About Us
The China Spring Cougar Band is an award-winning program, completing its 32nd consecutive year of UIL Sweepstakes (First Division in UIL Marching, Concert, and Sight-Reading contests).
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The band is most known for its history of excellence which was established back in 1987 under the direction of Herb Brenner. The band has been to the UIL State Marching Band Championship in 1991 (finalist), 1993 (finalist), 1994, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012 (finalist), 2016 (finalist), 2018, 2020 (finalist), 2021 (finalist), and 2022 (finalist)! Most recently, the Cougar Band received a 4th place finish in the 2023 AAAA UIL State Marching Band Championship!
In 2016 the China Spring Marching Band appeared in the London New Year's Day Parade and performed in the London Concert Gala.
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Off the field, the China Spring Band program consists of three High School Concert Bands, three Middle School Concert Bands, two High School Jazz Bands, a Middle School Jazz Band, as well as sixth-grade beginner instrument classes.
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The 2023-2024 Cougar Band is composed of 151 students at the High School and over 220 students in grades 6-8. Students have been actively involved in individual competitions as well as a full band. The directors stress the importance of individual strength by encouraging students to try out for Region bands, Solo and Ensemble, Central Texas Youth Wind Ensemble, Waco Youth Symphony, Baylor Honor Flutes, and International Honor Band.
A graduate of Brownsboro High School, Mr. Nichelson received his Associate of Arts in Music from Tyler Junior College and his Bachelor of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University intending to pursue a career as a Band Director.
After college, he served as the 7th-grade director for Hallsville ISD. Later he accepted a position at Wortham ISD (a small school in Central Texas), where he spent four years as the Director of Bands and Technology. During his time, the program grew and saw great success both in marching and concert season. Mr. Nichelson currently serves as the Director of Bands for China Spring ISD, where he heads up the Marching Band, directs the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz I ensemble, and teaches AP Music Theory.
Mr. Nichelson also serves as the ATSSB Region 8 Coordinator, ATSSB Area Central Coordinator, the ATSSB Webmaster, and the ATSSB 4A State Representative. In these roles, he finds that he can give back to an organization that meant so much to him (as a student) and to many of the small school band students he has interacted with throughout his career. His professional affiliations include the Association of Texas Small School Bands, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Outside of his teaching career, he currently runs Penson Media Technologies as a side business to his education career and still performs with local bands. Outside of work, he enjoys being outdoors, golfing, and spending time with his wife Jessica, their son Ben, and daughter Jenna.
Mr. Silver is a low brass musician and a graduate from Canton High School. He earned his Associate of Arts in Music from Tyler Junior College and his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce. The 24-25 school year will be his 3rd year in China Spring.
While in college, Mr. Silver performed in the TJC Apache Marching Band, the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble, TJC Brass Quintet, and the Wind Ensemble. He also spent time in the TAMUC "Pride" Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. At both institutions, Mr. Silver served in Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Service Fraternity and is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and National Band Association.
Mr. Silver's duties within the China Spring Band Program includes working with the Marching Band, directing the High School Symphonic Band, High School Jazz Ensemble II, Middle School Jazz Band, and teaching the Beginning Trombone Class.
Mr. Silver is an avid baseball fan, and when not in the bandhall, he can be found watching his beloved San Diego Padres.
Mrs. Morgan is a Percussionist from Greenwood, a small town in west Texas. She went to Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education.
In college, Mrs. Morgan studied with Dr. Brian Zator, Cory Doran, Sandi Rennick, and Kent Hillman.
She participated in Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and “The Pride Marching Band-'' where she was the Bass Section Leader. She also was a part of the top two Percussion Ensembles, the Brazilian Ensemble, and all Steel Band Ensembles-where she was the Head Director of the top Steel Band Ensemble “Panimation.” She also performed two solos for the world premiere of “The Lion’s Roar Book,” a percussion book compiled of marimba solos written by Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni. She also served in the Percussion Association in Commerce, Delta Beta Zeta (DBZ), as the Historian and Secretary for two years.
Mrs. Morgan’s responsibilities at China Spring include coordinating the Marching Percussion Program, coordinating all percussion sections in the High School and Middle School concert bands, directing the Steel Band and Concert Band in the High School, and teaching the Middle School and Beginning Percussion for the district.
Outside of teaching, Mrs. Morgan enjoys painting, cooking new foods, listening to music, and spending time with her husband Jesse and her three cats, Vax'ildan, Vex'ahlia, and Caleb.
A graduate of Hallsville High School, Ms. Berg attended Northwestern State University of Louisiana where she graduated magnum cum laude with a bachelor's in Music Education. At NSU Ms. Berg played in many ensembles including the Spirit of Northwestern Marching band, the Wind Ensemble, and Wind Symphony groups.
