Jerry Whorton

Melissa ISD Director of Fine Arts & Bands

Jerry Whorton has served as the Director of Bands for Melissa Independent School District since March 2016. In this role, he oversees the Mighty Cardinal Marching Band and the HS Wind Ensemble. In the spring of 2021, Jerry was promoted to the Director of Fine Arts and Bands for Melissa ISD.

Before his position at Melissa ISD, Mr. Whorton was Director of Fine Arts and Bands at Winona Independent School District in Winona, Texas. He comes from a family of educators, with his parents being retired band directors and his three siblings currently working as a high school principal, middle school band director, and elementary teacher.

Mr. Whorton's bands have consistently achieved 1st divisions at UIL competition throughout his career. They have received 16 consecutive UIL Sweepstakes awards, demonstrating their exceptional musical abilities. Under his guidance, his programs have experienced growth in both size and musicianship. Mr. Whorton's students regularly earn chairs in all-region, area, and state bands, achieve first divisions at the Region Solo & Ensemble competition, and qualify for the Texas State Solo & Ensemble competition. His concert bands have also excelled, winning the TMEA Region and Area Honor Band competitions and placing twice as State Finalists in the TMEA State Honor Band competition.

Additionally, Mr. Whorton's bands have been recognized in ATSSB's Outstanding Performance Series concert competitions, winning in 2013, 2017, and 2018. In 2018, the Mighty Cardinal Band achieved 6th place at the UIL State Marching Contest. This marked the band's first-ever advancement to the 4A Finals Competition and their highest ranking at the State Competition. In 2020, the Mighty Cardinal Band placed 2nd at the Texas State Marching Contest, receiving a Silver Medal. In 2021, they placed 3rd at the Texas State Marching Contest and received a Bronze Medal.

Mr. Whorton earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Northwestern State University in 2006. While at Northwestern State, he studied under esteemed faculty members such as William E. Brent, Dr. Kevin Richardson, Dr. Caroline Beatty, and Dr. J. Mark Thompson. He actively participated in various musical endeavors, including serving as the Head Drum Major for the 300-member "Spirit of Northwestern," playing tenor trombone in the wind ensemble, and serving as the principal bass trombonist of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra.

Jerry and his wife, Alexandria, have been blessed with three children: John Landry, Delaney Grace, and Charlie Rose.

Zac Robason

Melissa ISD Associate Director of Bands & Director of Percussion Studies

Zac Robason is the Associate Director of Bands and Percussion Director for Melissa ISD. He received his Master of Music in Instrumental Performance (Percussion concentration) from New York University in New York City, School Leadership and Technology Advanced Diploma and School District Leadership Advanced Certificate from New York Institute of Technology, and his Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX.

Mr. Robason has previously taught band and percussion at East Meadow High School in East Meadow, NY, Lindenhurst High School in Lindenhurst, NY, Verona High School in Verona, NJ, and McKinney North High School in McKinney, TX. He also has extensive WGI experience and served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Spokane Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps in 2010 and Snare Technician in 2009.

Classical percussion is a huge part of having a well-rounded percussion background. Mr. Robason has studied with Jonathan Haas at New York University and the Aspen Summer Music Festival, as well as with Rob Knopper and Greg Zuber from the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed with the Queens Symphony, Chelsea Symphony, Brooklyn Symphony, Plainfield Symphony, August Symphony, New York Repertory Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Montclair, and the Westchester Band.

Mr. Robason enjoys scuba diving and spending time with his amazing wife, Melissa, and their two sons, Ethan and Benjamin.

David Landry

Melissa ISD Band Coordinator & Assistant Band Director

David Landry is in his thirty-fourth year of teaching and fifth year as an Assistant Band Director at Melissa ISD. His current responsibilities include assisting with the Mighty Cardinal Marching Band, teaching beginning band, and assisting with all concert ensembles in the Melissa ISD band programs.

Mr. Landry has teaching experience at the middle and high school levels in Louisiana and Texas in conferences 2A through 6A. As head and associate director, Mr. Landry’s groups have achieved much success over the years, including Sweepstakes Awards in Louisiana and UIL Sweepstakes Awards in Texas, state-level First Division performances in Louisiana, six appearances at the UIL State Marching Finals in Conferences 3A and 4A, UIL 3A State Marching Champions in 2002, 2004, 2006, and TMEA Honor Band in 2003.

Individually, he was selected as Lake Arthur High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2009 and the Louisiana District V Band Director of the Year for 2010-2011. He was inducted into Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters Fraternity, in 2012. Mr. Landry remains active as an adjudicator and clinician in Louisiana and Texas. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, the Texas Music Educator’s Association, and the Association of Texas Small School Bands.

A native of Andrus Cove, LA, Mr. Landry is a proud graduate of Lake Arthur High School (1984), holds a BMEd. from McNeese State University (1989), and an MMEd from the University of Southern Mississippi (1996). He currently lives in McKinney, TX, and is especially proud of his former students’ adult successes.

Dalia Lee

Melissa Middle School Assistant Band Director

Dalia Lee is in her second year of teaching and is excited to begin her first year as an Assistant Band Director at Melissa Middle School!

