McMillen Band Directors
Josh Kurzweil, Director of Bands
Josh Kurzweil was named the Director of Bands at McMillen High School in June 2019. Prior to this position, he was the associate band director at McKinney North High School for 16 years. Mr. Kurzweil holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music (2003) from Texas Tech University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education (2013) from SMU.
Mr. Kurzweil’s responsibilities at McMillen High School include conducting the Wind Ensemble, co-teaching the Concert Band, and team-teaching the Symphonic Band and the “Golden Roar” Marching Band. Bands under Mr. Kurzweil’s direction have been awarded superior ratings in UIL Marching, Concert, and Sight-Reading contests and have been named “Outstanding in Class” at various music festivals around the state. In 2015, the McKinney North Marching Band performed at the Texas 5A State Marching Contest. In the 2018, the MNHS Band earned 1st place in Music Performance at the US Bands Southwest Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mr. Kurzweil’s students have earned success at the All-Region and All-State level, and earned outstanding performances in solo and ensembles at district contests. Under his direction, the MNHS Symphonic Band was a Foundation for Music Education “Citation of Excellence” winner in 2016 and 2018.
During his undergrad years at Texas Tech, Mr. Kurzweil was a clarinet student of Dr. David Shea and had the privilege of performing with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, Jazz Band III, and new music ensembles. He served as Drum Major for the Goin’ Band from Raiderland under the direction of Keith Bearden and performed with the Court Jesters Basketball Band for 5 years. Additionally, he performed with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra on bass clarinet for three seasons. While at SMU, Mr. Kurzweil had the opportunity to learn from mentors Brian Merrill and Lynne Jackson.
Mr. Kurzweil has performed on bass clarinet with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra since their inaugural year in 2006. The LSWO performs a few concerts throughout the year in major performance halls in Dallas and Richardson. They have performed in San Antonio at the Texas Bandmasters Association conference, the Arkansas Bandmasters Association conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) in San Jose, CA. The LSWO has completed multiple recording projects which can be heard on iTunes and Spotify. The Lone Star Clarinet Choir has performed in Norman, OK and Austin, TX. Mr. Kurzweil serves as a sectional teacher and and has performed in side-by-side concerts with the Lone Star Youth Winds yearly.
As an active clinician, concert and sight-reading adjudicator, solo & ensemble judge, and performer, Mr. Kurzweil has had the opportunity to work with directors and students all over the state of Texas.
Mr. Kurzweil professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
Lindsay Barnhill, Assistant Director
Lindsay Barnhill is in her second year serving as the Assistant Band Director at McMillen High School in Plano ISD. Ms. Barnhill is a graduate of Plano East Senior High School and went on to study Music Education at the University of Arkansas. During her time at the U of A, she studied horn with Dr. Timothy Thompson and was a member of several ensembles. She was a member of the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble under Dr. Chris Knighten, as well as a member of the University of Arkansas Wind Symphony under Mr. W Dale Warren. In addition to Ms. Barnhill’s concert band experience, she was also a member of several other university ensembles including the Razorback Marching Band under Dr. Ben Lorenzo and Dr. Jamal Duncan, the Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorus under the direction of Dr. Stephen Caldwell, and the University Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Robert Mueller. Ms. Barnhill also spent time as a performer with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016.
Ms. Barnhill student taught at Fayetteville High School and Ramay Junior High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In addition to student teaching, she served as a visual instructor for the Bentonville High School Marching Band. She also worked for the Faulkner Performing Arts Center as an Assistant Stage Manager for various performers and ensembles. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association and Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority.
KRISTINE LEPOW - Color Guard Instructor
Kristine Lepow started Color Guard in 8th grade at Carmel Middle School in Carmel, IN. She went on to march with the Carmel Color guard for all four years of high school, during which they won ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) State Championships, BOA Grand National Championships, Winter Guard International World Finals, and several other competitions. She then went on to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University, where she marched with the Purdue All American Band.
Kristine moved to Plano, TX with her husband following college in the summer of 2018. After completing her Texas Teachers Alternative Certification program in Family and Consumer Sciences (6-12), she began teaching at Bryan Adams High School and Leadership Academy in 2019, moving to Plano East Senior High School to teach Introductions to Culinary Arts and Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness from 2021-2023. She helped teach their color guard in 2021 and winter of 2022.. In fall of 2022, she began her time instructing our Color Guard program here, then in 2023, she started her teaching career here at McMillen serving as the primary Family and Consumer Science teacher in addition to instructing our color guard program.
