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Michelle Ross, Director of Bands
Originally from the midwest, Mrs. Ross earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Missouri and her Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she studied under James Keene. Mrs. Ross is a flute specialist and has performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Louis Compton Heights Concert Band, and the Carrollton Wind Symphony.
Mrs. Ross started working at South Grand Prairie High School in 2012, and was named Director of Bands in 2018. Her duties include teaching and conducting the Varsity Wind Ensemble and assisting with the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. Ensembles under her direction consistently earn superior ratings at UIL Marching Contest and UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest, and most recently the SGP Wind Ensemble was recognized by the Foundation for Music Education as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence Wind Band Contest.
Prior to her time in Grand Prairie ISD, Mrs. Ross worked as an assistant band director in Lubbock, TX at Estacado High School and then as an assistant band director at North Forney High School in Forney, TX. She currently resides in Mansfield, TX with her husband, Scott Ward.
Billy Laird, Assistant Director
Mr. Laird is originally from El Paso, Texas, where he graduated from Franklin High School. He achieved numerous awards in the band, also earning membership in the Texas All-State Tenor-Bass Choir. After high school, Mr. Laird attended the University of Texas at Arlington, earned his Bachelor of Music degree, and graduated Cum Laude.
Teaching since 2008, Billy Laird is Assistant Band Director at South Grand Prairie High School. There he directs the Wind Symphony, and assists with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band. South Grand Prairie High School's Warrior Band has experienced great success in the past 5-10 years consistently earning Superior Ratings at UIL in both Marching and Concert.
Mr. Laird often serves as an adjudicator for marching band, concert band, and solo and ensemble contests around DFW. He also performs as a freelance musician at local churches. He enjoys spending free time with his wife and children in Mansfield, TX. Beyond music, Mr. Laird enjoys the outdoors, landscaping/lawn work, and cheering for the Mavs, Rangers, Stars, and Dallas Cowboys.
Alan Chrzanowski, Assistant Director
Alan Chrzanowski was born and raised in Arlington, TX. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at Arlington. While attending UTA, he studied with Dr. Rick Bogard, performed with various ensembles, and assisted in running the Maverick Marching Band. He has been teaching since 2010 and is currently in his 6th year at South Grand Prairie High School where he assists with all components of the Warrior Band program.
An advocate of the marching arts, Alan has been a long time freelance drill writer and has a strong Drum Corps background in both performance and education. He performed with The Cavaliers (2007-2008). Alan then taught began teaching in the Drum Corps community with the The Cavaliers under visual designers Michael Gaines and Andy Toth (Visual Staff 2009-2015, Assistant Visual Caption Head 2016-2017, and Visual Caption Head 2018), Pacific Crest under drill designer Steven Estudillo (2019), and consulted with many groups including Music City, and the Blue Knights.
Jesus Martinez, Percussion Director
A Texas native with a master's degree in Music Composition from Southern Methodist University, Jesus Martinez has served as Composer-in-Residence for both the Alabama Orchestra Association and Irving Symphony Orchestra. Martinez previously composed "The Sixth Floor," which premiered at the 30th anniversary of The Sixth Floor Museum on February 18, 2019. In November 2019, Martinez was commissioned by The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza to compose a film score for the 16-minute film compilation of familiar and seldom seen footage. The score “3 Hours in Dallas,” was performed live to the film by the Sam Houston High School Percussion Ensemble on the eve of the 56th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination. Jesus is a three-time quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy/Grammy Awards.
Jesus is the percussion director at South Grand Prairie High School, is a Vic Firth education artist, and is published by C. Alan Publications. Jesus resides in Lewisville, TX with his wife Sarah and son, Aiden.
Austin Horton, Color Guard Supervisor
Austin Horton currently resides in Dallas, Texas. He has been involved with the marching arts for the past 14 years. His performance experience includes Eclectix Independent, Black Gold, CGT Dallas, Origins, and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently the Color Guard Director at South Grand Prairie High School and Grand Prairie High School in north Texas, as well as being a designer and choreographer for The Cadets Drum Corps and Owasso High School in Oklahoma. Austin is very excited to continue his work journey with the Warrior Color Guard!