Lance Brightwell, a native of Beckville, TX,  is a graduate of Northwestern State University, LA with a BA in Music Education and Music Theory.  While under the studies of Kenneth H. Green, Caroline Beatty, and Bill Brent he was Section Leader multiple years for the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Marching Drumline where he also acted as an arranger.  After graduating NSU in 2005, he lived in Nashville, TN working as a freelance percussion instructor and private lesson teacher for Wilson Central High School, where he was involved with WGI and TCGC competing nationally. 

In 2006 he began his full time Music Education career at Midway High School in Waco, TX as Assistant Director / Percussion Coordinator.  As an arranger and teacher in the Waco Area, Lance designed for, worked with and taught various successful PASIC competitors.  These include High School Snare Championship solos for the 2009-2011 1st place award winners as well as the 2010 PASIC Multi-Percussion Champion and 1st Runner Up Compositions. 

In 2008 Lance was hired as Assistant Director of Bands / Coordinator of Percussion for Lake Travis ISD in Austin, TX.  Here he worked with all percussionists from 6th-12th grade including Lake Travis and Hudson Bend Middle Schools and also conducted the high school Symphonic Band.  In 2011 Lake Travis High School achieved the honor of qualifying for the 4A Texas State Marching Band Contest placing 5th place overall in Finals Competition. In 2012 the band qualified again for the State Marching Contest in the 5A classification. 

While under Mr. Brightwell’s direction the Percussion section at Lake Travis also experienced many high achievements including 2012 PASIC Silver Medalists in the marching stand still division and winning “Best Snare Line” and “Best Cymbal Line”. In 2012, the LT Winter Drumline was the Scholastic Marching A Campion in the Texas Colorguard Circuit.  In 2013 they were the WGI Houston Regional Champions and the Scholastic Marching Open Champions in TCGC.  In 2014, the Winter Drumline finished 3rd place in the TCGC State Competition solidifying themselves as a consistent medalist in the circuit. 

Lance is an active adjudicator and clinician in Texas and Louisiana for UIL and Percussive Arts Society and is Educationally Endorsed by Innovative Percussion.  He has been an instructor all over TX since 2010 for “RATAMACAMP”, a series of Summer Percussion camps, beginner level – 8th grade with founder, Paul Garretson.  It is here that he continues his pursuit for teaching and developing the young percussionist, one of his greatest passions.  Associations include PAS, TBA, TMEA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Lance lives in the hill country of Austin, TX with his wife Hannah and their 2 dogs. He is honored to be a part of the Dripping Springs Band family!