About Band BFFs

Katie Lewis

Katie is in her 21st year as an educator. She began her career at Hendrick Middle School in Plano ISD for 5 years. She is now in her 16th year as Director of Bands at Maus Middle School in Frisco ISD, where she was one of the opening staff members in 2010! She was named the Maus Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2022. Under her direction, the Maus Wind Ensemble was named 2018 CC Honor Band 8th runner up and has consistently placed at the Area level. The ensemble has also been named aNational winner in the Foundation for Music Education for multiple years and received “Best in Class” awards at numerous North Texas Festivals.

Individual student honors are the norm as well. Maus students regularly place in the All-District and All-Region bands, and solo contestants bring home top honors. Mrs. Lewis graduated magna cum laude and received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas.

She has presented at TMEA, TBA, The Midwest Clinic, and Maine MEA, as well as adjudicating and clinicing throughout Texas. She is the Area B TMEA Mentor Network Coordinator and the TBA Region 24 Representative. Her professional affiliations include TMEA, TBA, Phi Beta Mu, TMAA, and ASBDA. She serves on the TMEA state board as Region 24 Secretary, Secretary of the Texas chapter of ASBDA, and as her Region representative for TBA. Mrs. Lewis and her co-presenter, Mrs. Bell, run their podcast “Band BFFs” , which aims to help band directors with literature selection as well as rehearsal strategies for specific pieces.

Mrs. Lewis is married to her husband Nathan (percussionist), and they have two sons. Jackson is an 8th grade horn player in the Maus Wind Ensemble and Micah is about to start beginner oboe in her program!

Laura Bell

Laura Bell has been an educator for over 25 years, and is currently Director of Bands at Stafford Middle School in Frisco ISD. Bands under her direction have consistently received first division ratings at UIL and local festivals, as well earning several Best in Class distinctions. She was named Stafford MS Teacher of the Year in 2022. The Stafford Band program was awarded the "Outstanding Band Program" distinction by the Texas Chapter of ASBDA in 2023.

Mrs. Bell is a graduate of the University of North Texas percussion department. She is in high demand as an adjudicator and clinician in the DFW metroplex, a published author, and co-creator of the podcast Band BFF’s. Mrs. Bell’s professional affiliations include the TMEA, TMAA, TBA, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity.

Along with her husband, she is the Tour Director staff member with MAI since 2016 and loves sharing the opportunity of performing around Europe with hundreds of students across the metroplex!