Mrs. Lee is a native of North Texas, having graduated from Frisco ISD. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. While at SFA, Mrs. Lee served as Clarinet Section Leader of the Lumberjack Marching Band for one year and Operations Manager for two years. She was also a member of the SFA Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Orchestra of the Pines. Mrs. Lee was also invited into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and was awarded as a National Presser Foundation Scholar.

Prior to her appointment at Melissa, Mrs. Lee served as Head Middle School Director and Assistant High School Director at Brazos ISD, in Wallis, Texas. Mrs. Lee directed the middle school varsity ensemble and taught multiple beginner woodwind classes. Under her direction, the Brazos Middle School Varsity Ensemble earned Sweepstakes at their UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. Her beginner band also received a sweepstakes rating at the Yoakum Bulldog Band Invitational.

Mrs. Lee’s professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, International Clarinet Association, Woman Band Directors International, and Tau Beta Sigma.

Mrs. Lee’s hobbies include weightlifting, crafting, walking her dogs, Lady and Bean, and spending time with her husband, Kyle.

Clay Singletary

Melissa ISD Coordinator of Indoor Marching Arts / Color Guard Director

Clay Singletary serves as Director of Color Guards and Indoor Marching Arts at Melissa High School. Mr. Singletary is a Rockwall native and graduated from Rockwall Heath High School. He went on to graduate with a Bachelors in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a Masters of Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Mr. Singletary was a member of The Lumberjack Marching Band under the direction of Dr. David Campo, a four-year member of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Fred J. Allen, as a well as a member of the SFASU Orchestra of the Pines under Dr. Gene H. Moon. Mr. Singletary performed with various ensembles including the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, CGT Denton Independent World Winterguard, Purpetual Motion Winterguard, and has taught multiple summers at ensembles such as the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps and Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps.

Prior to his appointment at Melissa, Mr. Singletary served as Associate Director of Bands at Little Elm High School and Director of Color Guards/Assistant Band Director at Allen High School. His concert bands received consistent superior ratings at UIL Concert & Sight Reading during his eight years with Allen and one year in Little Elm.

Mr. Singletary has worked with numerous groups in Texas as a designer, choreographer, and clinician. In his eight years at Allen, the Colorguard program has been a consistent North Texas Colorguard Association Champion, and WGI Medalist. In 2016, the Allen Marching Band were honored to perform in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. In 2017, the Allen Colorguard was the NTCA National A Champion, WGI Dallas Regional Scholastic A Class Champion, and a WGI World Championship Finalist in Scholastic A Class. Most recently, Mr. Singletary taught and worked with the Little Elm High School Winterguard program which is a WGI World Championship Finalist program and North Texas Colorguard Association Medalist.

Mr. Singletary is an active member of Texas Music Educators Association, as well as professionally affiliated with Phi Beta Mu National Honor Society, Tau Beta Sigma National Music Sorority, and Theta Chi Fraternity. In 2015, Mr. Singletary was recognized as Teacher of the Year at Allen High School.

When Mr. Singletary is not teaching, he enjoys exercising, cooking, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, and his dog, Seaton.

Sasha Blankenship

Melissa Middle School Director of Bands

Sasha Blankenship began her career as the Assistant Band Director at Westwood Junior High, where her newly formed Concert Band quickly received their initial 1st Division Superior ratings. She spent six years as the Head Director of Bands at Parkhill Junior High School. Mrs. Blankenship helped grow the enrollment in the Parkhill Bands by 125%, and the Symphonic Band consistently received “Sweepstakes” at their UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contests. During her time at Parkhill, Mrs. Blankenship was nominated for Teacher of the Year and awarded the PTA Life Achievement Award. She was recently awarded the Pearce Community Women’s League Star Teacher.

A product of Richardson schools and fine arts programs, Mrs. Blankenship graduated twelfth in her class with Honors from Lake Highlands High School, where she was a Texas Music Scholar and a member of many national organizations such as NHS and Mu Alpha Theta.

Mrs. Blankenship received her Bachelor in Music Education from the University of Houston and graduated summa cum laude. She was also accepted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. She has studied clarinet with Paul Garner, Associate Principal Clarinet of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Randall Griffin, Principal Clarinet of the Houston Ballet Company. Her professional affiliations include TMEA and the American Federation of Musicians.

Sasha is married to Joshua Blankenship, Director of Bands at Lowery Freshman Center in Allen, TX. They have a daughter named Anya and a cat named Arya.

Bailey Hicks

Melissa Middle School Assistant Band Director

Bailey Hicks is an Assistant Band Director at Melissa Middle School. She also teaches 6th grade beginner band classes at the Melissa Sixth Grade Center.

Mrs. Hicks was born and raised in central Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she graduated with High Distinction and a minor in Spanish. While at Indiana University, Mrs. Hicks studied percussion with Kevin Bobo, John Tafoya, Michael Spiro, and Steve Houghton. She was also a member of the IU Concert Bands, Marching Hundred, Percussion Ensemble, Afro-Cuban Folkloric Percussion Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble, and Brazilian Percussion Ensemble.

