Staff


Ryan Demkovich, Director of Bands

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Ryan Demkovich is currently the Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas.  Prior to his appointment at SFA, Ryan was Associate Director of Bands at Elkins High School in Fort Bend ISD for four years where they earned multiple UIL sweepstakes in both marching and concert bands and was an Area Marching Finalist.  Ryan also spent four years teaching at Alvin High School in Alvin ISD.

As a Jenison, Michigan native, Ryan was fortunate enough to be introduced to the band activity at BOA finalist and MCBA state champion, Jenison High School.  Ryan earned his Bachelor’s degree in music education from Western Michigan University and then moved to Houston, Texas in 2007 to pursue a Master’s Degree in conducting from the University of Houston.  It was there, he had the privilege of studying under some of his most influential mentors including David Bertman, Eddie Green, John Benzer, and Tom Bennett.

Ryan has also been very involved in the drum corps activity for some time.  He began his drum corps career as a baritone player in the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps in the summer of 2003.  From there he moved on to march in the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from the years of 2004-2006 where he was a two-time world champion and a Jim Ott Brass award winner.  From 2007-2009, he remained with Cavaliers as a brass instructor where he worked with David Bertman, David Clemmer, John Pasquale, Mark McGahey, and Donnie Hull. In 2010, he embarked on a new journey and took his talents to the bay… As a visual instructor with the Santa Clara Vanguard.   He is currently in his 11th year as an instructor with SCV as they continue their pursuit of another world championship.

Ryan currently resides in Houston, Texas with his fiancee Cyndi and his dog Biscuit.  He spends his free time as a Houston Rockets season ticket holder, doing CrossFit, and enjoying Houston’s amazing culinary scene.

William White, Associate Band Director


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William received his Bachelor of Music Education degree at the Conservatory of Music-University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2015. As a student, William was part of the UMKC Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble and the “KCSQ” saxophone quartet. In addition, William played alto and soprano saxophone in the 3 0’Clock Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of jazz legend Bobby Watson. Upon completion of his degree William has been a director of the saxophone ensemble at the UMKC Summer Saxophone Symposium, led by Zach Shemon, since 2015.

In the summer of 2013, William marched his age-out year of DCI with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. He held the position of drum major, and performed in DCI finals, placing 11th place.

In 2017 William attended the University of Houston as a Graduate Teaching Assistant pursuing a master’s degree in Wind Conducting. While in Houston, William studied with internationally known music pedagogues such as David Clemmer, Cory Meals, David Bertman, John Benzer, and Howard Pollack.

Before his arrival at Stephen F. Austin High School, William served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Bellevue East High School in Nebraska, and Blue Springs South High School in Missouri. His responsibilities at both schools included teaching marching band, symphonic band, concert band, co-teaching the wind symphony, and running numerous jazz ensembles. While teaching at Blue Springs South, William assisted the school’s Wind Symphony as they performed on the main stage of the Music For All National Concert Band Festival in 2019.  He also enjoyed the opportunity to lead both jazz ensembles to earn superior ratings for the first time in over ten years during the 2021 semester.

Over the years, he has served as a woodwind pedagogue and marching technician for multiple bands across the nation including: Blue Valley South West, Olathe North, Grain Valley, Punahou High School, Blue Springs High School, and William Mason.

Andres Aya, Assistant Band Director – Percussion

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Mr. Aya graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Human Learning from the University of Texas at Austin. During his percussion studies at the University of Texas, Aya studied under George Frock, David Glover, Lisa Nicol, Tony Edwards and Thomas Burritt.  He was a member of the UT Longhorn Band (1999-2001), Wind Ensemble (2000-04), and Percussion Ensemble (1999-2004).

