Band Directors

Adrian Caswell

Adrian Caswell started his career in 2007 at Austin High School and is thrilled to return home again. While at SFA, the band was a two-time Bands of America Grand National Finalist and three-time Bands of America Houston Regional Champion. He is excited to continue the legacy of excellence and work to provide life-changing experiences for our student performers.

Prior to returning to SFA, Mr. Caswell taught at the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts, Coppell High School, and Wakeland High School. Under his direction, his ensembles have been BOA Grand National Finalists, UIL State Marching Contest Finalists in class 5A and 6A, BOA Super Regional Finalists, BOA Super Regional Class Champions, BOA Regional Champions, have received a perfect visual score at the UIL State Marching Contest, and have been consistent UIL Concert and Marching Sweepstakes award winners.

Mr. Caswell received his degree in music education from The University of Texas at Austin. He performed in the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Jerry Junkin, and was a featured soloist in the Longhorn Band as well as The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Caswell marched for five years with The Cadets and served as the horn sergeant in 2004 and 2005, later joining the visual staff in 2009.

Mr. Caswell holds professional affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is elated to rejoin the SFA family with his wife, Jenny, and children, Lilah and Will.

Jay Lopez

Mr. Lopez currently is the Associate Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, TX.

Mr. Lopez joined the SFA staff in the Fall of 2022. During his tenure, he has led the Symphonic Band and assisted with the Concert Band, consistently receiving Superior ratings at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading with the Symphonic Band. During the fall, the SFA Bulldog Band and Angels Dance Team and has attended the 6A State Marching Contest and been a consistent BOA Regional Finalist.

Mr. Lopez graduated with honors from the University of North Texas in May of 2020 with his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. His collegiate mentors include Dr. Nicholas Williams, Dennis Fisher, and Dr. Andrew Traschel. Mr. Lopez studied Bassoon with Kathleen Reynolds, bassoonist in the Dallas Opera/Dallas Symphony. He performed as a bassoonist in the UNT Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, and multiple chamber ensembles. In the Spring of 2020, Mr. Lopez completed his student teaching at Coppell HS and Coppell MS West.

Before his arrival at Stephen F. Austin High School, Lopez was the Associate Director of Bands at John B. Connally High School in Pflugerville ISD. While there, Connally HS was a consistent UIL Concert and Marching Sweepstakes Award recipient.

Mr. Lopez has developed a passion for the marching arts, throughout his years of experience. He has worked as a technician for Hebron HS and Fossil Ridge HS where he was able to contribute to a 3rd place finish at UIL Texas State Marching Contest, 4th place finish at BOA San Antonio in 2018 and a 3rd place finalist at BOA Grand Nationals in 2019. Mr. Lopez also taught as a private bassoon instructor for Denton ISD and Keller ISD. Additionally, he has worked for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and mostly recently with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.

Mr. Lopez professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Association for Music Education.  Mr. Lopez is excited about continuing the excellence of the program and the development of every student.

Lee Willis

Lee Willis serves as Director of Percussion at Stephen F. Austin High School, Garcia Middle School, and Sartartia Middle School. He directs all percussion ensembles as well as co-directs the marching band and concert ensembles.

Prior to his appointment at SFA, Willis served as the Director of Percussion at Alvin High School. Under his direction, the Alvin High School Percussion section achieved noteworthy local and state-wide success including two top-10 finishes in the Lone Star Classic drumline competition. Additionally, Mr. Willis founded the Alvin High School Steel Band, which has recently shared the stage with world renowned steelpan artists, Liam Teague and CJ Menge. Prior to his appointment at Alvin, Mr. Willis served as the Associate Director of Bands at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas. In addition to multiple “High Percussion” scores at marching contests, he mentored students to perform with the Texas All-State Bands and the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest.

Prior to teaching public school in Texas, Mr. Willis compiled a wealth of collegiate teaching experience in Texas and South Carolina. Mr. Willis served as the Battery Coordinator of the Coastal Carolina University Marching Band and Assistant Band Director at Conway High School. Before his hiring at CCU, he served as the primary instructor for the Texas Tech University Drumline, Steel Band II, and Percussion Ensemble II. Mr. Willis is a proud graduate of Texas Tech University, where under the tutelage of Dr. Lisa Rogers and Mr. Alan Shinn, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance. 

During his time at Texas Tech, Mr. Willis was a member of the top Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band ‘Apocalypso Now’. With these ensembles, he performed at PASIC, TMEA, ISME, NCPP, the PAS Canada Day of Percussion, and the International Kodaly Symposium. In 2012, he finished 4th in the Texas Tech University Concerto Competition. Mr. Willis was a member of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Sarah McKoin, and the Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Andrew George and Dr. David Becker. Mr. Willis was also a part of the famed Goin’ Band from Raiderland as section leader of the tenor-line.

In his spare time, Mr. Willis enjoys playing basketball, golf, and disc golf. He is an extremely passionate fan of the San Antonio Spurs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, New York Yankees, and San Francisco 49ers. He and his wife, Avery, have two wonderful dogs named Harley and Remo.

Angels Directors

Mysha Baldwin

I have been a dance teacher since 2010, and I've been the Director of the Angels Dance Team since 2016. I am from Sugar Land, TX where I grew up dancing in a local studio. As a teenager, I attended the Houston Ballet Academy and was chosen to perform in the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker in 2001 as a Clown. In high school, I realized my passion for teaching after leading the Kempner Cougar Brigade for 2 years as an Officer. I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University, where I was a member and 2-year Captain of the SFA Pom Squad. My professional affiliations include the Texas Dance Educators Association.

Ashlee Williamson

Ashlee Williamson is the current Assistant Director of the Austin Angels Dance Team at Stephen F. Austin HS in Sugar Land, TX. She first began working with the Angels Dance Team in 2010 under Betsy Heathcock as a clinician. During her time with the Angels Dance Team, she has served as assistant director to Lilian Arnosky and Mysha Baldwin. During her thirteen plus years at Stephen F. Austin High School, her achievements for the dance department include co-directing a five-time 6A state marching band auxiliary group as well as winning many awards through the dance competition circuit. Recently, Mrs. Williamson started the dance class program at Garcia Middle school expanding dance education in Fort Bend ISD. In 2024, Ashlee was a nominee for TDEA’s Dance educator of the Year award. 

Ashlee in from the Sugar Land, TX area where she grew up dancing with Fort Bend Academy Dance. As a teenager, she attended many renowned training programs such as Joffrey Ballet School and Boston Ballet summer programs with offers from many year-round programs such as Joffrey Ballet of New York,  and The Rock School of Dance.  During her time at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX she realized her desire to and passion to continue her education in dance. In 2006, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts  Degree in Dance with a concentration in Ballet from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.  During her time at Point Park, Ashlee danced leading roles in Alen Heinlein's Sleepy Hollow,  George Balanchine's Serenade, as well as the role of "The Girl in the Yellow Dress" from the Boardway musical Contact.

Her professional affiliations include the Texas Dance Educators Association.

When I am not working with the great students of Austin High School or the Austin Angels Dance Team, I love to spend time with my husband, Blake, and two beautiful girls, Kayden and Kennedy). As a family, we enjoy attending the University of Houston basketball games and catching up on our favorite shows.