JOSEPH McKELVEY
Director Of Bands
Mr. McKelvey is originally from Alice, Texas and attended college at Texas A&M University at Kingsville, where he studied Clarinet with Dr. Nancy King-Sanders and graduated in August 2001 with cum laude honors. He is currently in his 19th year of teaching and has been Director Of Bands at Heritage Middle School since June 2011. Under Mr. McKelvey's direction, the Heritage Honor Band has received first divisions in both concert and sight reading at U.I.L. and two sweepstakes awards in 2015 & 2017, as well as superior ratings and Outstanding in Class at the Lone Star Showcase of Music in Dallas, Texas competing against other bands from around the state and country. The newly formed Heritage Wind Ensemble earned a first division at UIL Concert in 2018, as well as Superior Rating, Outstanding Performance Award and Grand Champions at the 2018 River City Music Festival at the Lila Cockrell Theater in San Antonio, Texas. The Heritage Beginner Band under his and Mr. Lacy's direction received superior ratings and Outstanding In Class at the Alamo Showcase of Music in 2015. In 2018, under his direction with the assistance of Mr. Lacy and Mr. Atcheson, the Heritage Beginner Band received a Superior Rating, Outstanding Performance Award and Grand Champions at the 2018 Bluebonnet American Classics Music Festival. Mr. McKelvey was previously the Director Of Bands at Mountain Valley Middle School in New Braunfels (Comal ISD) where his bands received superior first division ratings at UIL concert contests as well as earning superior performance awards and Runner-Up Outstanding In Class at the Lone Star Showcase of Music in Dallas, Texas competing against great bands from all over the State of Texas. He also taught in Beeville ISD for three years where his bands earned sweepstakes ratings at UIL concert and sight reading contest and advanced to the area level of the TMEA State Honor Band Competition. Mr. McKelvey also taught in Lockhart ISD where his beginner band received superior ratings at the Pride Of Texas Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Mr. McKelvey holds memberships in the Texas Music Educator's Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmaster's Association (TBA), Texas Music Adjudicator's Association (TMAA), the Association of Young American Organists, the American Guild of Organists, International Clarinet Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. His main instruments are clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, piano, and organ. Mr. McKelvey is beginning his 20th teaching year, and 10th year at Heritage where he directs the Heritage Wind Ensemble and assists with Honor Band, Symphonic I and Symphonic II, Director of Jazz Studies and the Heritage Jazz Band, and teaches beginning woodwind classes.
DONALD LACY
Associate Director Of Bands
Mr. Lacy was born in Wurzburg, Germany to a military family. His family later moved to Killeen, Texas. He started playing the trombone with the Palo Alto Middle School band and later the Ellison High School and Shoemaker High School bands. After high school, Mr. Lacy attended Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where he received a Bachelor of Music Education. In college, he participated in the Bobcat Marching Band, Basketball Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and the Men's Choir. Prior to joining the Heritage Hurricane Band family, he was the Assistant Band Director at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio ISD. Mr. Lacy is in his 7th year of teaching and starting his 7th year as Heritage Associate Director Of Bands. Symphonic I under his direction has received Excellent ratings at both U.I.L. and Lone Star Showcase of Music in Dallas, Texas. The 2018 Honor Band, under his direction, received a sweepstakes rating at the UIL Concert/Sight Reading Contest, as well as receiving a Superior Rating and Outstanding Performance award at the River City Music Festival at the Lila Cockrell Theater in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Lacy directs the Honor Band, and assists with Wind Ensemble, Symphonic I and co-conducts Symphonic II, and teaches beginning brass classes. Mr. Lacy holds memberships in the Texas Music Educator's Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmaster's Association (TBA), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Lacy is in his 8th year teaching and in his 7th year at Heritage. He resides in New Braunfels, Texas with his wife, Melissa, who is a choir director, and 5 year old son, Donny.
DOUGLAS ATCHESO
Assistant Director Of Bands
Mr. Atcheson is starting his 6th year of teaching and his fourth year as Assistant Director Of Bands at Heritage Middle School in East Central ISD. Previously, he was Director Of Bands at Mount De Sales Academy in Macon, Georgia. Mr. Atcheson is a graduate of Georgia Southern University where he studied with Professors Matt D. Fallin, Robert Dunham, and Colin McKenzie.
At Georgia Southern University, Mr. Atcheson was the recipient of the Gretsch Percussion Scholarship and Carol A. Carter Music Scholarship. Also a member of the graduate school of Music, he served as a graduate assistant and Percussion Technician with the Southern Pride Marching Band.
Mr. Atcheson performed and held leadership roles with many ensembles at GSU including: GSU Percussion Ensemble, GSU Jazz Band, GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and GSU Southern Pride Marching Band. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Music in Music Technology.
Mr. Atcheson enjoys listening to music on his record player, playing fetch with his dog Banjo and indulging in music recording and production.