Directors

Casey Carruth, Director of Choirs

charlescarruth@katyisd.org

Casey Carruth assumes the position of Director of Choirs at Taylor after serving three years as the Associate Director. Since coming to Taylor he coached a record number of All State Choir Students and spearheaded the connection with feeder junior highs. He is the lead director of Chorale, Expressions, and Coro. Under his direction, Expressions was named 1st place and Grand Champion at the prestigious San Antonio Madrigal Festival (Small Ensemble Division).

He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Oklahoma State University. His primary teachers were Ron Shirey, Christopher Haygood, and Z. Randall Stroope.

Upon relocating to Houston in 2016, Mr. Carruth was director of choirs at Spring Branch Middle School. At Spring Branch, he led the choral program to its first sweepstakes awards in more than 20 years, had a record number of All Region Choir members, was named the 2017 Rookie Teacher of the Year, and was named the 2018 Spring Branch Middle School Teacher of the Year. Mr. Carruth has also taught in the Coppell and Birdville ISDs.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he is an active singer with ensembles such as the Houston Chamber Choir, Cantare Houston, Dallas Chamber Choir, and the New American Voices. With the Houston Chamber Choir, he won the Grammy for Best Choral Performance for the Album “The Complete Works of Maurice Durufle.” Currently he serves on the Executive Board of Cantare Houston and as Secretary for the Region 23 Vocal Division.

Jo Beth Van Sickle - Associate Director of Choirs

jobwasicek@katyisd.org

Jo Beth Wasicek is in her 9th year of teaching and is returning to Taylor High School after attending graduate school at the University of Washington. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Music Education from Oklahoma State University, where she sang in the OSU Concert Chorale and Chamber Choir with Dr. Z Randall Stroope. Additionally, she holds a Master in Music - Choral Conducting from the University of Washington.

Jo Beth sings with the Houston Symphony Chorus and Cantare Houston. She is an avid hiker, reader, and enjoys long walks with her dachshund, Minnie. She teaches Cantamus, Cantilena, and AP Music Theory at THS.

Voice Instructors

Renee Rybolt

JP Williams

JP Williams is a Houston-based singer and recent graduate of the University of Houston where he received his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy. He has performed for the mainstage shows at the Moores Opera Center as the title role from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, The Father from Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, and Joseph Talbot in William Bolcom’s Dinner at Eight. He also works regularly with Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church as a Staff Singer and soloist.

Through the Moores school of Music he received extensive teaching experience in applied voice lessons, and teaching music theory and aural skills to undergraduates. He is well versed in operatic technique as well as pop, jazz, and musical theater. JP also enjoys arranging acappella music and has even received commissions for his arrangements from collegiate and semi-professional groups. He has served as musical director for small ensembles and acapella groups since his early years at Baylor University in 2014, often leading entirely by utilizing perfect pitch.

JP believes that performing and teaching go hand in hand when it comes to learning how to sing. He strives to provide his students with a safe atmosphere that helps them grow and learn in a nurturing environment. His primary goal is to provide each student with a strong technical foundation for singing that helps them achieve their artistic goals.