Michael A. Hejny
Michael Hejny is currently the Director of Bands at Arlington High School.
Prior to coming to AHS, Mr. Hejny was the associate director of Bands at Lamar
High School, Director of Bands and Fine Arts Coordinator in Fort Stockton ISD,
as well as many other positions over the past twenty years. Mr. Hejny’s
bands have earned numerous years of Division Is in marching, as well as
advancing to area and state marching contest. His concert bands have
earned numerous sweepstakes awards, as well as two Region Honor Band titles and
one Area Honor Band title. His students have distinguished themselves at
the city, region and state levels of competition.
Mr. Hejny was a member of the NHS, PAC, JETS and graduated as third ranking
student, at Ennis High School in 1980. He earned his BM ed. and his M.M.
at East Texas State University and has studied under James Keane (University of
Illinois) and conducting under Gary W. Hill (Kansas City Conservatory of Music).
Mr. Hejny is a member of TMEA, TBA and TMAA.
Mr. Hejny and his wife Sandra have five children. Sandra, also a
musician, studied Jazz at UNT and is certified to teach Math and English.
She currently home schools the youngest four Hejnys. Thomas, the
oldest, will be a senior this next year at the University of Southern California
studying Computer Science and Engineering. Dorian continues to pursue her
dreams of dancing and studies six days a week at the Fort Worth Academy of
Ballet. Tristan also dances, and he and his younger brother and sister
Tanyon and Doremi, study Gymnastics at Lone Star gymnastics center.
Monty Morris-Brame
Mr. Morris-Brame is a veteran educator with 16 years of
teaching experience at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels in
the Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas Public Schools and Universities.
He holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Southern Arkansas
University and a Master of Music Degree from Northwestern State University.
At Northwestern, Mr. Morris-Brame worked as a graduate
assistant in the band department with Mr. Bill Brent, head Director of Bands and
Head of the Department of Creative and Performing Arts.
He also worked and studied trumpet in the studio of Mr. Galindo
Rodriguez, Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies.
While a graduate assistant, he taught undergraduate private trumpet
lessons, methods of music education courses, assisted with the 300+ member Demon
Marching Band, and served as an assistant conductor for both the wind symphony
and wind ensemble.
Throughout his career as an educator, his concert bands
have been very competitive in every area he has taught, receiving mostly first
and second division ratings in competitions.
His jazz bands have performed equally as well placing or winning most of
the jazz festivals they have attended. Mr.
Morris-Brame is in demand also as a clinician and adjudicator, being asked to
clinic bands and judge auditions across the area.
As a musician, Mr. Morris-Brame has performed with many
wind bands, choirs, orchestras across the three-state area, and once performed
in the famous Carnegie Hall. He has
also performed extensively with various blues and jazz bands across the area as
both a vocalist and trumpeter.
Chad Waterman
Prior to AHS, Mr. Waterman taught for six years at the middle school, high
school, and collegiate levels in Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. He holds
a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Grand Valley State University,
Allendale Michigan, and a double Masters of Music Degree in Music Education and
Performance from The University of Akron, Ohio. At Akron, Mr. Waterman
worked as a graduate assistant in the percussion department with Dr. Larry
Snider, Director of Percussion Studies, and Matthew Dudack, Artistic Director of
the Steelband. While a graduate assistant, he taught undergraduate private
lessons, percussion ensemble, the Akron Drumline, and assisted with the
University of Akron Steelband where he conducted, composed, and arranged for the
band. As a musician, Mr. Waterman is a freelance steeldrum performer, and
continues to play other facets of percussion when time allows. He lives
with his wife Sarah in North Fort Worth with their cat Chester.
Nathan Burum
Nathan Burum is director of the Concert and Varsity Bands at AHS and is
director at South Davis and Swift Elementary Schools. Prior to coming to
AHS, Mr. Burum taught Band at Ferguson Junior High and Williams Elementary for
two years. Mr. Burum is very familiar with the successful bands in the
area as he is a product of the Arlington Independent School District having
attended Butler Elementary, Shackelford Junior High, and graduating
from Lamar High School. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas
Tech University where he studied under Anthony Brittin and Christopher Smith.
At Tech Mr. Burum performed under the direction of Keith Bearden with the
Concert Band, Court Jesters, and the Goin’ Band from Raiderland where he was
Section Leader for one year and Band Wagon Driver for two years. He was
also a student assistant for four years working for the School of Music and Dean
of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. He was a member of Kappa
Kappa Psi and held the positions of Rush Chairman and Marching Festival
Chairman. He currently performs with the Mansfield Wind Symphony
and is a member of TMEA, TBA, and UEA. Mr. Burum comes from a long line of
educators who teach or have taught in Arlington and the surrounding area.
For fun Mr. Burum likes to golf and play racquetball, attend major sporting
events, and serve in his church orchestra.
