About Us
The Cedar Park Winds Community Band (a 501c3 non-profit) was founded in 2007 and is primarily composed of music educators and Austin-area professional musicians. Additionally, the band serves as a musical outlet for local professionals from a vast spectrum of careers.
The ensemble has performed at the Texas Bandmasters Convention in 2013 and at the Midwest Band and Orchestra clinic in 2017 as well as the 75th Annual Texas Bandmasters Convention during summer 2022.
Jeremy Spicer
Conductor
Mr. Jeremy Spicer is a Magna cum Laude graduate from Texas State University and is the owner of SASI, The Leadership People, LLC. SASI is a student leadership consulting firm focusing on the empowerment of young leaders. SASI believes that students become empowered to succeed in their organization and their personal lives when they are properly equipped with a deeper knowledge and understanding of people, organizations, systems, and processes.
Chris Yee
Co-Founder & Assistant Conductor
Christopher Yee is the Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School and co-founder of the Cedar Park Winds Community Band along side founder Manuel San Luis. He is also a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association Board of Directors and is honored to serve Texas band directors and students through board membership
In addition to his responsibilities with SASI, Mr. Spicer is honored to serve as the Director and Co-Conductor of the Cedar Park Winds (CPW) alongside Chris Yee. CPW was founded in 2007 and has grown in both size and quality performing free concerts for local music students and their families. The Cedar Park Winds was invited to perform at the 2013 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention and at the 2017 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Mr. Spicer is the former Director of Bands at Vandegrift High School. Under Mr. Spicer’s direction, the marching band was named the 2013 University Interscholastic League 5A State Marching Band Champion, Class Champion (Class A, AA, and AAA) and Finalist in Bands of America Regional and Super Regional Competitions. The Wind Ensemble placed third in the state at the 2013 Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band Competition and was named a National Winner in the 2012 Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Competition.
Prior to his appointment at Vandegrift, Mr. Spicer spent eight years as a member of the staff at Cedar Park High School. While at Cedar Park he served as the Conductor of the Symphonic Winds and the Director of both the Marching and Jazz Ensembles. During his tenure the marching band was a consistent finalist at both the UIL State Marching Contest and BOA Regional and Super-Regional competitions. The marching band is the 2006 recipient of the Sudler Shield, an international award for marching excellence awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Mr. Spicer has been very active in DCI, beginning his drum corps career playing mellophone in the Santa Clara Vanguard. After performing, Mr. Spicer has served on the design team for The Cadets and Crossmen and brass staffs of the Boston Crusaders, Carolina Crown, Santa Clara Vanguard and Southwind. Mr. Spicer has served in various capacities ranging from Brass Instructor to Assistant Brass Caption Head.
Mr. Spicer is active in the United States as a clinician and adjudicator. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He lives in Cedar Park with his wife Elizabeth, their daughter, Coral, and their son, Aiden.
Born and raised in Klein, Texas, Christopher received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York where he studied trumpet with Frank Campos. Upon graduation in 2005, he began teaching middle school band in Austin, Texas as an assistant band director at Canyon Ridge Middle School under the mentorship of Amy Allison Rivera. In 2010, Christopher opened Four Points Middle School as its Director of Bands and served in that position until 2017. The Four Points Middle School Wind Ensemble, under Mr. Yee’s leadership was invited to perform at the 2015 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Christopher was thrilled to be added to the Cedar Park High School Band staff by his mentor Steve Wessels in 2017. The Timberwolf Marching Band, under Mr. Yee’s directorship, was crowned Champion of the 2019 Conference 5A State Marching Contest. Most recently, the Cedar Park High School Saxophone Ensemble was invited to perform at the 2021 Western International Band Clinic and the Timberwolf Marching Band claimed their 4th consecutive 5A State Marching Band Championship.
Christopher co-founded the Cedar Park Winds in 2007 with Manuel C. San Luis. Since then, the band has grown in both size and quality performing free concerts for local music students and their families. The Cedar Park Winds was invited to perform at the 2013 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention and the 2017 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. This Fall, the Cedar Park winds accepted an invitation to perform at the Texas Bandmasters Association’s 75th Annual Convention in July of 2022.
Christopher enjoys conducting all-region bands, teaching summer band camps, serving as a clinician for local band programs, and teaching / writing curriculum for the SASi Leadership Company. He lives in Leander, Texas with his wife Jenna and two sons Noah and Ashton.