Kristen Boulet (Head Band Manager)
Kristen Boulet is a professional clarinetist and woodwind specialist in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She maintains a large clarinet studio in the Southlake, Northwest and Lewisville ISD’s. She is a freelance artist across the metroplex on multiple woodwind instruments and has performed in various ensembles. She is an original member of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. She also performed with the Texas Wind Symphony for 14 seasons. Being a member of these organizations, Kristen has performed in various states across the nation and overseas in Switzerland. She is a graduate from Texas Tech University, 1990, where she received her BME in Music Education. Over the years, she has studied clarinet with Jesse Youngblood, Forest Aten, Keith McCarty, Robert Walzel, Greg Raden, and Andy Crisanti.
Kristen Boulet began her career as a band director working with middle and high school students in Burleson and Lewisville ISD where her program grew to over 400 students at Huffines Middle School. Kristen is also the founder of the North Texas Clarinet Academy where she facilitates mini camps for beginners, directors and clinics for all-state preparation. Within this organization, she helps provide scholarships for lessons and equipment for those in need. She is also a flute and sax player which has allowed her the ability to perform in over 45 musicals in her career. Kristen has had many students make the all-state organization, go on to be performing clarinetists and music educators across the state. She is a member of TBS, MPE, ICA, and TMEA.
Jim Boulet (Percussion Manager)
Jim Boulet is a private percussion instructor and freelance performer in the DFW area. He retired in May of 2022 from band directing after spending 29 years in the profession. He was the Director of Bands at Northwest High School in Justin, TX for seven years, and directed bands at Byron Nelson High School, Grapevine High School, Carroll High School and Carroll Middle School.
Mr. Boulet holds his degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he studied with Ray Lichtenwalter, Bobby Francis and Dr. Mike Varner.
Since 2022, Mr. Boulet has a large studio of private percussion students and contracts and assists for several school districts, including Argyle, Southlake Carroll, Grapevine-Colleyville, Ft. Worth and many others.
He enjoys watching his favorite Basketball team The Dallas Mavericks, traveling and spending time with his wife Kristen, their two children Grace and Michael, and hanging out with his awesome dog MO.
Past Youth Winds Band Managers
Ben Underbrink is in his 4th year of teaching and 1st year at Forney High School. Prior to teaching at Forney, he spent his first 3 years with Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas. While at Woods, all concert bands received sweepstakes and the marching band was a 6A State Marching Contest Finalist. During those years, his responsibilities included assisting with the Wildcat Marching Band, directing the Concert Winds and Symphonic Band, teaching AP Music Theory, and conducting the school musicals.
Ben Underbrink received his undergraduate degree in music education from Texas A&M University – Commerce. During his time at Commerce, Mr. Underbrink was a two-year drum major of the Pride Marching Band and four-year member of the Wind Ensemble. He also worked as a marching technician for Berkner, Denison, and Wakeland High School, and taught private lessons in Sulphur Springs, Denison, Forney, and Frisco ISD. Mr. Underbrink has served as a leadership instructor since 2012, joined the System Blue leadership team with Frank Troyka in 2015, and has taught at summer leadership camps and music conferences including those held in Texas, California, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, and Hawaii.
Ben Underbrink is a former member of the Lone Star Youth Winds.
Jerime Harris graduated Summa Cum Laude from SE Oklahoma State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music in percussion and piano and his Master’s in Business Administration, studying under Dr. Marc White, Dr. James Wintle, and Dr. Mary Ann Craige. Harris has performed with the Metropolitan Winds, Lone Star Wind Orchestra, several churches, and in the jazz combo “Exit 42.”
Since 2010, Mr. Harris resides in the DFW area and has a large studio of private percussion students and contracts and assists for several school districts, including Frisco, Lewisville, Little Elm, Carroll, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Highland Park, and many other school districts. He is also currently a composer for MRNS Music, writes and records secular and church music and is director of music and arts at his church, New Covenant Dallas. He has released several albums available on streaming, including his most recent self-published collaboration “Not About Us”, in which he composed, orchestrated, and played all of the music on the album.
Amy Icossipentarhos is proud to serve as Director of Bands at Westwood Junior High School in Richardson, Texas. Icossipentarhos grew up under the tutelage of Rodney Klett at Georgetown High School. Amy graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, and was a member of the flute studio under Lisa Garner-Santa. During her academic career at Texas Tech, she performed with the Symphonic and Concert Bands under the direction of Dr. Christopher Anderson and Dr. Keith Dye, while also participating in the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and Court Jesters Basketball Band.
Prior to her appointment at Westwood Junior High School, Amy Icossipentarhos served as Associate Director of Bands at both Ted Polk Middle School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and Hendrick Middle School in Plano ISD. Bands under her direction have received consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards and other top awards and honors at festivals and contests around the metroplex. Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educator’s Association and Tau Beta Sigma. She remains connected to her alma mater and has been on staff with the Texas Tech Band & Orchestra Camp, which is currently in its 78th year of existence, for the past ten years.
Nathan Hinojosa is proud to serve as Artistic Administrator for the Lone Star Youth Winds. He is the Assistant Director of Bands at Westwood Junior High School in Richardson, Texas. Nathan was born in Lubbock, TX but grew up in San Antonio. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. During his academic career at UNT, he studied with trumpet professor Dr. Jason Bergman and performed in the Concert Band, Brass Band, Green Brigade Marching Band, and the basketball and volleyball pep bands.
During the summers of 2014, ’15, and ’16, Nathan toured the United States with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps as a member of the hornline. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educator’s Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
In his free time, Nathan enjoys exercising, playing basketball, and cooking. He has learned a lot about what to do (and not do) in the kitchen from Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.
Past Youth Winds Artistic Administrators
Prior to his appointment within the Lake Highlands cluster, Taylor Williamson was pursing his undergraduate degree in Music Education with an emphasis in trumpet performance from Baylor University. As a student at Baylor, Williamson received the two highest honors in the School of Music: the Presser Foundation Award and Outstanding Senior Male. At Baylor, he had the opportunity to play with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, Baylor Wind Ensemble, Baylor University Golden Wave Band, Baylor Courtside Players, and the Baylor “Gold” Trumpet Ensemble. With the Baylor Wind Ensemble, he performed at the highest levels possible, including the stages of TMEA and CBDNA. Williamson has also played numerous concerts throughout the US with the Baylor Wind Ensemble, including a stunning concert at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony in Nashville, Tennessee.
Taylor Williamson competed in the National Trumpet Competition Ensemble division 3 times, advancing to the finals each year, placing 5th (2011), 3rd (2012), and 1st (2013). Additionally, he was an undergraduate staff member of the Golden Wave Marching Band and worked closely with the directors contributing to recruitment of new members, record keeping, teaching marching and music to the band, and planning of all trips and events. Williamson is a composer, arranger, and professional photographer as well.
