Craig Needham, Head Director

cneedham@mckinneyisd.net

Important Info for this year


Randy Lyle is excited to be starting his first year as Assistant Orchestra Director at McKinney Boyd High School. A native of Arlington, Texas, Mr. Lyle holds a degree in Music Education (2007) from Baylor University and a Master of Music Performance (2011) from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Mr. Lyle began his teaching career as a private instructor working with many students from Arlington-area schools, including Arlington High, Gunn Jr. High, and Boles Jr. High. In 2013, he joined an organization called B Sharp Youth Music, an El Sistema-inspired comprehensive music program based in Fort Worth, TX. During his seven years with B Sharp, Mr. Lyle served as head of the string department, worked as an upper-strings Teaching Artist, and created string curriculum covering ages from elementary to high school. In the fall of 2018, he became Music Director of the program, leading the B Sharp Youth Orchestra and the B Sharp Elementary Full Orchestra. He also created and led the Chamber Strings, a small ensemble comprised of advanced elementary students performing contemporary and pop music. Additionally, he works part-time at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he teaches a seminar course covering all aspects of heterogenous string instruction. Mr. Lyle is a member of the American String Teachers Association, the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and the Texas Music Educators Association.
As a violinist, Mr. Lyle has performed with the Lyric Stage Orchestra, the Lawton Philharmonic, and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. When he is not teaching or performing, he enjoys reading (fantasy and science fiction are favorite genres), watching movies, and listening to a wide variety of music.

McKinney Boyd HS Orchestra Directors

McKinney Boyd High School Orchestra

Randy Lyle, Associate Director

rlyle@mckinneyisd.net

Mr. Needham is in his 25th year of teaching, the last 16 as the head director at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas.  A graduate of the University of North Texas, Mr. Needham has performed with 9 different professional symphony orchestras, most recently as a member of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra.  As a chamber musician, he has been associated with the Vienna Conspiracy String Quartet for 15 years.  In the summer, Mr. Needham teaches at various Orchestra camps around Texas.

In the Dallas area, Mr. Needham has also served as the assistant conductor for the New Conservatory of Dallas and is currently the Orchestra Conductor at the Heights Baptist Church.  Mr. Needham’s groups have consistently won top honors at evaluations and competitions in Texas and around the country.  The Berkner High School Symphony Orchestra was named the TMEA High School String Honor Orchestra for 2006-2007.  Most recently, the Berkner Symphony Orchestra performed in Chicago at the 2016 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic where they had the opportunity to collaborate and perform with the Canadian Brass.

In 2003, Mr. Needham was awarded the Marjorie Keller Young Teacher Award, given to him by the Texas chapter of the American String Teachers Association.  In 2009, Mr. Needham was selected to be the Star Teacher of the Year for Richardson ISD.  Mr. Needham has served in leadership capacities as TMEA Region Chair, UIL Sight Reading committee, president of the Amarillo Youth Symphony board, TMEA Honor Orchestra Committee, the UIL Music Advisory Committee, and the UIL Prescribed Music List Committee.  Mr. Needham is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Mu Omicron, and the Texas Adjudicators Association.  Mr. Needham is a Past President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association and teaches AP Theory.  Mr. Needham recently completed a term as the Orchestra Division Vice-President for the Texas Music Educators Association and currently serves as the Orchestra Division VP for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. When he is not teaching, Mr. Needham enjoys playing golf, swimming, and spending time with his wife Susan, and his two daughters, Kayla and Sydney.