Meet the Directors!
Smith Middle School
Matthew Hiller
Director of Bands mhiller@c-isd.com Matthew Hiller is in his eighteenth year in education and twelfth in Cleburne. Mr. Hiller was the 2009 recipient of Score a Goal in the Classroom’s, Bayard H. Friedman “HERO” Award as the most outstanding instrumental music educator in north Texas. He has previously taught bands in Plano, Mabank and Dallas. Mr. Hiller is a native of Memphis, Tennessee where he graduated from Overton HS for the Creative and Performing Arts. He received his Bachelors of Music in Music Education from the University of North Texas in 2001 where he was a bassoonist with nearly every performing ensemble including the world-renowned North Texas Wind Symphony. At Smith, Mr. Hiller teaches Beginning Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, and Saxophone. He is the primary director of the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band and assists with the Symphonic Band. Under his leadership, the Smith MS Wind Ensemble has earned 10 UIL Sweepstakes Awards. The bands at Smith have also consistently earned first division ratings at festivals across Texas and numerous Smith students have earned a chair in the TMEA All-Region Honor Band. Mr. Hiller has conducted the Smith Bands in performances at the Murchison Performing Arts Center (UNT), Ed Landreth Auditorium (TCU), Clyde H. Wells Performing Arts Center (Tarleton), the Texas State Capitol, on the grounds of The Alamo, and for a crowd at Fort Hood. |
Wheat Middle School
Faith Massey Director of Bands fmassey@c-isd.com Faith Massey is in her twenty-eighth year of teaching and has experience at the high school as well as the middle school level. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Mrs. Massey is a graduate of Weatherford High School and holds her Bachelor's Degree in music from the University of Texas at Arlington. As a student, Mrs. Massey performed in the premier ensembles at UTA and also held memberships in Sigma Alpha Iota and Tau Beta Sigma as well as Omicron Delta Kappa for her outstanding service to UTA. As a teacher, she has received superior ratings at Concert and sight reading festivals, marching festivals, parade competitions, and drumline and colorguard competitions and has served as an adjudicator and clinician in the state. Her ensembles have been selected to perform for the Fort Worth Fire Hockey, The Texas Rangers as well as performing for former United States Presidents, George Bush and George W. Bush. Professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Assoc., Texas Bandmasters Assoc., and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Mrs. Massey resides in Crowley, Texas with her husband, Douglas and daughter, Melody. |
Sarah MIddleton
Associate Director of Bands smiddleton@c-isd.com Sarah Middleton is excited to begin her second year of teaching at Smith Middle School in Cleburne ISD. She is a native Texan raised in San Antonio, TX, where she attended Winston Churchill HS and played trumpet in numerous musical ensembles including marching band, concert band, jazz band, and full orchestra. In December 2016, she received her Bachelor in Music Studies with an emphasis in Instrumental Studies from Texas State University. Prior to graduation, Sarah completed her student teaching at Cedar Park HS in Leander ISD and Parmer Lane Elementary in Pflugerville ISD. During her time at Texas State, Sarah was involved in multiple concert ensembles, the jazz lab band, Bobcat Basketball band, and the Bobcat Marching Band for four years, serving as trumpet section leader for the latter two. In addition to school ensembles, Sarah performed as a member of the mellophone section with the world class Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, CO in the summer of 2012. Ms. Middleton is the primary director of the Smith Middle School Symphonic Band and assists with the Wind Ensemble. She also teaches all beginning brass classes including Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba. |
Paige Hartley Associate Director of Bands phartley@c-isd.com Paige Hartley is enjoying her seventh year of teaching at A.D. Wheat Middle School in Cleburne ISD. Although a native Texan, Ms. Hartley traveled out of state to earn a Bachelor of Education in Instrumental Music from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR. She graduated summa cum laude, top of her class with the highest honors. There, she studied both the trumpet and the piano, culminating in a senior recital showcasing performances on both of her instruments. While at college, Ms. Hartley actively participated in various university ensembles including the Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir, and infamous Showband of Arkansas. Today, she still performs during the holiday seasons and for fun. She is professionally affiliated with TMEA, TBA, and Tau Beta Sigma, the National Honorary Band Service Sorority. At Wheat, Ms. Hartley is in charge of teaching beginning brass classes including: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, and Bassoon. She also serves as the primary director of the Symphonic Band and assists with the Wind Ensemble. Outside of school, Ms. Hartley frequently judges solo and ensemble festivals, as well as teaches trumpet masterclasses. |
