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Todd Parrish
Todd Parrish
Current Director (2024~current)
Todd Parrish is a distinguished orchestra director with a wealth of experience and expertise in the field. A graduate of San Angelo Central High School in West Texas, Parrish began his musical journey as a violinist in their orchestra program. His dedication and talent were evident through his participation in UIL solo and ensemble competitions, as well as his inclusion in both the All-Region Orchestra and the All-State Symphony Orchestra.
Parrish holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma and a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Arizona. His teaching career has spanned a diverse range of educational levels, from elementary through collegiate, across several states including Illinois, Virginia, and most recently, Orlando, Florida.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Parrish is a prolific composer and arranger, with over 50 published orchestra compositions and arrangements to his name. His works have been performed by school orchestras nationwide and featured at prestigious events such as the American String Teachers National Conference and the Midwest Clinic. Parrish has shared his expertise through workshops on music publishing, rehearsal techniques, and new music reading sessions at both state and national conferences.
In his spare time, He edits and publishes orchestra music with Carl Fischer Music. He is very excited to be back in Texas with his wife, Kate, and start his new journey in Johnson High School.
Gordon Handte
Gordon Handte
Assistant Director
Gordon Handte is the assistant orchestra director at Johnson High School. Mr. Handte grew up in Midland, TX where attended Legacy High School. During his time at Legacy, he played viola in the Symphony Orchestra and Trombone in the honor band where he developed his passion for music.
After graduating high school, Mr. Handte attended UT Permian Basin where he served as principal trombonist for the University Philharmonic and the Falcon Wind Ensemble. He graduated from UTPB Summa Cum Laude with a Major in Music and a Minor in Mathematics.
This is Mr. Handte's first year at Johnson High School. For the past two years, he has served as the Orchestra Director at Harris Middle School and assisted the mariachi program. During Mr. Handte’s tenure, the Harris Orchestra admitted its first students to the TMEA All-Region Orchestra and received its first UIL Sweepstakes award in the program’s history.
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