Directors & Staff
To email a director, click on their title or picture to retrieve email address.
Ashley Kay, Assistant Director
Mrs. Kay joined the Centennial band staff in 2016. Mrs. Kay conducts the Symphonic Winds and assists with marching band. Before coming to Frisco, she began her teaching career with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD as an elementary music teacher, assistant band director, and then head band director at Dan F. Long Middle School.
Mrs. Kay grew up in Richardson and received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas Christian University in 2008. While at Texas Christian University, Mrs. Kay performed with the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Bobby Francis and studied clarinet with Mr. Gary Whitman. She also played with the TCU Symphony Orchestra and has spent several years playing with both the Carrollton Wind Symphony and Metropolitan Winds.
Mrs. Kay enjoys reading, traveling, and is a certified yoga instructor. Mrs. Kay currently resides in Garland with her husband Trevor and their cats Ruby and Lily.
Ryan Andre, Assistant Director
Mr. Andre joined the Centennial band staff in 2020. Mr. Andre conducts the Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and teaches AP Music Theory. Prior to working at Centennial, he was an assistant band director at Mesquite High School directing the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. He also served as the show designer and primary visual instructor for the marching band. In addition to his teaching duties, he was the TMEA Region III Jazz Chairman during the 2019-2020 school year.
Mr. Andre attended Texas Christian University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 2018. While at TCU, he performed with the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He studied trumpet with Dr. Jon Burgess. Mr. Andre marched with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois in the summers of 2015 and 2016. During the summer of 2019, he served on the Brass Staff of Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Andre's professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
He currently resides in The Colony with his girlfriend Michele and their dog Gracie.
Chad Wallace, Percussion Director
Brian Greenleaf, Color Guard Director
Jesse Ramirez, Percussion Paraprofessional
Mr. Wallace serves as Director of Percussion Studies for the Centennial High School Cluster, coordinating percussion instruction and events at Centennial High School, Lawler Middle School, and Wester Middle School. Prior to CHS, Mr. Wallace worked in Lewisville ISD, Houston ISD, and Katy ISD. Mr. Wallace’s groups have been both state honor band finalists and state marching band contestants and have also performed at the National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN. Under his direction, the TC Drum Line became the official drum line of the NHL’s Dallas Stars for 2006 and 2007. While in Houston, Mr. Wallace’s West Briar MS percussion ensembles won the U.S. National Grand Championship from Music Showcase Festivals with a perfect score of 100. They were featured on many local news stations and toured the Houston area performing in several select venues.
Mr. Wallace received his B.S. in Music Education from Austin Peay State University where he studied with David Steinquest. Mr. Wallace is an educational endorser of Evans drumheads and Innovative Percussion. He resides in Frisco with his wife Robin, son Logan, and their dog Avenger.
Mr. Rein has served as Director of Bands at Centennial High School since 2013. Mr. Rein directs the Marching Band, the Wind Symphony and Concert Band. Mr. Rein’s ensembles have excelled at regional marching, concert, and jazz competitions, and festivals.
An educator since 2004, Mr. Rein came to Frisco with years of experience. Mr. Rein attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville Tennessee and achieved a bachelors in Music Education. He also attended Depaul University in Chicago Illinois and achieved a masters in music performance with an emphasis in Bass Trombone. His primary teachers have included Susan K. Smith of the Nashville Symphony, Charles Vernon of the Chicago Symphony, and Tom Matta, Chicago freelance trombonist. Other notable teachers include Gil Long, Richard Steffen, Mark Fischer, Floyd Cooley, Bob Lark, Tim Coffman, Bob Lee, Robert Hodge, Pete Evans and Todd Hill.
Mr. Rein currently resides in Frisco with his wife Katie and their dogs Derby, and Zoey.
Mr. Greenleaf joined the Centennial band staff as Guard Director in 2005. Prior to coming to Centennial High School, Mr. Greenleaf was the Color Guard director for the Haltom High School Color Guard program. The Haltom color guard has been a consistent medalist in the North Texas Color Guard Association’s Circuit Championships, as well as a Winter Guard International finalist. Before coming to Texas, Mr. Greenleaf was the Color Guard Director for The Union Public Schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he administered and taught students in grades 6 through 12.
Mr. Greenleaf has been active in Marching Band, Winter Guard, and Drum & Bugle Corps - as a designer, technician, clinician, and consultant since 1989. In addition to teaching, Mr. Greenleaf has instructed the Suncoast Sound Drum & Bugle Corps, the Black Gold Drum & Bugle Corps, and has served as the caption head for the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps. Mr. Greenleaf also founded the five time WGI finalist Black Gold Winter Guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mr. Greenleaf is the past President and 1st Vice President of the Mid-America Performing Arts Association. He is credited with the significant growth in membership and quality of the Association during his presidency. Mr. Greenleaf is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Mr. Greenleaf has served on the Executive Board of the North Texas Color Guard Association, as well as the Winter Guard International Advisory Board and Steering Committee to the executive board.
Mr. Ramirez joined the Centennial band staff in 2020. Mr. Ramirez assists in percussion studies at Centennial High School, Lawler Middle School, & Wester Middle School. Prior to his appointment in Frisco ISD, Mr. Ramirez served as a percussion specialist for Azle ISD where he taught private lessons and classes throughout the district. Before that, he served as the Director of Percussion at Victoria West High School in Victoria, Texas.
Mr. Ramirez received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas in 2018. During his time at UNT, he performed with the Green Brigade Marching Band, 8 o’clock steel band, Percussion Players Ensemble, Gamelan, Afro-Cuban Ensemble, and Brazilian Percussion Ensemble. Mr Ramirez also played on the UNT ‘A’ drumline that performed at Drumfest in Poland in October of 2014. He also played in the UNT Symphonic Band under Dennis Fisher, and served as principal timpanist for the Concert Orchestra. He studied percussion privately with Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, and Mark Ford, as well as Ed Soph, Stockton Helbing, and Jose Aponté for drumset. Mr. Ramirez also sang in in the Men’s Chorus and the student-led UNT Barbershop chorus. He also marched in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015, and taught the bass drum line at the Jersey Surf drum and bugle corps in 2017 and 2018.
Mr. Ramirez grew up in the Keller area, learning music from his father and teaching himself drumset. He played his first professional gig at age 16 and has performed with groups in all styles of music across the metroplex. He also played drumset for the Victoria Jazz Ensemble during his time there.
Mr. Ramirez lives in Denton, Texas with his fiancé, Aranka and their dog, Apollo.