Our Directors
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Natalia Albacete
Director of Bands
Natalia Albacete is in her 13th year of teaching in Humble ISD. Her undergraduate in Music Education was earned at Lamar University and she completed her MA in Band Studies at Sam Houston State University. Fun fact: after Lamar, she graduated from Disney University where she completed an internship and studied Entertainment, Show Production and Development.
Ms. Albacete began her professional career at River Pines Elementary, where she began the first Trash Can Band and earned Teacher of the Year in 2013. As a band director, Ms. Albacete has earned consistent Sweepstakes and "Best in Class" Awards at West Lake Middle School and has been a teacher of the year finalist 5 times. The West Lake Middle School Honors Band was also named the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors AA winner in 2021. Ms. "A" has served the band community as an invited presenter for several clinics and trainings for music educators and was published in the Southwestern Musician Magazine in Sept. 2021. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Young Band Directors of Texas, and the National Band Association.
Eric Rokohl
Assistant Band Director
Mr. Rokohl is in his 12th year teaching band in the public school setting, the last 5 of those years at West Lake. In those 5 years, Mr. Rokohl has helped to raise the level of student performance, and has directed the percussion ensemble program and jazz ensemble.
A graduate from the University of Montana, he came to Texas in 2012 and taught for one year at Hallettsville Junior High, and three years at C. E. King High School (in Sheldon ISD, east Houston) for three years where he helped to turn the band program into a consistently successful program, and started new opportunities for students such as jazz ensembles and indoor percussion ensembles.
Prior to West Lake, he was in Missoula, Montana teaching middle school band at C. S. Porter Middle School. There, he continued and improved the tradition of excellence by improving instrumentation, tone quality, and overall performance of bands in the program. His jazz ensembles and percussion ensembles consistently received top scores and ratings from music festivals in the area.
When he isn’t doing band-related things, he can be found with his wife and two children, probably at or watching an Astros game. He loves coffee and card games, and consistently enjoys both with his wife and kids.
Cory Roberts
Assistant Band Director
Brian Best
Atascocita High School Director
​Brian Best serves as the head director of bands at Atascocita High School. Brian attended Sam Houston State University where he graduated with a bachelors of music in saxophone performance and a masters of music in instrumental music conducting. Brian has been the director of bands for perennial sweepstakes-winning Texas band programs for both middle school and high school. Under his direction, he has taken his bands to UIL Area Finals and has advanced to UIL State Marching Championships and various state ensemble festivals and contests. Brian is in demand as a judge UIL events for marching band and concert and sightreading contests, and he has also been invited to guest clinic TMEA Region Bands. As a wind band composer, Brian has had several commissioned works performed by various programs across the state.
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As a performing artist, Brian has released two contemporary solo jazz albums and is in high demand as a freelancing saxophone performer, recording artist, and music producer all over the country for many styles of music ranging from pop, dance, rock, jazz, and electric. He is also in demand as a jazz headliner in Houston and all over the country. He is also in demand as an instrumentalist for many bands in the Houston area. Brian has shared the stage with many national jazz artists, such as Allen Vizzutti, Chris Vadala, Regina Belle, Althea Rene, Marion Meadows, Gerald Albright, Bobby Lyle, and Ron Wilkins. Brian has also appeared in several television performances and as a headliner for many jazz festivals, such as the Houston Jazz Festival, Beaumont Jazz Festival, Zachary Breaux Jazz Festival, Kemah Jazz Festival, and the Michigan Jazz Festival.
In his free time, Brian enjoys video gaming and spending time with his family. Brian also enjoys writing and producing music in his spare time and highly enjoys practicing his saxophone.
Rachael Sitka
Mrs. Sitka is currently in her 11th year at Summer Creek High School, 6th year as Director of Bands. She has previously taught in Aldine and Brenham ISDs and is a proud graduate of Texas Tech University.
Summer Creek High School Director