Mr. Tanner Smith, Director of Bands
Ctsmith@prosper-isd.net
Tanner Smith is excited to join Prosper ISD and serve the Walnut Grove HS community as Director of Bands. Mr. Smith served as the Director of Bands at Wakeland HS in Frisco ISD from 2016-2023. At Wakeland, his responsibilities included the Marching Band, Wind Symphony and overall program direction. He also assisted with Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Middle School ensembles.
Prior to his appointment at Wakeland HS, Mr. Smith taught at Independence High School in Frisco ISD, Allen High School in Allen ISD, and Garner Middle School in Northeast ISD.
During his tenure at Wakeland, the Wakeland High School Marching Band was named a consistent regional finalist, regional class champion, and regional champion in the Bands of America North Texas regional competitions. The marching band was a consistent UIL Texas State Marching Band Contest finalist, and was named the 2019 Class 5A Bronze Medalist. Most recently, the Wakeland Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 75th Annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and was recognized as the 2021 John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield Recipient.
Smith is a staff member for SASi - The Leadership People, serving student leaders across the United States. He has previously been on staff with the 2013 and 2022 Bands of America Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the National Bandmasters Association. He currently lives in Celina, Texas with his wife Corey, their children Nora and Henry, and their dogs Rex and Chester.
Prior to his appointment at Wakeland HS, Mr. Smith taught at Independence High School in Frisco ISD, Allen High School in Allen ISD, and Garner Middle School in Northeast ISD.
During his tenure at Wakeland, the Wakeland High School Marching Band was named a consistent regional finalist, regional class champion, and regional champion in the Bands of America North Texas regional competitions. The marching band was a consistent UIL Texas State Marching Band Contest finalist, and was named the 2019 Class 5A Bronze Medalist. Most recently, the Wakeland Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 75th Annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and was recognized as the 2021 John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield Recipient.
Smith is a staff member for SASi - The Leadership People, serving student leaders across the United States. He has previously been on staff with the 2013 and 2022 Bands of America Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the National Bandmasters Association. He currently lives in Celina, Texas with his wife Corey, their children Nora and Henry, and their dogs Rex and Chester.
Elayna Youngson, Assistant Band Director
Elayna Youngson is excited to serve as the Assistant Band Director at Walnut Grove High School and join the Prosper ISD community. Ms. Youngson was previously the Assistant Band Director at Central Junior High School in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD from 2020-2023, overseeing primary instruction of the Non-Varsity and Sub-Non-Varsity bands, beginner brass classes, and assisting with the Varsity Band. While at Central Junior High, Ms. Youngson’s ensembles have been awarded sweepstakes at UIL and 1st division ratings at the North Texas Festival of Distinction.
Ms. Youngson received her Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education Degree at Florida State University on her primary instrument French horn. While at Florida State, she performed in top ensembles under the direction of Patrick Dunnigan and Richard Clary. She is a member of the National Honorary Band Fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi, Texas Music Education Association, and Texas Bandmasters Association.
Ms. Youngson was a member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps serving as Drum Major in 2017 and 2018. She has been a Brass Instructor with the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps in 2019, Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps 2020-2021, and is currently with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
Ms. Youngson received her Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education Degree at Florida State University on her primary instrument French horn. While at Florida State, she performed in top ensembles under the direction of Patrick Dunnigan and Richard Clary. She is a member of the National Honorary Band Fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi, Texas Music Education Association, and Texas Bandmasters Association.
Ms. Youngson was a member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps serving as Drum Major in 2017 and 2018. She has been a Brass Instructor with the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps in 2019, Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps 2020-2021, and is currently with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
Lindsay Vasko,Percussion DIRECTOR
Lindsay Vasko is an avid percussion educator currently based in Dallas, Texas. Lindsay is joining the Walnut Grove High School Band Staff from Flower Mound, Texas where she taught in Lewisville ISD.
Lindsay returned to Texas in 2019 after serving as Director of Percussion at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee. Lindsay has performed with ensembles such as Sō Percussion, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Waco Symphony Orchestra.
As a composer and arranger, Lindsay has written for numerous concert and marching percussion ensembles across the country. She has provided masterclasses at numerous institutions and events across the country including the University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, Eastern Tennessee State University, Central New York Day of Percussion, El Paso Jazz Girls and the Matt Savage Marching Percussion Camp.
Lindsay was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She has been a member of the Vic Firth/Zildjian Education Team since 2019.
Lindsay returned to Texas in 2019 after serving as Director of Percussion at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee. Lindsay has performed with ensembles such as Sō Percussion, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Waco Symphony Orchestra.
As a composer and arranger, Lindsay has written for numerous concert and marching percussion ensembles across the country. She has provided masterclasses at numerous institutions and events across the country including the University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, Eastern Tennessee State University, Central New York Day of Percussion, El Paso Jazz Girls and the Matt Savage Marching Percussion Camp.
Lindsay was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She has been a member of the Vic Firth/Zildjian Education Team since 2019.
Mrs. Kelly Brown, Color Guard Director
Kelly Brown is excited to join the Walnut Grove team as the Color Guard Director. She has served as the color guard director at Emerson High School in Frisco since the school’s opening in 2021.
While at Emerson High School, Mrs. Brown has grown the program from 4 members to a combined 40 members from the JV and Varsity Guards. In 2022, the Emerson winter guard was named WGI Dallas Regional Champions and they were also named the NTCA Grand Championships Silver Medalist.
Before moving to Texas, she taught the Green Hope High School Guard who were three time WGI World Championships A Class Finalists. She has also taught in Prosper ISD at Prosper High School from 2019-2021, and she has assisted the Rock Hill Color Guard since 2021. Other schools she has instructed include Cape Fear High School, Cleveland Arts Performance Ensembles, Liberty High School & Lebanon Trail High School.
Mrs. Brown lives in McKinney with her husband Tyler and their three cats, Tarzan, Mowgli and Mushu. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, go golfing, and read books.
While at Emerson High School, Mrs. Brown has grown the program from 4 members to a combined 40 members from the JV and Varsity Guards. In 2022, the Emerson winter guard was named WGI Dallas Regional Champions and they were also named the NTCA Grand Championships Silver Medalist.
Before moving to Texas, she taught the Green Hope High School Guard who were three time WGI World Championships A Class Finalists. She has also taught in Prosper ISD at Prosper High School from 2019-2021, and she has assisted the Rock Hill Color Guard since 2021. Other schools she has instructed include Cape Fear High School, Cleveland Arts Performance Ensembles, Liberty High School & Lebanon Trail High School.
Mrs. Brown lives in McKinney with her husband Tyler and their three cats, Tarzan, Mowgli and Mushu. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, go golfing, and read books.
