Director of Bands

Betty Bierschenk-Pierce is in her twelfth year as Director of Bands at Grisham Middle School in the Round Rock Independent School District. A music educator for 28 years, Mrs. Pierce has taught in Houston, Austin, and Midland, Texas before coming to the Round Rock area. The Grisham Middle School Honors Band has earned consistent UIL Sweepstakes Awards and “Best in Class” awards at various festivals throughout Texas. In 2000, 2002 and 2004 the Grisham Honors Band was a finalist in the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band Competition. In 2006 and 2008, the Grisham Band was named TMEA CC Honor Band First Runner Up. During the 2003-2004 school year, Mrs. Pierce and the Grisham Honors Band performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago. During that same school year, they also were selected as a recipient of the coveted John Philip Sousa Sudler Cup.

Mrs. Pierce holds both a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin. While a student at the University, she performed with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble under the director of Dr. Thomas Lee and the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra under the guidance of Dr. A. Clyde Roller. Mrs. Pierce’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu. She is an active clinician and adjudicator in the state of Texas.

Assistant Director

Nicholas Hank is beginning his second year as Assistant Director of Bands at Grisham Middle School in Round Rock ISD. Prior to this position he was Assistant Director of Bands for two years at Lamar Middle School in Lewisville ISD. Nicholas holds his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and has spent the last two summers conducting the Junior Band at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.