Best Wishes to Mr. McGahey

[JulietPapa]

This is bittersweet. The Keller High School Band family wishes Mr. McGahey the very best in his new role.  Selfishly, we don’t want him to leave. 💙💛💙💛

KHS Director of Bands Mark McGahey announced today that he has been named the new Assistant Director of Fine Arts in Birdville ISD. Thank you for everything you have done for the last 26 years at KHS. Please join #kellerhighband in congratulating Mr. McGahey on his new role! 🔵

[LostChoirGuy]

Oh wow!  That's shocking, with the grand nats trip upcoming.  I expected him to leave within a couple of years, but not yet.  I just saw him last week at an event honoring the Keller High Choir Director who just retired.

[JulietPapa]

My thoughts exactly. We’ll be in great hands with Mr. Heath and I believe the transition will be seamless.  

[LostChoirGuy]

I must admit that I don't know Mr. Heath.  Can you tell me more about him?

[JulietPapa]

Mr. Heath has been leading the band into the field for the last several years that I’ve been part of the band family. Here is some of his impressive bio:
 

Ryan Heath has been a music educator for sixteen years, and has spent the last ten at Keller High School in Keller, Texas, where he serves as the Director of Bands.  Additionally, he works with the concert ensembles at Keller Middle School and Indian Springs Middle School.  Prior to his appointment at Keller, Ryan taught at Dawson High School in Pearland, and Oak Ridge High School in Conroe.

Since joining the staff at Keller High, the marching band has been a finalist at the 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022 UIL 6A State Marching Band Contests and the 2015 Bands of America Grand National Championships.  In 2015, the John Philip Sousa Foundation selected Keller to be the 76th band worldwide to receive the prestigious Sudler Shield.  The band was also a participant in the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Concert ensembles under Ryan’s direction have received superior ratings at every competitive event attended.  During his first nine years at Keller, the KHS Symphonic Band was a six-time winner in the Citation of Excellence competition by the Foundation for Music Education, being recognized in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.  They were the first high school ensemble to earn this distinction three years in a row, and have received this award more times than any other high school ensemble since its inception.

 

[LostChoirGuy]

Thank you for sharing that!  It seems he joined the staff shortly after I moved away and has been involved in much of the band's recent success.  That makes me feel better.  

[JulietPapa]

Makes me feel better, too!

[josephbandfan]

Really is bittersweet 🥲! He practically built the program into what it is today. Extremely kind, approachable, intelligent, experienced, and funny. Glad that he will still be in the area as Birdville ISD is probably no more than 20 min away. And I’m assuming his daughter will finish high school at Keller. 
 

I also don’t have any doubts about the transition. Ryan Heath is typically the one you see leading rehearsals, talking at band meetings and concerts. 
 

Really is the beginning of a new era for Keller and I have high hopes! 

[JulietPapa]

Agreed! We will still see him at competitions and yes, she will finish at Kellet.  That means we will get to see him two more times performing with her in the Indianette’s daddy/daughter routine during marching season. 

It's going to be a spectacular marching season.