Hello, McCallum Band! My name is Dillon Junkin and I am incredibly excited to be joining you all as an Assistant Band Director! I am originally from Pearland, Texas and attended Glenda Dawson High School. I most recently taught for two years at Alvin High School in the Southeast Houston area. I graduated in the Summer of 2020 from Texas Tech University with degrees in Music Education with an emphasis in Trumpet as well as Music Composition. I marched for four Summers (2015-2018) with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and am currently in my 3rd season with Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps right here in Austin! I can’t wait to meet you all in person and get started on what is sure to be a fantastic year. Go Knights!

Originally from Pflugerville, TX, Mr. Pride has been teaching, performing, and composing for nearly two decades and has had wonderful opportunities to perform and tour across much of North America and Europe. Getting his start at Texas State University where he earned a Bachelor’s in Music Education, Mr. Pride performed with the wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, steel drum band, and Bobcat Marching Band. Mr. Pride then went on to march and teach for multiple drum corps including Glassmen, Crossmen, Memphis Sound, Forte, and Phantom Regiment and held roles ranging from front ensemble instructor to Battery Coordinator. Mr. Pride has also worked with WGI groups Odyssey Percussion Theatre, Terminus Atlanta Percussion, Austin Independent, Gateway Independent, and Rise Percussion.

Mr. Pride holds a Master’s in Percussion Performance with certificates in Music Theory and College Teaching from the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he performed with the wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, percussion ensemble, latin jazz ensemble, and Brazilian Batéria. He is endorsed by Zildjian, Innovative Percussion, is an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi, and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Bandmaster’s Association. You can learn and hear more about his work at pridepercussion.com. In his free time, Mr. Pride is an avid runner, rock climber, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Katie Harper,