John Vanhook, Director of Bands
vanhooj@hpisd.org
John Vanhook is a 1994 graduate of the University of Arkansas with Bachelor of Science in Education. He completed his Masters Degree in Music Education at Texas A&M University at Commerce in 2004. Mr. Vanhook is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi national honorary fraternity for college band members, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America, and Pi Kappa Lambda collegiate honor society. He is also a member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the National Band Association. Mr. Vanhook is the Director of Bands at Highland Park Middle School in Dallas, TX, where he oversees all aspects of the band program. Prior to Highland Park, Mr. Vanhook taught in Plano, Garland, and Mesquite, TX, where his bands consistently received superior ratings. He and his wife Jennifer reside in McKinney, Texas with their son, Joel and their two dogs, Dandi and Dottie.
Lindsay Pfaff, Assistant Band Director
pfaffl@hpisd.org
Lindsay Pfaff is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education. She completed her Masters Degree in Music Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma. Lindsay is a native Oklahoman having graduated from Durant High School and is a proud alum of the Pride of Durant Band Program. Ms. Pfaff will be beginning her tenth year as a music educator this school year (2022-2023). She has taught in Oklahoma, Texas and internationally in Cairo, Egypt. Ms. Pfaff is the Assistant Band Director at Highland Park Middle School in Dallas, TX, where she conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches beginning flutes, double reeds and saxophones. Prior to Highland Park, Ms. Pfaff taught in the central Texas area as a head director, where her ensembles received consecutive UIL Sweepstakes Awards. Lindsay is an active clinician throughout Texas and enjoys working with band students of all ages. Ms. Pfaff enjoys traveling and loves exploring different parts of the world in her free time.
Lisa Stiles, Assistant High School Band Director
stilesl@hpisd.org
Lisa Stiles comes to Highland Park through a career that has allowed her to participate in many different facets of music education. She has 30 years of experience in JH and HS Band and Orchestra settings and has worked in districts such Cypress Fairbanks, Lamar Consolidated, Katy and Fort Bend. While at Dulles MS in FBISD, Lisa’s Honor Band and Symphony Orchestra were chosen to be perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL. Through those performances, the Chinese Cultural Bridge Center extended an invitation for the Symphony Orchestra to participate in a tour of China. The Symphony Orchestra also placed 2nd in the State Honor Orchestra competition that same year. While working at McDonald JH in Katy ISD, the Honor Band advanced to Area and placed 10th in the 2C State Honor Band Competition. All performing ensembles under her direction have consistently earned Sweepstakes and many other awards.
Lisa served as President of Region 13 for three years and is currently an active clinician, adjudicator for TMAA and is a member of TMEA, TBA, ATPE and Phi Beta Mu Service Fraternity. She has a son, Nigel, who is an outstanding musician and is in his 3rd year of college pursuing a Finance degree.
Lisa’s outside interests includes listening to live music, exercising, golfing, fly fishing, riding motorcycle through the countryside spending time her family and performing with the Houston Texans Pep Band, Deep Steel Thunder.