INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Nicholes Nunley is from the Dallas, Texas, area where he attended Cedar Hill High School and graduated in 2015. He attended The University of Texas at Austin and received his degree in Music Studies. He was a Horn player in the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, and played Mellophone in the Longhorn Band, and Longhorn Pep Band. He also studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa!

Upon graduation in 2019, Nicholes accepted the assistant band director position at Summer Creek Middle School in Crowley, TX where he has led the Non-Varsity band to successful performances at the UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Evaluation. He has recently accepted a Head Band Director position at Walnut Grove Middle School in Midlothian ISD and will begin teaching there for the 2023-2024 school year!

Nicholes is also the Drum Major for the Oak Lawn Pep Band as well as the Pride Band that marches and performs for the Dallas Pride Parade. He has been invited to be a guest artist for the 2023 Pride Bands Alliance Conference in Denver, Colorado and will conduct one of the bands! This is his fifth year with the Oak Lawn Band Organization and he enjoys making music with this ensemble. He also enjoys watching new movies, traveling the world, and staying in shape by running and working out.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Marc Dunbar began conducting the Oak Lawn Band as assistant director in September 2016 under the guidance of Tim Norris. Prior to his appointment, he participated with the band as a member of the saxophone section for three consecutive seasons, beginning in the fall of 2013.

Marc received his Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in instrumental education from West Texas A&M University, where he performed in the renowned WT Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, the Sound of West Texas Marching Band, and the Solstice Saxophone Quartet. Upon graduation from the university, Marc moved home to Plano, TX, to begin teaching private saxophone lessons. During his eight-year career as music educator, Marc taught students ranging from 6th through 12th grade in Plano, Frisco, Highland Park, and Mesquite ISDs. His performance career has spanned several seasons with DFW-based ensembles, including the Carrollton Wind Symphony, Metropolitan Winds, Metropolitan Saxophone Quartet, and the Singapore Slingers.

During the COVID-19 lock-down, Marc pivoted to a career in IT and joined the team at iTecs, a Dallas-based MSP, cloud-hosting, and cybersecurity firm. Despite this drastic transition, he continues to perform in groups around the Metroplex and direct the Oak Lawn Band.

COLOR GUARD DIRECTION

Martin received his degrees in Music Education (BM) and Performance (MM, DMA) from the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of North Texas. His principal teachers include Dr. James Scott, Terri Sundberg, Dr. Elizabeth McNutt, Dr. Sarah Frisof, and Janice Grannell. He is a Miyazawa Emerging Artist and winner of numerous flute competitions. He is a member of Flutes Unlimited and subs for the Dallas Winds. He maintains a flute studio in the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD and also teaches dance and color guard.

As a performer, he served as the co-director of the UT Arlington Dance Ensemble and was a company member of the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group (DGDG). He was also a member of Black Gold World Winter Guard where he served as captain, The Bluecoats Color Guard, and The Cavaliers Color Guard (DCI Championships Bronze Medalist). He currently serves as the Diamonds Color Guard Director for the UIL State Finalist band, Colleyville Heritage High School. His program is a consistent Winter Guard International regional finalist and is the 2023 North Texas Color Guard Association Scholastic A Champions.