Directors & Staff

Greg Mills, Director of Bands

gregory.mills@nisd.net 

210-397-5976

Mr. Mills is in his 12th year on the Taft campus, and his 6th as the Director of Bands at William H. Taft High School. A native of Arizona, he began his musical study on the piano. Shortly after, he picked up the saxophone in school. Following high school, Mills studied saxophone performance and music education at Arizona State University under the musical guidance of Dr. Timothy McAllister who currently teaches as the professor of saxophone at the University of Michigan School of Music and studied conducting privately with  Gary Hill and Dr. Wayne Bailey. 

During his time at Arizone State, Mills served for three years as the drum major for the 400 member, Sudler Trophy winning Sun Devil Marching Band under the direction of James Hudson. Mills also composed and arranged selections for the band while taking composition lessons from breathing gym creator Samuel Pilafian (tuba chair of the Boston Brass). In addition to his time with the Athletic Band program, Mills was a member and officer of the Beta Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity, the principle saxophonist of the ASU wind ensemble, a low brass member of the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, and the soprano saxophone chair of the nationally competitive Paradigm Shift Saxophone Quartet.

Since his relocation to Texas, Mr. Mills was hired as the Associate Director of Bands at Taft High School in San Antonio's Northside Independent School District in 2013. He was later promoted to the Director of Bands in May of 2019. As the director of bands, Mr. Mills leads the team-taught marching band program, conducts the Taft Wind Ensemble, and team teaches the Taft Jazz Ensemble with fellow directors Jeremy Chapman and Robert Soto. His bands have continuously received sweepstakes ratings at UIL contests since his employment at Taft HS. Mills also actively teaches saxophone privately. His students have gone on to be accepted into region bands, area bands, the Texas all-state band and national programs such as the Interlochen Summer Arts Academy in Michigan. Mills' student have also gone on to be accepted into collegiate programs such as the Manhatten School of Music, the New School in New York City, the University of Michigan School of Music, the University of Indiana Jacob's School of Music, UNT, Texas State, the University of Texas at Austin and San Antonio. He is a member of the Texas Bandmaster's Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and a lifetime member of Kappa Kappa Psi- National Honorary Band Fraternity. 

He also has a passion for jazz education, after re-starting the Taft jazz program in 2013 in his first year as a teacher. The Taft Jazz program has grown over the last decade to educating over 40 students in two separate big bands which meet daily as a full year course team taught by the entire director team. The Taft Jazz Ensemble has performed with artists such as Butch Miles, Andre Hayward, Pete Rodriguez, Freddie Mendoza, Wayne Bergeron, Brad Leali, and Stefon Harris. In 2023, the Taft Jazz Ensemble performed at the TMEA Convention as the High School Invited Jazz Ensemble under Mills' direction. 

Greg and his wife Leslie both live in San Antonio with their son Ezra and 85 pound goldendoodle Bo. They enjoy visiting the many Texas State Parks located throughout the Hill Country and hiking on the weekends.

Joey Salinas, Associate Director of Bands

210-397-5975

Mr. Salinas is the Associate Director of Bands at William Howard Taft High School. Mr. Salinas received his Associate Degree of Music at Del Mar College, and his Bachelor Degree of Music Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. 

Mr. Salinas’ Education involved being mentored by outstanding musicians/music educators, such as Dr. Abel Ramirez, Professor Charles Villarubia, and Dr. Donald Pinson. With their guidance, Mr. Salinas was able to become a member of the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, The San Antonio Wind Symphony, medalist for the 2022 SCRTEC Chamber Ensemble Competition, 2-time TCCBDA All-Stater, and 3-time winner of the Del Mar College Solo competition. Through these accomplishments, he has been able to play alongside fantastic musicians from around the world. 

While Mr. Salinas was in school, he spent 6 years participating in Drum Corps International as a performing member. He was a member of The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, where he served as a member of the baritone section between the years of 2016-2017. Following this, he participated with the 7-time champions, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, between the years of 2018-2021. He initially began his time there as a baritone player, but began to serve as the Drum Major of The Cavaliers between the years of 2019-2021. In his time with the cavaliers, he had the privilege of

Being involved with clinics at the Midwest and TMEA conventions titled “Go Play Outside! The Cavaliers Orchestral Approach to Brass” featuring presenters Michael Martin, Drew Dickey, Kevin Lebeouf, and Freddy Martin. Mr. Salinas had the honor and privilege of receiving the “Cavalier of the Year” award for the 2021 season. Currently, Mr. Salinas continues to be involved with the Troopers Drum And Bugle Corps for his 2nd year as a euphonium technician. 

Mr. Salinas began his career as a band director in 2023 with Ronald McNair Middle School, and continued his career for the next 2 years at Judith Resnik Middle School in Southwest ISD. He was able to achieve multiple awards in concert and jazz band at both programs, and received the “Most Improved Fine Arts Teacher of the Year” Award in the 2024-2025 school year. In his years in Southwest ISD, Mr. Salinas had the privilege of receiving mentorship from Mr. Gilbert Sanchez, Mr. George Tullos, and Mr. Roland Sandoval. 

Mr. Salinas is very excited to join the Taft Raider Band for the upcoming school year!

Jeremy Chapman, Director of Percussion Studies

Jeremy.Chapman@nisd.net

210-397-5963

Jeremy Chapman is the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of Percussion at William Howard Taft High School in San Antonio, TX, where his responsibilities include teaching drumline, front ensemble, concert percussion, steel drum band, concert band, as well as teaching percussion at Zachry and Briscoe Middle Schools.

Jeremy Chapman is an alumnus of the University of Kentucky where he received his BA in Music Education and studied Percussion Performance under DCI Hall of Fame Recipient, PAS Hall of Fame Recipient, & Provost Distinguished Service Professor, James Campbell.

Jeremy was a member of the 1999 Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, winning the Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance.  In 2001, he won the Percussive Art Society Solo Percussion Contest.  Jeremy went on to teach several Drum & Bugle Corps including Southwind, The Colts, Spirit of Atlanta, and Phantom Regiment.

In 2008, he began teaching at Clinton HS in Clinton, TN.  In 2011, while a Director at Broken Arrow HS, the Pride of Broken Arrow Marching Band won the BOA Grand National Championship.  As an Assistant Band Director & Percussion Specialist at Wagner HS, the percussion program has received consistent and numerous awards for outstanding percussion in Marching Band and have performed at the following events: 2015 PASIC Convention in San Antonio, 2016 DCI Drumline Battle in San Antonio, 2018 TMEA Showcase Concert, and 2019 TBA Convention “The Great Divide” Making the Percussionists’ Middle School Years Count. Most recently as the Fredericksburg ISD Director of Bands, Mr. Chapman is looking forward to come back home to San Antonio and finish out his teaching career. Jeremy is a proud endorser of Remo Drumheads and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.

Jeremy and his wife Michelle along with their two young daughters Ella Rhea and Emma Kate, are excited to join Northside ISD Community at Taft High School as an Associate Director of Bands. GO RAIDERS!

In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys writing music, date nights with his wife, and playing with his daughters. He also loves cheering on his 8-time National Champion Kentucky Wildcats Basketball team! GO CATS!