Brian Perez
Brian Perez is currently the Percussion Director for Klein Cain High School in Klein ISD in Houston, TX where he has maintained that position since opening the school in 2017. His roles over the past 6 years have been directing all percussion & steel drum ensembles, writing the Cain Marching Band percussion arrangements, and helping direct and manage the beginning percussion classes through advanced ensembles at Ulrich and Doerre Intermediates. In 2018, the Ulrich Percussion Ensemble was named the National Percussion Ensemble Honors Winner for middle schools across the country from the Foundation for Music Education. Cain marching percussion has been awarded top percussion at several area competitions over the years, most recently at the Aldine Percussion Invitational Grand Champion (2023 and 2022) and Best in Class at the 2022 Lonestar Preview in The Woodlands, TX. The Klein Cain percussion studio also performed as a featured percussion ensemble at the 2023 Music for All Percussion Festival in Indianapolis.
Since aging out as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2004 under the mentorship of respected percussion giants Ralph Hardimon, Jim Casella and Murray Gusseck, Perez has been on the percussion staffs of several top corps in Drum Corps International. Currently, he is on staff with The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, led by marching percussion innovator Colin McNutt, where he has taught in a variety of roles since 2017 when the current BAC percussion staff was established. Over the years, the Boston percussion team has revolutionized what is possible in the marching arts and is annually considered one of the elite percussion groups in the activity.
Perez has been an active educator in the Houston area for the last 20 years and received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Houston. He was a member of the 2001 Texas All-State Band, performed in Superbowl XXXVIII in 2004 with artists such as Jessica Simpson, and also received the honor of the first-place tenor individual award at Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 1999.
Brian currently resides in The Woodlands, TX, with his wife Joni. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society and the Vic Firth - Zildjian Education Team.
By Brian Perez
By Bill Bachman, Brian Perez, Colin McNutt, Matt Altmire, Matt Ramey, Mike Hodges, Murray Gusseck, Nick Werth