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Holly Taylor
Director of Bands
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Mrs. Holly Taylor serves as the head band director for the Wylie East High School Band.
Taylor brings a wealth of experience and success to Wylie East. Since 2014, she has served as Director of Bands at Sachse High School in Garland ISD, where her ensembles consistently earned top honors, including Mark of Excellence Commended recognitions in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and a National Winner title in 2023. Under her leadership, the Sachse marching band advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest in both 2021 and 2024.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Prior to her time at Sachse, Taylor served as the Assistant Band Director and Color Guard Director at Lakeview Centennial High School for seven years. She also taught band at Naaman Forest High School, and Webb Middle School and instructed color guards at Waxahachie, Midlothian, and Pampa High Schools. In addition to her campus leadership, Taylor serves as the TMEA Region 3 Band Chair, overseeing regional band events, managing budgets, and organizing high school auditions.
Mrs. Taylor and her family proudly call Wylie home, where their children attend Wylie ISD schools. Her husband, Daniel, is also a dedicated band director in the district.
Hayden Nicholson
Associate Director of Bands
Mr. Hayden Nicholson serves as an Associate Director of Bands at Wylie East High School Band. His responsibilities include conducting the Symphonic Band and Concert Band, team-teaching the Pride of the East Marching Band, and assisting with all other aspects of the band program.
Prior to his appointment at Wylie East, Mr. Nicholson served as an Assistant Band Director at Wylie High School during the spring of 2025, where he conducted the Symphonic Band and contributed to all aspects of the band program.
Originally from Lindale, Texas, Mr. Nicholson is a graduate of Lindale High School and Texas Christian University (TCU), where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree, graduating Cum Laude. He completed his student teaching at Marcus High School in Lewisville ISD.
While at TCU, Mr. Nicholson studied trumpet with Dr. Jon Burgess and was an active member of the Horned Frog Marching Band, serving as brass section leader. He also performed with the TCU Wind Symphony under the direction of Mr. Bobby Francis and was a member of the TCU Trumpet Ensemble, which competed in the National Trumpet Competition and participated in the International Trumpet Guild Conference.
Mr. Nicholson’s musical journey also includes his time at Tyler Junior College (TJC), where he studied trumpet with Mr. Micah Bell and served as drum major of the Apache Marching Band. During his time at TJC, he was an active member of Jazz Ensemble I, the TJC Trumpet Ensemble, and the TJC Wind Ensemble.
In his free time, Mr. Nicholson enjoys traveling and spending time with his friends and family.
He is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA).
Dr. Danny Brock
Associte Director of Bands
@wylieisd.net
Dr. Danny Brock serves as an Associate Director of Bands for the Wylie East High School Band. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Collective, team-teaching the Pride of the East Marching Band, and assisting with all other aspects of the band program.
Danny Brock is proud to be able to serve the students of Wylie East High School and its community. Danny was previously appointed Assistant Director of Bands at Oklahoma State University’s Greenwood School of Music where he was university supervisor for instrumental music education student-teachers and served state-wide as an adjudicator and clinician. Prior to his appointment at OSU, Danny was the Assistant Director of Bands at Independence High School in Frisco, TX. He contributed here as a member of the district’s Strategic Planning committee, presenter at Frisco ISD professional learning functions, and assisted as a Region 24 concert band organizer. He holds two Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in wind conducting and trumpet performance from the University of North Texas and has performed six years with the UNT Wind Symphony including two performances at the Midwest and TMEA conventions.
Danny will team-teach the Pride of the East Marching Band, bringing over a decade of drum corps and pageantry arts experience to its esteemed program. As a performer, Danny was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, serving as horn sergeant, section leader, and soloist while earning the awards Rookie of the Year and Bluecoat of the Year in his time with the corps. He was previously cast as a member of the Tony Award-winning Blast! for a summer tour in Japan and has instructed multiple world class drum and bugle corps including the Santa Clara Vanguard and Phantom Regiment.
Danny is excited to contribute to the excellence of the Wylie East Jazz Band program. His experience as a jazz musician and educator includes leading the jazz program at Independence High School, performing in the Swingin’ Axes, Stephen F. Austin State University's premier big band, and performing with various local cover bands and jazz ensembles. As former president of the Dallas Brass Band, Danny founded the Dallas Youth Brass Band High School and Middle School ensembles to foster a passion for musical excellence and a lifelong appreciation for music among the youth brass and percussion musicians of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Danny is endlessly thankful to each of his mentors and teachers who helped shape his experience and path as a musician and educator. He and his beautiful fiancée, Kate, will marry in July, and will reside in DFW with their dog Stella.