After college, Ms. Berg went to work as the assistant band director at Wortham ISD for a year. Outside of work, Ms. Berg likes to visit family, read, and spend time with her dog.
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Ms. Berg's responsibilities include directing the Middle School Varsity Band, 6th Grade Beginner Band, and Middle School Applied Music.
Ian Mitchell
Middle School Assistant Director
Ian L. Mitchell is in his twenty fifth year of teaching and his sixteenth year as Assistant Director at China Spring High School and Middle School. Prior to this position he served for a year as Band and Choral Director at Big Bear Middle School, in Big Bear Lake, California and eight years as Director of Bands at Crane Middle School and surrounding Elementary Schools, in Yuma, Arizona. Mr. Mitchell became an Associate Faculty Member of Arizona Western College in 2002, Yuma, Arizona, teaching Music Appreciation Classes there for six years prior to moving to China Spring in 2008.
His current primary duties include assisting all concert bands, directing the Middle School Jazz Studies Program, teaching the beginning middle school band, and coaching all low brass classes.
Mr. Mitchell received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1999 from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied under Richard Blatti, James Akins, and Dr. Jon Woods. While at Ohio State, Mr. Mitchell was a member of The Ohio State University performing and athletic bands, Men’s Glee Club, as well as a member of The Ohio State Marching Band where he had the honor of dotting the “I” in the “Incomparable Script Ohio”. Mr. Mitchell earned his Master of Music Education degree in 2003 from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied under Dr. Charles Menghini and Kevin Lepper.
Other Notable performances include; The 1997 Rose Bowl Parade, along with four bowl games which includes Rose Bowl, two Sugar Bowls, and Citrus Bowl while being a member of The Ohio State Marching Band. Mr. Mitchell has also performed at The 1999 The American Choral Directors Association National Conference held in Chicago as a member of The Ohio State Men’s Glee Club and at The 1992 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic held in Chicago, while a member of Lincoln High Gold Band.
He is currently a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Association of Texas Small School Bands, National Eagle Scout Association, and is affiliated with Phi Mu Alpha.
Mr. Mitchell is active member of the Boy Scouts of America, being a an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 444 and Cubmaster for Pack 444. Ian and his wonderful supportive wife Roslyn have four fantastic sons and a daughter: Dylan 18, Jonathan 14, Mason 10, Ashton 5 and Emilia 1.
Adam Mothersole
Middle School Assistant Director
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Mr. Mothersole is a proud Austin native, where he graduated from Cedar Park High School. He received a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University, studying under Dr. Eric Wilson, Dr. Isaiah Odajima, and Mr. Brent Phillips.
While at Baylor, Mr. Mothersole performed with the Baylor Wind Ensemble, Golden Wave Marching Band, and Trombone Choir, as well as competing at the individual level at the International Trombone Festival and the Big 12 Solo Competition. He continued his passion for music by becoming a marching member with the Santa Clara Vanguard, competing at Drum Corps International World Championships. He also performed with La Murga de Austin, a brass and drum band that plays for Major League Soccer team Austin FC.
After college, Mr. Mothersole worked for two years as Assistant Band Director at A&M Consolidated High School and seven years as Assistant Director of Bands at Lago Vista ISD. During the summer he taught at Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and currently works at Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps, where he serves on the Brass Team.
Outside of work Mr. Mothersole enjoys fishing, watching the Astros and Austin FC, playing his trombone, and spending time with his cat Peaches.
Alyssa Stuhr
Color Guard Director
Alyssa Stuhr is a dedicated and accomplished musician, and educator within the world of music and performing arts. She has honed her skills over the past twelve years under the tutelage of instructors such as Pam Hyatt and Dr. Charlotte Daniel.
Alyssa was a four-year flute and piccolo player in the Baylor Symphonic Band, and a five-year member of The Baylor University Golden Wave Marching Band as a piccolo player, a drum major, and an undergraduate staff member. She has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Baylor University and completed her student teaching at Temple High School.
Alyssa has worked as a visual technician, and choreographer for programs like China Spring High School and Jarrell High School. She helped establish the first-ever color guard at China Spring High School in 2022.
She has three years of extensive Drum Corps experience. Her first year, with The Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps as a member of the color guard and two years with The Cadets, where she ultimately served her age-out as Drum Major.
Alyssa started her dance education at the age of three and has eighteen years of classical and competitive dance training. She is fluent in the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, pointe, and modern.
She studied at Joy’s School of Dance for fifteen years where wonderful dancers and educators such as Natalie George and Lydia Soprano taught her. She currently works at Lisa’s Dance Connection where she continues to expand her dance knowledge and teach students aged 3-17. Alyssa is also working toward her certification in dance education in Texas.
Outside of her musical pursuits, Alyssa finds joy in cuddling with her dog, reading a good book, sewing, painting, and spending time with her friends and family.