Band Directors
MARC NICHELSON
Director of Bands
Marc Nichelson serves as Director of Bands for Highland Park High School, and leads the award-winning Highlander Band and the Highland Park Wind Symphony.
A graduate of Brownsboro High School, Mr. Nichelson received his Associate of Arts in Music from Tyler Junior College and his Bachelor of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University intending to pursue a career as a Band Director.
After college, he served as the 7th-grade director for Hallsville ISD. Later he accepted a position at Wortham ISD (a small school in Central Texas), where he spent four years as the Director of Bands and Technology. During his time, the program grew and saw great success both in marching and concert season. Mr. Nichelson next worked as the Director of Bands for China Spring ISD, where he headed up the Marching Band, directed the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz I ensemble, and taught AP Music Theory.
His professional affiliations include the Association of Texas Small School Bands, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Outside of his teaching career, he currently runs Penson Media Technologies as a side business to his education career and still performs with local bands. Outside of work, he enjoys being outdoors, golfing, and spending time with his wife Jessica, their son Ben, and daughter Jenna.
QUIYAN MURPHY
Assistant Director of Bands - Percussion Director
Quiyan Murphy has been involved in performing and teaching in the percussive arts for more than 40 years. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Texas, and Master’s Degree from Lamar University. Quiyan was a member of the UNT Drumline, the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps and the 20 time World Champion Blue Devils Drum Bugle Corps. His past teaching experience includes Newman Smith High School and Lewisville High - both were he served as Director of Percussion.
Under his direction, Quiyan's students have accomplished many things, including Bands of America Invited Percussion Ensemble, PASIC Marching Festival Champions, Plano Drumline Contest medalists,superior ratings at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble contests, Lone Star Drumline Contest Champions, 4 time NTCA Champions, 2 time WGI Houston Regional champions, 4 time WGI Dallas Regional champions and 2022 WGI Virtual National Champions.
DANNY MARTINEZ
Color Guard Director, Highland Park ISD
hpcolorguard@gmail.com
Danny Martinez has been a colorguard educator for more than 25 years, and has taught and choreographed for many schools throughout the United States. Those units include Springtown, Crowley, The Colony, Lake Highlands and Highland Park, among others. He also has Independent Winterguard teaching experience with units such as Ars Nova “A” and director of the 2011 WGI Bronze medalist White Gold.
In his time as a colorguard educator, Danny has taught a variety of skill and age levels. From elementary and middle school programs to independent color guards, he has shared his passion for the activity and understands the importance of each and every level and looks forward to working with these groups again from his new role on the board.
Danny has served on the NTCA Executive Board from 2009-2014, and was elected president for three of those years. Danny is a member of the NTCA Hall of Fame as well as the Black Gold Hall of Fame.
