A 2025 National Finalist for The American Prize in Conducting, Dr. Kenneth Cox is the Director of Bands at Gene Tomas High School, the newest high school in Lamar CISD. Prior to Tomas High School, Dr. Cox was the Associate Director of Bands at Churchill Fulshear High School. He played a vital role in Fulshear’s growth and success. Under his leadership and collaboration with the Fulshear Band Staff, the Fulshear Band achieved numerous accolades, including being named Bands of America Regional Championship Finalist at the Bands of America South Houston Regional, qualifying for the UIL State Marching Contest on multiple occasions, consistent Area Finals in 5A and 6A classifications, earning recognition as a TMEA Honor Band Qualifier, and receiving multiple regional honors. Before Fulshear High School, Kenneth was an Assistant Band Director at William B. Travis High School in Fort Bend ISD.
Before moving to Texas, Dr. Cox pursued his academic and musical training at esteemed institutions such at the University of South Carolina, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Bowling Green State University. He has also worked with Bands of America Grand National Finalist bands such as Carmel High School from Carmel, Indiana and Dobyns-Bennett High School from Kingsport, Tennessee. As an instrumentalist, Kenneth has performed in the United States, Canada, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, China, and Japan. Dr. Cox is also an active adjudicator, judges for US Bands, and has adjudicated over two dozen contests throughout the United States.
As the son of two music educators and a native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Alex has been involved in the performing arts for his entire life. Alex attended Broken Arrow High School and graduated in 2012 with the education and experience of a Bands Of America Grand National Championship title.
Alex went on to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to study under pedagogues and professional musicians such as Dr. Dean Gronemeier, Kurt Rasmussen (Cirque Du Soleil), Dr. Timothy Jones, and Dr. Alex Stopa. As a percussionist, Alex earned his place in the Grammy-nominated UNLV Wind Orchestra under professor Thomas G. Leslie, where his talents can be heard on three professionally recorded albums (Ventanas, The Return, and 24K Gould) under the renowned Klavier label.
As an educator, Alex has worked and consulted with many percussion programs across the Vegas valley before moving to Texas, including Foothill High School and Vegas Vanguard Percussion Theatre, a WGI Independent Open Class ensemble, where he served as a battery specialist.
In conjunction with his educational endeavors, Alex has had tremendous professional performance experience throughout the entertainment capital of Las Vegas. In 2015, Alex became a lead performer for Vegas Vanguard Entertainment (VVE) and began occasional work with the Los Angeles-based production company Entertainment Plus (ePlus). In his time performing with VVE and ePlus, Alex showcased his talents at world-renowned venues such as the MGM Grand Casino’s Hakkasan Nightclub, Caesar’s Hotel and Casino’s OMNIA Nightclub, and massive corporate events for companies like IBM, Oracle, and others. His performances have also included collaborations with well-known celebrities and artists from all over the world.
In the spring of 2018, Alex moved to Texas to pursue his passion for teaching percussion. He served as the Assistant Percussion Director and Battery Coordinator under Robbie Green at Cypress Falls High School for the 2018-2019 school year. Since 2019, Alex has been the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Specialist at Cypress Park High School, where he established an indoor percussion program that earned the A-Class 3rd place medal in 2022, became Open-Class Champions in 2023, and has competed in World Class during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Alex is extremely grateful for the instruction he has received from his educational and professional mentors—in particular—Tom McGillen, Dr. Dean Gronemeier, Thomas Leslie, Brian Howerton, and Robbie Green. His immense reverence for those who helped him is a strong motivator for his passion to educate and reciprocate the knowledge to generate such remarkable experiences for others.
Mr. Bass is a proud Houston native and graduate of Dickinson High School. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at the University of Houston and holds a Master of Education in Higher Education from Angelo State University and a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College. In his time away from the Tomas Color Guard, Mr. Bass works as a speech language pathologist.
Mr. Bass has performed with many world class organizations including the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Code Black Winter Guard, and the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard. He has also been the director for various high school programs throughout Texas, including Pearland High School, Kempner High School, Friendswood High School, and most recently Stratford High School, leading his groups to multiple BOA, TCGC, and WGI regional and state finals appearances. He has also served as a designer and drill writer for different winter guard programs throughout Texas, including The Woodlands High School, Klein Collins High School, Aledo High School, and many more.
He was previously a director of Code Black Independent Winter Guard, winning the WGI Gold Medal in Independent Open in 2007, the WGI Bronze Medal in Independent A in 2010, and the WGI Silver Medal in Independent Open in 2013. Code Black was also a WGI finalist in Independent World in 2008 and in Independent Open in 2011 & 2012.
Mr. Bass is very excited to join the Gene Tomas Band and Color Guard family!
