's Camerata Orchestra.
Mr. Whatley currently lives in Cedar Park, TX with his wife Colleen (also an orchestra director) their twin sons, Reilly and Connor, and their daughter, Nora. He enjoys mountain biking, long distance running, and hiking with his family in his spare time.
CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Ragan Whatley is the Orchestra Director at Canyon Vista Middle School. Currently in his 15th year of teaching, Mr. Whatley has previously taught orchestra in the Katy Independent School District (Katy, TX) and in the Houston Independent School District (Houston, TX). His Orchestras are consistent UIL Sweepstakes Winners, and are frequent winners of “Best in Class” and “Best Overall” awards at state music festivals. In addition, his orchestras are regularly named as National Winners of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence Award, and consistently rank in the top 3 orchestras in the state of Texas through the TMEA Honor Orchestra Competition.
Mr. Whatley is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Studies. While at UNT, Mr. Whatley studied viola with Dr. Susan Dubois and conducting with Dr. Clay Couturiaux. He also performed in the UNT Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Anshel Brusilow.
Mr. Whatley is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron. In 2023, Mr. Whatley was named as the Texas Orchestra Directors Association's "Director of Distinction". He has served as the Orchestra Division Chair and also the Junior High/Middle School Orchestra Coordinator for TMEA Region 23, and the Middle School Orchestra Coordinator for TMEA Region 26. Since 2022, Mr. Whatley has served as the conductor of the Austin Youth Orchestra's Camerata Orchestra.
Mr. Whatley currently lives in Cedar Park, TX with his wife Colleen (also an orchestra director) their twin sons, Reilly and Connor, and their daughter, Nora. He enjoys mountain biking, long distance running, and hiking with his family in his spare time.
EMILY HORNBAKE
GRISHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL/CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Emily Hornbake received her B.M. in Viola Performance from UNC School of the Arts and her M.S. in Music Education from Indiana University. She also attended New York University and studied in Prague, CZ. Ms. Hornbake's primary viola teachers include Sheila Browne and Dr. Brenda Brenner.
Prior to working in Round Rock ISD, her teaching experience includes four years in Katy ISD, where her students regularly found success at UIL Contest and Sight Reading, Solo and Ensemble, and other festivals. She also worked with the prestigious Indiana University String Academy and the Fairview String Project while attending graduate school.
Ms. Hornbake is a proud member of the Texas Music Educator's Association (TMEA) and the Texas Orchestra Director's Association (TODA). In 2022, she was honored to receive the TODA Young Educator of the Year Award.
Ms. Hornbake has had the opportunity to travel to Alaska, Europe, Michigan, and Idaho as both a performer and a teacher. She has performed with diverse ensembles, including orchestra, chamber music, opera, ballet, and recordings for film scores, pop music, and video game soundtracks.
Emily and her husband recently relocated to the Austin area and enjoy hiking, travelling, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. They welcomed their first child, Lillian, in December 2019.
GRISHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL/CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Emily Hornbake received her B.M. in Viola Performance from UNC School of the Arts and her M.S. in Music Education from Indiana University. She also attended New York University and studied in Prague, CZ. Ms. Hornbake's primary viola teachers include Sheila Browne and Dr. Brenda Brenner.
Prior to working in Round Rock ISD, her teaching experience includes four years in Katy ISD, where her students regularly found success at UIL Contest and Sight Reading, Solo and Ensemble, and other festivals. She also worked with the prestigious Indiana University String Academy and the Fairview String Project while attending graduate school.
Ms. Hornbake is a proud member of the Texas Music Educator's Association (TMEA) and the Texas Orchestra Director's Association (TODA). In 2022, she was honored to receive the TODA Young Educator of the Year Award.
Ms. Hornbake has had the opportunity to travel to Alaska, Europe, Michigan, and Idaho as both a performer and a teacher. She has performed with diverse ensembles, including orchestra, chamber music, opera, ballet, and recordings for film scores, pop music, and video game soundtracks.
Emily and her husband recently relocated to the Austin area and enjoy hiking, travelling, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. They welcomed their first child, Lillian, in December 2019.
