
Mark McGahey
Director of Bands
Keller High School
Wind Ensemble Director
Fine Arts Department Chair
KISD Lead High School Director
Finances
Color Guard Sponsor
Spring Trip
March-a-Thon
Marching Band Program Coordinator
A little about me
Mark McGahey is in his thirty-fourth year as a music educator. He has been Director of Bands at Keller High School in Keller, TX for twenty-five years. He also directed bands at South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, TX, and Shawnee High School in Shawnee, OK.
Bands under his direction have enjoyed notable success, including while at Keller High School: Eight-time National Winner of the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Contest, Bands of America Super Regional Finalist, Area Finalist in the TMEA Honor Band Competition, First Runner-Up at the 1999 4A Texas State Marching Contest, and was named the 2000 4A State Honor Band in Texas. The Keller Band has been a participant at the Texas 6A UIL State Marching Contest in all eligible years from 2006 to 2021, and placed as a finalist four of those years.
In 2015, the Keller High School Band was named a finalist at the prestigious Bands of America Grand National Championships, and a Sudler Shield of Excellence recipient. In 2018, the Keller HS Band performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. In 2021, the Keller High School Wind Ensemble was an invited ensemble at the prestigious Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic.
Mark is an active clinician and guest lecturer in many states including Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Missouri, Florida and Illinois and Ohio. He is an adjudicator nationwide, most notably with Drum Corps International & Bands of America. Mark has judged at DCI World Championships from 2013 to 2019, and recently adjudicated at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. Mark was an adjudicator/clinician for the Bands of America Oklahoma Concert Band Festival. Mr. McGahey was the TMAA ad-hoc committee chair for the revised UIL Region/Area/State Marching Band Judging Sheets.
Mark has been named Teacher of the Year at Keller High School in 2000 and 2015, and was also named a UIL Sponsor of Excellence recipient. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu Honorary Music Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha. He is a Past-President for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
Mark is proud of his wife and family. He appreciates the constant support he receives from his wife Suzanne throughout his career. His daughters Zoey and Emma both attend Keller High School. His stepdaughter Sam and her husband Luke enjoy living in Charlotte, North Carolina and music has been an important part of their lives.