Caroline Beatty
As Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Texas State University, Caroline Beatty conducts the Texas State Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind band conducting program, teaches undergraduate conducting and band literature courses, and provides primary oversight for the comprehensive band program. Performances under her direction garner consistent accolades from audience members, composers, and fellow performers for their artistry, excitement, and craft. The Texas State University Wind Symphony has been recognized for musical excellence through multiple invitations to perform for the National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, the Southwestern Division of CBDNA, and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Dedicated to the perpetuation of ensemble art, Dr. Beatty maintains a vibrant conducting and teaching schedule outside of TXST engaging with professional teachers and performers, university students, and secondary students nationally and internationally.
Prior to her current position, Dr. Beatty held the position of Associate Director of Bands at Texas State University and Northwestern State University-Louisiana. Her secondary school teaching experience includes thirteen years as a high school band director in the Houston area. She holds the DMA degree in Conducting from the University of Michigan and both a MM degree in Conducting and a BM degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Beatty has served as the President of the Southwestern Division of CBDNA and also holds membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu – International Bandmasters Fraternity. In March 2026, she will be inducted into the American Bandmasters Association.
Craig S. McKenzie
Craig McKenzie is the newly appointed Associate Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands in the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. At Miami he oversees the conducting and teaching of the Frost Symphonic Winds and the Frost “Band of the Hour” Marching Band. Dr. McKenzie received his D.M.A. from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music where he studied instrumental conducting with Robert M. Carnochan. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Music with an emphasis in conducting from San José State University. His conducting mentors also include Edward C. Harris, Alan McMurray, Diana Hollinger, and Thomas Verrier.
With over 20 years of university, high school, and middle school teaching experience, Dr. McKenzie has previously held positions at Pioneer High School (Whittier, California), Abraham Lincoln High School (San Jose, California), and at San José State University. From 2019-2024, he was the conductor of the San Francisco Brass Band, taking them to back-to-back first place performances in two different divisions of the North American Brass Band Association Championships: second section in 2023 and first section in 2024. In 2023, Dr. McKenzie served as the Music Director and Principal conductor of the Golden Gate Park Band, San Francisco’s oldest professional musical organization.
Dr. McKenzie is the 2019 Grand Champion of the International Conducting Competition hosted by the National Association of Brass Band Conductors (now the Brass Band Conductors’ Association) in Eccles, England. As a result of his win, he was invited to guest conduct the Cory Band in 2020. He enjoys returning to the San Bernardino mountains of California whenever possible to visit Arrowbear Music Camp where he directed the Intermediate Session Band from 2002—2019. He credits Arrowbear Music Camp with an influential portion of his musical education and attended as a camper in his childhood.
Tyler S. Grant
Tyler S. Grant is an internationally recognized composer, arranger, conductor, and clinician of music for concert bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles of all levels. His music is featured regularly in performances by both region and all state honor ensembles and is also featured annually on Editor’s or Publisher’s Choice Repertoire Lists around the world. His work, Panoramic Fanfare, was a winner of the Dallas Wind Symphony’s 2014 “Call for Fanfares” Competition. Panoramic Fanfare has since been performed by collegiate and professional ensembles throughout North America.
Since 2010, Tyler has regularly accepted commissions for new works and produced new publications for bands and orchestras each year. He credits his mentor Brian Balmages as pivotal to his success as a composer. Notable performance venues of his works include The Midwest Clinic, Carnegie Hall, Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival, the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Bands of America Grand Nationals, and numerous state-wide, national, and international music conferences and conventions.
In addition to composing and arranging, Tyler enjoys conducting and clinic engagements with ensembles throughout the United States. He has served as a clinician with over 150 school instrumental music programs and honor groups across more than 25 states. Tyler was a contributing author for Alfred Music Publishing Company’s Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development series and has contributed interviews to numerous podcasts and articles including School Band & Orchestra Magazine and The Instrumentalist. Notable conducting venues include The Midwest Clinic and all-state bands in Nebraska, Oregon, Alabama, Louisiana, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Tyler is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education and studied conducting with Professor Randall Coleman. Before becoming a full-time composer and arranger, Tyler served as the Director of Bands at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School from 2019-2023. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and maintains an active composing and conducting schedule. His published works are available through The FJH Music Company, Inc., Alfred/MakeMusic Publications, and Tyler S. Grant Music Works, LLC.