Mr. Aya was a member of the World Champion Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps where he marched in the snare line from 2001-03 earning 2 World Championships, the highest score in DCI history (2002, 99.15) and the longest undefeated streak in DCI history.  In 2002, he received the bronze medal in the DCI Individual & Ensemble competition with his snare solo, “Palindrome.”  He was a member of the 1999 Texas All-State Band and also a member of the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps snare line in 1998.   Aya served as the assiantant percussion caption head and snare technician for the Colts Drum and Bugle in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

At the 2017 TMEA convention, Mr. Aya co-presented the first ever TMEA special needs inclusion strategies clinic.  Andres E. Aya has served as the Director of Percussion Studies for Alvin High School and Alvin I.S.D. East feeders in Alvin, TX since the summer of 2004.  He is sponsored by Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, and Sabian Cymbals.

Mysha Baldwin, Angels Dance Team Director

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Mysha Corb is the Director of the Austin Angels Dance Team at Stephen F. Austin HS in Sugar Land, TX. She most recently served as the Assistant Director for the J. Frank Dobie Lariaettes, where she began her full-time teaching career. While at Dobie HS, she helped grow the dance department and won multiple awards, such as: Crowd Pleasers 1st Runner Up Overall Grand Champion Team, 2016; ADTS WOW Award for Team Pom, 2016; ADTS Best of the Best Overall Team, 2015; ADTS WOW Award for Team Kick, 2015; Champions Most Inspirational Team, 2014; ADTS Super Division National Champion Officers, 2014; TDEA D.E.A.L. Rating I, 2014.

Mysha is from Sugar Land, TX where she grew up dancing in a local studio. As a teenager, she attended the Houston Ballet Academy and was chosen to perform in the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker in 2001 as a Clown. She realized her passion for teaching after leading the Kempner Cougar Brigade for 2 years as an Officer. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Dance Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. Her senior year, she was a Presenter in the Undergraduate Research Conference 2010 and a Performer in the Matt Mattox Jazz Presentation at the ACDFA South Central Conference 2010. She was also a member and 2-year Captain of the SFA Pom Squad, receiving honors such as: NDA All-American for 3 years; NDA Top Gun Leaps Winner; NDA Collegiate Division I National Champion.

Her professional affiliations include the Texas Dance Educators Association, and she is very proud to be a part of the National Dance Alliance as a Choreographer, Head Instructor, and Adjudicator.

Ashlee Williamson, Angels Dance Team Assistant Director

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Ashlee Williamson, the assistant director, is a 2003 graduate of The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and more recently a graduate of Point Park University.  During her time in Pittsburgh, PA,  she had the opportunity to study with many renowned choreographers and be cast in the first ever off Broadway production of Contact.  Mrs. Williamson first began working with the Angels in 2008 as a choreographer between her contracts as an International Singer and Dancer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Sonny Saicharoen, Color Guard Director

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Sonny Saicharoen is going into his first year of teaching at Stephen F. Austin High School and his 6th year teaching in the performing arts. He is a graduate of Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles, LA where he was an active member in the Band of Blue for all four years.

After graduating high school, Mr. Saicharoen went on to further his studies at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA where he continued pursuing his passion in the performing arts and working towards his bachelor’s degree in Biological science.

Since his time in college he has marched in a variety of Open class and World Class groups. He has been a DCI finalist for a consecutive of four years, one of which includes a season as a staff member. He began his Drum corps experience marching with Louisiana Stars 15’ and later marched for The Cavaliers 16’ 17’, Phantom Regiment 18’, and Phantom Regiment staff 19’.

After his second season with The Cavaliers in 2017 he decided to move to Houston, TX to further pursue his marching/teaching career. He then participated in three competitive seasons of WGI starting with Cypress Independent 18’ 19’  up until his most recent season with Black Gold World 20’.

While Marching with these world class organizations he began teaching at a variety of high schools including; Langham Creek HS 19’, Klein Oak HS 19’, Klein Cain HS 19’ 20’, Spring HS 19’, and most recently Cypress Ridge HS 19’ 20’.

​During his time here at Stephen F. Austin High School he hopes to grow and expand the program and influence students to pursue their passion for the performing arts by providing them educational opportunities both during high school and after graduation.