Mr. Emsley

Mr. Timothy (TJ) Emsley is the Director of Bands at Timberview Middle School, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, assists with the Symphonic and Concert Bands, and teaches beginner classes. Since joining Timberview in 2022, Mr. Emsley has helped grow the Hawk Band program from 174 to over 250 students. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble was selected as an Invited Ensemble at the 2025 Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis — one of only a handful of middle school bands chosen nationally each year. The Timberview band program has also been named a National Winner of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence and received Music for All's Advocacy in Action Award for the students' community service work. Mr. Emsley was named Timberview Middle School's Teacher of the Year for 2024–2025 and was a Top 5 Finalist for Keller ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Prior to Timberview, Mr. Emsley served as Associate Director of Bands at Highland Park Middle School in Dallas, where his bands consistently earned First Division ratings at UIL. He has also taught as an adjunct professor of music at East Texas A&M University, Kilgore College, and Paris Junior College, training the next generation of music educators.

A native of Charleston, South Carolina and a product of Kingsland, Georgia, Mr. Emsley holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Valdosta State University, where he studied percussion and served three years as drum major of the VSU Blazin' Brigade. He earned his Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from East Texas A&M University. Mr. Emsley is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and is regularly invited to serve as a clinician and adjudicator across the state — most recently as the concert band clinician for the 2025–2026 TMEA Region 2 Middle School All-Region Band.

Mr. Emsley believes that a strong band program teaches far more than music. Through daily rehearsal, students build discipline, learn to listen carefully to one another, and discover that real achievement comes from working toward something bigger than themselves. His goal is to send students into high school not only as capable musicians, but as confident young people who know how to set goals, problem-solve, and contribute to a team.

Outside of school, Mr. Emsley enjoys gardening, cooking and baking, and woodworking.

Mr. Walker

Mr. Daniel Walker is the Associate Director of Bands at Timberview Middle School, where he has taught since 2020. At Timberview, Mr. Walker conducts the Symphonic Band, co-teaches the Wind Ensemble alongside Mr. Emsley, and teaches all of the beginning woodwind classes. Under his direction, the Symphonic Band has earned consistent First Division ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation and was named runner-up at the North Texas Festival of Distinction. Mr. Walker also oversees the Hawk Band's private lesson program, leads 5th grade recruitment and instrument tryouts, and serves on staff each summer at the Young Saxophonist Institute.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Walker is deeply invested in building a band program where students want to belong. He organizes the community service projects, social events, and traditions — from food drives to arcade nights — that make the Hawk Band feel like a family.

Prior to joining Timberview, Mr. Walker served as the Band Director at Coppermill Elementary, a 5th–6th grade school in Zachary, Louisiana. A native of Baton Rouge, he earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana State University, where he studied saxophone as his primary instrument. At LSU, Mr. Walker performed tenor and alto saxophone in the Wind Ensemble; flute, clarinet, and baritone saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble; and marched in the Golden Band from Tigerland as a saxophonist. He credits two teachers with shaping his decision to enter the profession: his collegiate saxophone professor, Dr. Griffin Campbell, and his high school band director, Jeff Seighman.

Mr. Walker is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. Through teaching music, he hopes to help his students grow into hard-working, empathetic young adults with a lifelong passion for music and the arts.

Outside of school, Mr. Walker enjoys good coffee, spending time with friends, and giving treats to his cat, Velma.

Mr. Shinohara

Mr. Dan Shinohara is the Director of Percussion for the Timber Creek High School cluster, overseeing percussion at Timber Creek High School, Timberview Middle School, Trinity Springs Middle School, and Trinity Meadows Intermediate School. Mr. Shinohara has been on the Timber Creek staff since 2019, first as a battery technician and private lesson teacher throughout the feeder schools, and was appointed Director of Percussion in 2022. Under his leadership, the Timber Creek Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival during the 2025 Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis — one of the most prestigious invitations a percussion ensemble can receive.

Mr. Shinohara earned his Master's Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the UMass Drumline, Marimba Bands, and Percussion Studio, studying with Thom Hannum, Ian Hale, and Ayano Kataoka. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas, where he studied with Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, Stockton Helbing, Ed Smith, Dennis Fisher, and Dr. Nicholas Williams. At UNT, Mr. Shinohara served as section leader of the UNT Drumline and Symphonic Band and performed with the PASIC Quad Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Bands, and Gamelan Ensemble.

Mr. Shinohara's performance career includes four summers with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (2015–2018), appearances with the Boston Pops and the U.S. Air Force Band, and most recently with the Boston Celtics Drumline during the 2022 NBA Finals and the Dallas Mavericks Drumline during the 2024 NBA Finals. He has been a member of the Dallas Mavericks Drumline since 2018, performing regularly at home games and at appearances across the DFW Metroplex.

In addition to his work in the Timber Creek cluster, Mr. Shinohara serves as the Battery Arranger for the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, having previously held the roles of Percussion Caption Head and Battery Manager. He has also taught with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps, and numerous high school percussion programs across the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Mr. Shinohara is a proud education artist with Vic Firth and Zildjian. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society.