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Nick Guiliano
Director of Percussion
Mr. Nick Guiliano is an Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion for the Wylie East High School Band cluster.
Nick brings extensive experience in music education and percussion instruction as the former Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion at Pearland High School. During his time at Pearland, he oversaw the percussion program for students in grades 6–12 and contributed to numerous program achievements. Under his leadership, Pearland became a consistent finalist at the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional for the first time in school history and qualified for the UIL 6A State Marching Band Contest multiple times, earning a highest placement of 6th in the state. In 2019, the band was selected to perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
Prior to his tenure at Pearland, Nick served as Instructor of Percussion at Texas Woman’s University and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of North Texas while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He earned a Master of Music degree from the University of South Carolina, where he worked with the USC Drumline, Steel Band, and Percussion Ensemble. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from the University of Central Florida.
As a performer, Nick marched snare drum with the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and Infinity World Indoor Percussion, beginning at the age of 16.
Nick is excited to join the Pride of the East Band program and become a part of the Wylie East community. He is committed to maintaining the program’s tradition of excellence while fostering a student-centered environment where all students can grow and succeed.
Outside of music, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife, Mackenzie, and their three children, Kadance, Gio, and Kamdyn. Please join us in welcoming Nick to the Wylie East Band family.
Mr. Kurt Swisher will be joining the Wylie East band program as the Assistant
Percussion Director. His responsibilities will include teaching percussion for the Wylie
East cluster and private lessons for Wylie High School cluster.
Originally from Tyler, Texas, he graduated from Tyler Legacy High School and holds a
Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
While at SFA, he performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the
chamber percussion ensemble competition at the Percussive Arts Society International
Convention. Mr. Swisher has performed with notable marching percussion ensembles in both the
Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International circuits, including Tyler Junior
College Indoor Percussion, Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps, Boston Crusaders Drum
and Bugle Corps, and Pulse Percussion. He has also taught in the marching arts
activity with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion, Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps, and is
currently on the front ensemble staff with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Prior to Wylie East, Mr. Swisher taught at Stephenville High School where he served as
percussion director for four years and led the school’s indoor percussion program. He
has also worked with percussion programs throughout Texas and Southern California,
including student teaching with Wylie High School in 2021.
Outside of music, Mr. Swisher enjoys playing video games, disc golf, and hanging out
with his cat, Cymbal. He is excited to be joining the Wylie East band staff.
Kurt Swisher
Associate Percussion Director
@wylieisd.net
Damien Waites
Color Guard Director
Mr. Damien Waites serves as the Color Guard Director for the Wylie East High School Band cluster.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Mr. Waites graduated from Sachse High School. He then went on to study Music Education at Tyler Junior College and General Studies at Collin College and currently holds his AA from Dallas College.
Mr. Waites began his color guard instructional career as a technician at Sachse High School shortly after graduating. Since then, he has served as both a technician and director for several distinguished programs throughout Texas, including Plano East High School, Rockwall High School, Mansfield High School, Midlothian High School, and Anna High School.
As a performer, Mr. Waites marched with Insignia Performing Arts Concepts in 2018, Black Gold Open in 2019, and Black Gold World in 2020, gaining valuable experience at the highest levels of the activity.
Outside of color guard, Mr. Waites enjoys movies, music, art, traveling with family and friends, and spending time outdoors.
Mr. Waites is honored to continue the exciting opportunities ahead with POTE and eager to work alongside students, staff, and the community in the years to come.
Kathy McAlister
Mrs. Kathy McAlister serves as the Fine Arts Administrative Assistant for Wylie East High School Fine Arts.
Kathy McAlister
Fine Arts Secretary
Mrs. Kathy McAlister serves as the Fine Arts Secretary at Wylie East High School, where she provides administrative support for the band, theater, choir, and visual arts programs, serving more than 800 students. As she enters her second year at Wylie East, Kathy continues to play a vital role in the daily operations of the Fine Arts Department, coordinating communications, managing logistics, and helping ensure the success of performances, events, and activities throughout the year.