Prior to joining the Melissa Band program, Mrs. Hicks taught both middle and high school band for five years in Tatum, Texas, where she spent two years as an assistant band director and three years as the Director of Bands. During her tenure as Director of Bands, Mrs. Hicks directed the high school varsity concert and marching bands, the middle school non-varsity band, and taught multiple beginner classes.

Outside of work, Bailey likes to knit, read, do yoga, conquer escape rooms, and spend time with her husband, Neil, and their cat, Rory.

Michelle Hanegan

Melissa Middle School Assistant Band Director

Michelle Hanegan is the Assistant Director of Bands at Melissa Middle School in Melissa, Texas. She also teaches 6th grade beginner band classes at the Melissa Sixth Grade Center. Prior to her position in Melissa ISD, Ms. Hanegan was the Director of Bands at Reed Middle School in Duncanville ISD where she had taught since 2005.

With Ms. Hanegan's guidance, the Reed Symphonic 1 Band consistently advanced to the Texas Music Educators Association State Area Honor Band Contest, most recently 2019. The Symphonic 1 Band was consistently recognized by the Foundation for Music Education as a Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Contest, most recently 2019. The Reed Bands consistently received Division 1 ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest and the Birdville ISD North Texas Festival of Distinction. Her students earned many of the highest chairs in the TMEA Region 20 All-Region Middle School Bands and earned Division 1 ratings at Solo and Ensemble Contest. Many of her students reached the highest level of success as a Texas All-State Musician. Ms. Hanegan assisted with teaching the Duncanville High School Marching Band, performing in numerous UIL State Marching Band finals and earning bronze medals in 2006 and 2010. 

Ms. Hanegan is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Educators Association. She served as the TMEA Region 20 Middle School Band Coordinator from 2018-2022. She has served as an adjudicator for trombone on the Texas All-State Wind and Percussion Audition Panel for TMEA. She has presented numerous clinics and performed at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference. She is an Active Member for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association/University Interscholastic League. Ms. Hanegan has been a cooperating teacher for the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Southern Methodist University.

Ms. Hanegan is a trombonist in the Mansfield Wind Symphony in Mansfield, Texas under the direction of Mr. Brian Merrill. She received a Bachelor of Music Education in Music from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where she studied trombone with Mr. Don Lucas and was a member of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland under the direction of Mr. Keith Bearden.

Ms. Hanegan is very grateful for the positive impact the following mentors have made on her life professionally and personally, Dr. Tom Shine, Mr. Brian Merrill, Mr. Jeff King, Mr. David Brandon, Ms. Melodianne Mallow and the late Mr. Eddie Green.

Ms. Hanegan is looking forward to her future years in Melissa ISD!

Christopher McHenry

Melissa Middle / High School Assistant Percussion Director

Chris McHenry is the Assistant Percussion Director for Melissa ISD. He joined the Melissa ISD band staff in 2023. Before this assignment, he held positions as Associate Band Director and Percussion Director in the Rowlett Cluster of Garland ISD from 2014 to 2023 and Canton High School and Jr. High School from 2000-2014, where the high school band won 3 consecutive state championships in 2002, 2004, and 2006.

As a graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, he studied percussion under the direction of Mr. Ken Green and wind band under the direction of Mr. Bill Brent. While at NSU, he marched in the snare, and tenor lines of the NSU Drumline, played in numerous concert, jazz, and percussion ensembles, and participated in several musicals.

Mr. McHenry frequently judges around the North Texas area and has extensive experience in writing and arranging for marching percussion. He holds memberships in TMEA and PAS.

A native of St. Louis, MO, he is passionate about everything St. Louis sports, including the Cardinals and Blues. Chris currently resides in Melissa, TX, with his wife Heather and twins Kayelynn and Brayden.

Marli Dority

Melissa Middle / High School Assistant Director

Marli is a native of East Texas, having graduated from North Lamar ISD. While at NLISD, the band was the 4A Marching State Champion and 4A State Honor Band. (Drum Major)

She received her Associate of Music at Tyler Junior College and graduated Magna Cum Laude. While at TJC, Ms. Dority served as Drum Major for two consecutive seasons and as a principal clarinetist. She was also a member of the TJC Wind Ensemble, jazz ensembles, Honors College, and Apache Marching Band. During her time at TJC, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters, and the 6A State Championship Marching Exhibition. Most recently, she completed her Bachelor of Music Education at Texas A&M in Commerce, graduating Magna Cum Laude. While at TAMU-C, she served as the clarinet coalition treasurer. She was also a member of the wind ensemble, clarinet choir, and the Zeta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. During her time at Commerce, the International Clarinet Association invited the clarinet choir to perform in Reno, Nevada.

Ms. Dority has worked with various schools as a private lesson instructor, marching technician, and small ensemble teacher before her appointment with Melissa. Multiple students of Ms. Dority have received first divisions at UIL State Solo & Ensemble and region marching contests.

Ms. Dority's passion is enriching the lives of students through the avenue of music. She enjoys spending time with her pugs, Emmi and Peanut, friends, and family in her free time. She looks forward to starting her career with Melissa ISD.