Denton ISD has selected Lance Walker as the next Director of Bands at Denton High School. Mr. Walker replaces Brian Wilson, who is pursuing another opportunity.
Mr. Walker will assume his role as Director of Bands at Denton High beginning July 7. He has most recently served as the Director of Bands at Paschal High School since 2021, and he has 16 years of experience in public education.
"I'm incredibly honored to join the Denton High School family,” Mr. Walker said. “Denton High has a long history of excellence, and I am excited to continue that tradition. I can't wait to start this new chapter with this fantastic community."
Mr. Walker began his career as the Director of Bands at Rockdale Junior High School in 2009. While at Rockdale Junior High, Mr. Walker guided the Symphonic Band to their first Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) State Honor Band finalist selection in school history.
He spent three years at Rockdale Junior High before joining North Mesquite High School in 2012 as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies. At North Mesquite, Mr. Walker helped grow the band program from 255 students in 2012 to 430 students in 2019. In addition, Mr. Walker helped North Mesquite earn seven consecutive University Interscholastic League (UIL) sweepstakes awards from 2014-2020.
In 2021, Mr. Walker joined Paschal High as the Director of Bands, leading them to four consecutive UIL sweepstakes awards for the first time in 50 years. Mr. Walker also led Paschal’s three concert bands to UIL sweepstakes awards at the UIL concert and sightreading evaluation – marking the first time in the school’s 103-year history that all three concert bands, in addition to full orchestra and marching band, received sweepstakes in the same school year.
Mr. Walker received his bachelor’s degree in music education from West Texas A&M University. In 2022, he was named Paschal High’s Visual and Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
“We are very excited to have Mr. Walker join us as the next director of the Denton High School band program,” said Eddy Russell, Director of Fine Arts. “Mr. Walker is an experienced high school Director of Bands with a proven record of success. We are thrilled to have him lead the Pride of Bronco Country.”
