Aaron Ray - High School Director
Mr. Ray taught for 16 years in Kansas and Missouri and received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Education from Wichita State University. Mr. Ray grew up in Wichita Kansas and attended Wichita High School North, playing clarinet and saxophone in the school marching band, concert band, and jazz band. Mr. Ray studied clarinet privately under Ted Lane and Dr. James Jones, and participated in the Wichita Wind Ensemble, the Wichita Youth Symphony Repertoire Orchestra, and the Wichita All-City Band. He also performed in solos and ensembles, receiving Division I ratings at the state level and was a two-time participant in the Arapaho Concerto Competition.
Mr. Ray taught for 11 years in Kansas for the Moscow USD 209 and the Wellsville USD 289 school districts. Under his direction both bands enjoyed significant improvements in enrollment. In 2012 Mr. Ray began working for the Neosho School District in Newton County Missouri and relocated with his wife to Northwest Arkansas. As a director for the Neosho School District Mr. Ray's bands and students consistently earned superior ratings at music competitions and ranked well in auditioned district honor band ensembles.
Mr. Ray began working for the Gravette School District in the Fall of 2017. His teaching duties include 6th grade beginning band, assisting with the 7th/8th grade bands, and directing the high school marching, concert, and jazz bands. Mr. Ray resides in Bella Vista Arkansas with his wife Meichelle and their daughter Ella.
Mr. Ray taught for 16 years in Kansas and Missouri and received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Education from Wichita State University. Mr. Ray grew up in Wichita Kansas and attended Wichita High School North, playing clarinet and saxophone in the school marching band, concert band, and jazz band. Mr. Ray studied clarinet privately under Ted Lane and Dr. James Jones, and participated in the Wichita Wind Ensemble, the Wichita Youth Symphony Repertoire Orchestra, and the Wichita All-City Band. He also performed in solos and ensembles, receiving Division I ratings at the state level and was a two-time participant in the Arapaho Concerto Competition.
Mr. Ray taught for 11 years in Kansas for the Moscow USD 209 and the Wellsville USD 289 school districts. Under his direction both bands enjoyed significant improvements in enrollment. In 2012 Mr. Ray began working for the Neosho School District in Newton County Missouri and relocated with his wife to Northwest Arkansas. As a director for the Neosho School District Mr. Ray's bands and students consistently earned superior ratings at music competitions and ranked well in auditioned district honor band ensembles.
Mr. Ray began working for the Gravette School District in the Fall of 2017. His teaching duties include 6th grade beginning band, assisting with the 7th/8th grade bands, and directing the high school marching, concert, and jazz bands. Mr. Ray resides in Bella Vista Arkansas with his wife Meichelle and their daughter Ella.
Mark Hendrick - Middle School Director
A native of Lewisville, TX, Mr. Hendrick competed with the Lewisville HS Drumline placing 2nd place at the PASIC Marching festival and winning the Best Front Ensemble caption. He was honored as an All-State percussionist, a National Merit Finalist and had the opportunity to march with the Crossmen Drum Corps. At Lewisville, Mark also sang in the Main Street Singers and was an All-Region Tenor. After graduating high school, Mr. Hendrick attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. While there, he placed 2nd at the PASIC Collegiate Keyboard contest, was a member of Phi Mu Alpha, a member of the first chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at OBU and became president of the organization his senior year. He graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education.
Mr. Hendrick and his wife taught for 3 years in Texas prior to coming to Gravette. While in Texas, Mr. Hendrick's bands earned Excellent and Superior ratings at UIL Concert contests and State Festivals. His percussion students also earned Superior ratings at State Solo and Ensemble contests.
Mr. Hendrick began working for the Gravette School District in 2010. At Gravette, Mr. Hendrick has been fortunate to oversee substantial increases in the size of both the Choir and Band programs. His Middle School Honor Band earned the coveted Sweepstakes award for Superior ratings at Concert and Sightreading Assessments. Students in the Middle School Band Program have also earned Superior ratings at solo and ensemble contests and earned spots on the All-Region Band. He has also been proud to assist the High School Bands in their Superior ratings at Marching and Concert contests.
Mr. Hendrick lives in Bentonville with his wife, Mollie, who teaches Art at Gravette HS. They have two daughters; Elsa and Wren.
A native of Lewisville, TX, Mr. Hendrick competed with the Lewisville HS Drumline placing 2nd place at the PASIC Marching festival and winning the Best Front Ensemble caption. He was honored as an All-State percussionist, a National Merit Finalist and had the opportunity to march with the Crossmen Drum Corps. At Lewisville, Mark also sang in the Main Street Singers and was an All-Region Tenor. After graduating high school, Mr. Hendrick attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. While there, he placed 2nd at the PASIC Collegiate Keyboard contest, was a member of Phi Mu Alpha, a member of the first chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at OBU and became president of the organization his senior year. He graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education.
Mr. Hendrick and his wife taught for 3 years in Texas prior to coming to Gravette. While in Texas, Mr. Hendrick's bands earned Excellent and Superior ratings at UIL Concert contests and State Festivals. His percussion students also earned Superior ratings at State Solo and Ensemble contests.
Mr. Hendrick began working for the Gravette School District in 2010. At Gravette, Mr. Hendrick has been fortunate to oversee substantial increases in the size of both the Choir and Band programs. His Middle School Honor Band earned the coveted Sweepstakes award for Superior ratings at Concert and Sightreading Assessments. Students in the Middle School Band Program have also earned Superior ratings at solo and ensemble contests and earned spots on the All-Region Band. He has also been proud to assist the High School Bands in their Superior ratings at Marching and Concert contests.
Mr. Hendrick lives in Bentonville with his wife, Mollie, who teaches Art at Gravette HS. They have two daughters; Elsa and Wren.