Elizabeth Treadwell, Director of Bands
Mrs. Treadwell is a graduate of Texas Tech University (Go Red Raiders!). She played the French Horn in a variety of ensembles, from marching in the Goin’ Band, to performing in the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. She has taught both elementary and middle school, most recently at Armstrong Middle School in Plano ISD where her bands consistently earned 1st division ratings in concert and sight reading contests. Prior to Armstrong, Mrs. Treadwell taught at Monnig Middle School in Fort Worth ISD where she built up the program to earn Sweepstakes. She is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association and Tau Beta Sigma. Her Husband, Travis is also a band director at McKinney Boyd High School in McKinney ISD. When they aren’t at football games and marching contests, Mrs. Treadwell and her husband love traveling, cooking up new recipes in the kitchen and spending time with their two dogs, Ryder and Harli. Mrs. Treadwell is thrilled to join Frisco ISD and the outstanding Cobb Band Program! Ms. Denise Soto, Assistant Director of Bands Ms. Denise Soto is the Associate Band Director at Cobb Middle School. She was the Head Band Director for seven years at Ysleta ISD and San Elizario ISD in El Paso, Texas. While teaching at Eastwood Middle School and Garcia-Enriquez Middle School, she received numerous Band UIL Sweepstakes Awards. Ms. Soto graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2010. While at UTEP, she studied oboe under the direction of Dr. Donald Wilkinson. She performed with The UTEP Orchestra and UTEP Wind Symphony, which recorded for prestigious composers such as Julie Giroux, Frank Ticheli and Roger Cichy.Ms. Soto frequently substituted for The El Paso Wind Symphony and The El Paso Symphony Orchestra. She was also a member of the El Paso Woodwind Quintet which served and entertained the community of El Paso with live music. The ensemble performed for a variety of audiences including the elderly at various nursing homes and for travelers coming home for the holidays at the El Paso International Airport.Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educator's Association and the Texas Bandmaster's Association. Some of Ms. Soto' s interests include reading and going to the movies and she now resides in Frisco, TX. |
Mrs. Carolyn Cansler, Director of Bands
Originally from the Chicago area, Mrs. Cansler attended Millikin University in Decatur, IL and then taught high school band for two years before moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Her bands at Lakeview Middle School (Lewisville ISD), Crownover Middle School (Denton ISD), and here at Griffin have earned consistent sweepstakes awards at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest, and Division I ratings from judges at other festivals. Mrs. Cansler also served for many years on the staff of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, teaching conducting, marching, leadership and teaching fundamentals to high school drum majors from across the country. Mrs. Cansler lives in Little Elm with her husband Chris, who is the Director of Bands at Independence High School in Frisco. They have two children, Haley and Eric. Mr. JaRod Hall, Assistant Director of Bands In December of 2014, Mr. Hall graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Upon graduation, he immediately served as interim assistant band director at Berkner HS in Richardson, Texas. There he was in charge of the Concert Band I, assisted with both jazz ensembles, and instructed two beginner brass classes at Forestridge and Richland elementary schools. Under his direction and with the help of a very supportive staff, Berkner’s CB 1 earned sweepstakes in the 2015 UIL Concert and Sightreading contest. Mr. Hall is eternally grateful to the Berkner staff for helping launch his career as a music educator! A passionate performer, Mr. Hall has been a part of many ensembles such as the North Texas Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, 3 O’ Clock Lab Band, Carrollton Wind Symphony, Metropolitan Winds, and during his time in high school the Texas All-State Symphonic Band (2007 – 09) and Jazz Band (2010). In 2013 he served as Drum Major for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in San Antonio, Texas for their show Protest. In the summer of 2014, Mr. Hall was fortunate to be chosen for the Disneyland All-American College Band, a marching/jazz based 21-member ensemble selected from the finest collegiate musicians in the country. It was through this program that he truly learned the profound effect music can have on our lives. Mr. Hall currently resides in Carrollton, Texas. He is ecstatic to join such a supportive and team-oriented program as Griffin! Go Gators! |