National Honor Band & Choir Announces 2027 Faculty

The faculty for the Musicians Abroad National Honor Band & Choir includes top educators from across the country. Learn more about them here.

Edward Jerell Horton

Dr. Jerell Horton has been the band director at Vestavia Hills HS since 2006. He is a graduate of Samford University. Prior to his appointment at Vestavia Hills, he served as the assistant director at Pizitz MS and Vestavia Hills HS. While at Vestavia Hills, the bands have consistently earned superior rating at District and State concert band assessments. The Vestavia Hills Wind Ensemble performed at the 2011 Alabama Music Educators Conference, and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2013.

The Vestavia Hills HS Rebel Marching Band performed in the 2010 London New Year’s Day Parade in London, England and the 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. In January 2024, the Rebel Marching Band performed in the Rome New Year’s Day Parade. The Vestavia Hills band was awarded the National Program of Excellence Southern Division Blue Ribbon Award presented by the National Band Association.

Dr. Horton has served as an honor band clinician within the states of Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. He is also on staff for the Auburn Summer Marching and Leadership camp and the Music for All Summer Symposium. Mr. Horton is a National Board-Certified teacher and was named to SBO Magazine’s 2014 list of 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. Mr. Horton was honored to serve on the 2017 and 2022 Bands of America Honor Band staff. He is married to Monica Horton and they have four children; Madina Jaimes, Israel, Chism and Loula Grayce.

David Lesser

David Lesser has served as Director of Bands at the Clovis North Educational Center in Fresno, California since its opening in 2007. He oversees all aspects of the CNEC Instrumental Music program for grades 7–12, conducts the Wind Ensemble and directs the Bronco Marching Band and Color Guard. He also serves as the Secondary Instrumental Resource Teacher for the CUSD Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Before joining Clovis North, he held director positions at Clovis West HS in Fresno, California, from 2001–2006. Ensembles under his leadership have performed at major national events, including the: 71st Annual Midwest Clinic, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Music for All National Concert Band Festival, California All-State Music Educators Conference and California Music Educators Association State Band and Orchestra Festival. The Clovis North Marching Band has earned multiple Western Band Association class and grand championships. The Clovis North Wind Ensemble served as a demonstration ensemble for the California All-State Music Educators Conference Conductor Symposium (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023). They were a demonstration ensemble for sessions at The Midwest Clinic (Travis Cross) and CASMEC (Robert Sheldon).

Mr. Lesser was recognized by the John Philip Sousa Foundation as a Legion of Honor Laureate in 2020. His additional honors include being named one of SBO Magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” (2006) and FMCMEA Jazz Educator of the Year (2005). He has served as an Associate Director of the Music for All National Honor Band in the Rose Parade (2017, 2022, 2026) and is active nationally as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician. He has held leadership roles with NAfME, The Midwest Clinic, WBA, FMCMEA, CMEA Central Section, and the San Joaquin Valley Color Guard and Percussion Review. He is also the founder of the San Joaquin Valley Concert Band Invitational, an MFA Affiliate Regional Festival which began in 2009.

He and his wife, Carol, a Registered Dietitian, live in California. Their daughter, Sarah, is a fashion merchandising major and songwriter at CSU Long Beach. Their son Justin is an Eagle Scout, a mechanical engineering major at San Jose State University, a member of the SJSU Wind Ensemble and a Drum Major with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps.

Matthew Ehlers

Matt Ehlers is the Director of Percussion for Dripping Springs HS and MS. As Percussion Director, Ehlers coordinates all of the high school and middle school percussion curriculum (grades 6-12). Originally from Seward, Nebraska, he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas. Prior to his appointment at Dripping Springs, he served as Director of Percussion at A.N. McCallum HS and Lamar MS Fine Arts Academies in Austin, Texas from 2006 to 2021.

The Advanced Steel Band at McCallum had the honor of performing at the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the 2012 P.A.S.I.C., and the 2012 Midwest Clinic. McCallum’s percussion ensemble was also selected as a winner of the 2015 Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase, winners of the 2015 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble contest and were selected to perform at the 2019 Midwest Clinic. In 2013, with the help of a Creative Classroom grant, Ehlers founded the 30-piece Brazilian Samba School, known as the “Samba Knights,” at McCallum HS and created a community partnership with the Austin Samba School. Ehlers also appeared as a guest soloist in 2015 with the Lamar MS Jazz Factory at The Midwest Clinic and in 2017 with the Lamar MS Wind Ensemble at The Midwest Clinic. At Dripping Springs, Ehlers has helped the band advance to both the UIL 5A and UIL 6A State Marching Contest Finals. In 2025, the band placed 9th at the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships in Indianapolis.

The marching percussion section was invited to present a clinic at the Texas Bandmasters Convention in 2023. Dripping Springs’ Percussion Ensemble placed 2nd in the 2023 and 2025 Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase. They also received 1st place in both the Advanced Large and Advanced Small Ensemble categories at the 2025 TCU Percussion Festival. In 2023 Ehlers presented a clinic alongside Moses Simon from Roma HS at The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic titled, “Extreme Band Makeover: Percussion Edition.” His compositions and arrangements for both percussion ensemble and steel band can be found at C. Alan Publications, Boxfish Music Publishing, and Row-Loff Productions. Matt and his wife Katie live in Dripping Springs with their daughter Lily and dog Carter. They enjoy a good BBQ, listening to records, and attempting various renovations on their home.

Spence Howell

Dr. Spence Howell is honored to serve on the faculty of the 2027 Musicians Abroad National Honor Band & Choir as an Upper Brass Instructor, joining an outstanding artistic team led by renowned conductor Richard Saucedo. He brings a passion for developing young brass musicians and a commitment to musical excellence on both the field and the stage.

Dr. Howell is the Director of Athletic Bands and Chair of the Department of Music at Long Island University. He earned both his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance from the University of Alabama, where his dissertation, “Teaching Trumpet from the Studio to the Stadium,” explores the connection between traditional trumpet pedagogy and the unique demands of the marching arts. His collegiate experience includes work with The University of Alabama’s “Million Dollar Band” and Western Carolina University’s “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band. Under his leadership, the Long Island University Marching Band has quickly emerged as a visible and energetic presence on the national stage, recently traveling to San Diego to perform in support of the LIU Men’s Basketball Team during the NCAA March Madness tournament, and appearing as an opening act for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Foreigner.

An active performer, Dr. Howell has also appeared with ensembles such as the Tuscaloosa Symphony and Alabama Symphony and has toured internationally, including a performance tour in South Africa. As part of the 2027 Musicians Abroad program, Dr. Howell looks forward to working with outstanding student musicians during the pre-tour rehearsal camp and throughout the European performance tour, helping them grow as performers while experiencing music across cultures. He is especially excited to connect with students interested in continuing their musical careers at the collegiate level, particularly within the vibrant and growing program at Long Island University. In addition to his work in higher education and performance, Dr. Howell maintains a strong presence in Drum Corps International. He began his marching career with Carolina Crown, where he performed from 2015 to 2018, serving as a section leader and earning Brass Member of the Year honors. He has since served as High Brass Coordinator with The Cavaliers—working alongside Richard Saucedo—and currently serves on the brass staff of Santa Clara Vanguard, continuing to mentor and develop performers at the highest level of the activity.

Wes Stoner

Wes Stoner, a native of Canton, Georgia, is the Director of Choirs at Walton HS in the Cobb County School District. Before returning to CCSD, he attended the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and is a candidate (ABD) for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting. At Frost, Wes has served as instructor for the Experiential Music Curriculum Freshman-level Aural Skills, conductor of the Frost Symphonic Choir and as the Chorus Master for the Frost Opera Theatre. His Teaching Assistant duties included undergraduate Choral Conducting, Frost Bella Voce and the acclaimed Frost Chorale.

Prior to pursuing the DMA at UM, Wes taught high school choral music for fifteen years in both urban and suburban areas of metropolitan Atlanta, including schools in the Clayton County and Cobb County school districts. In addition to teaching, Wes maintains an active choral performing schedule as a singing member and Assistant Director of the Atlanta-based professional chamber ensemble Coro Vocati, which was chosen to perform for the 2018 Southern Region Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Louisville, KY. He also sang ten seasons with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and ASO Chamber Chorus, performing numerous times in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center and on two occasions with the Berlin Philharmonic at the Philharmonie in Berlin, Germany. Wes is also a member of the professional choral ensemble that performs for the triennial C.S. Lewis Institute OxBridge Conference in Oxford and Cambridge, England.

Wes has had the opportunity to serve in leadership positions within the state of Georgia and the southeast. He served as the Choral Division Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association, where he oversaw the GMEA All-State Chorus event and auditions, Statewide Sixth Grade Honor Chorus, and the Choral Division offerings at the yearly GMEA In-Service Conference. Wes has also served on the board for the Georgia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and as the Interest Session Chair for the 2016 ACDA Southern Region Conference in Chattanooga, TN. Wes holds the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia and the Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree from Michigan State University.

Frank Troyka

Frank Troyka is the retired Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Berkner HS in Richardson (TX). A teacher of over 30 years, Frank came to Berkner in May of 2006 following seven years as Director of Bands at Cypress Falls HS in Houston. Ensembles under his direction have been selected to perform at the Music for All National Festival, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and The Midwest Clinic on two occasions with the Symphonic Band at Cypress Falls in 2004 and with the Berkner Symphonic Band in 2011. In addition, Berkner HS Symphonic Band I was named Runner Up on two consecutive occasions in Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honor Band competition.

Frank is an active clinician, presenting workshops across Texas, throughout the United States and at international destinations including Canada, The Philippines, Singapore, China, Dubai, Qatar, Switzerland, South Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia. He is a frequent presenter at faculty development workshops for public school music teachers and a guest lecturer and instructor for students and teachers.

In addition, Frank is a member of TMEA, the Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity. He is a Senior Educational Clinician with Conn Selmer, Inc.; Senior Educator and Clinician for BD Performing Arts, the educational arm of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps and one of the founders of both the Generation Next and Day One series of presentations for The Midwest Clinic. He was honored as the 2002-2003 Teacher of the Year at Cypress Falls HS and, while at Berkner HS, was one of 15 recipients in Texas of the 2010 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. In 2014, Frank was honored by the Texas Bandmasters Association as a recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award. In March 2016, Frank was inducted into the BOA Hall of Fame and Mr. Troyka was named 2019 Bandmaster of the Year by the Texas Bandmasters Association.

For more information about our 2027 tour, conductors and venues, visit Musicians Abroad.