MEET THE BAND DIRECTORS
Corey Graves
Director of Bands
Corey LaMon Graves is in eighteenth year in music education and serves as the Director of Bands at Themer Middle School in Forney Independent School District. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Graves served as the Director of Bands at Jackson Middle School (Forney ISD, three years), and Roma Middle School (Roma ISD, eleven years). He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree as a summa cum laude graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University, and earned a Master of Music in Euphonium Performance from The Ohio State University as a graduate fellow. Mr. Graves is a Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholar.
Bands under his direction have consistently received superior sweepstakes ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest, and have also earned high levels of recognition at both the state and national stage, being recognized as a National and Commended Winner in The Foundation for Music Education National Wind Band contest from 2013-2023. His bands have been consistent state finalists in the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band Competition, being honored as the 2020 TMEA CC Honor Band. His ensembles have also been invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. His Roma Middle School band program is a 2019 recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award and named a Rio Grande Valley Program of Distinction. Mr. Graves was chosen as Roma ISD’s 2013 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Forney ISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2023, and named the Phi Beta Mu Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year in 2017. He was also named as Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Teacher of Excellence and a Country Music Awards Music Teacher of Excellence in both 2023 and 2024.
He is an active clinician, adjudicator, guest euphoniumist, sits on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, is an educational clinician for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education, and maintains professional affiliations with Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, the UIL Prescribed Music List Committee, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Mr. Graves credits his passion for music to his mother, Brenda M. Moore, his drive for success to his grandmother, Mrs. Vergie Graves, and his love of education to an incredible list of music educators across the country.
Tina Sala
Assistant Band Director
Tina Sala is currently in her fifth year of teaching and her fifth year in Forney ISD. Ms. Sala is a Baylor University graduate where she received her Bachelor of Music Education under Dr. Michael Jacobson, Dr. Eric Wilson, Mr. Alex Parker and Dr. David Montgomery. Her primary instrument is saxophone and throughout her undergraduate degree she participated in the Golden Wave Marching Band, the Baylor University Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble and other saxophone quartets and jazz combos.
Ms. Sala currently serves as the Assistant Band Director at Themer Middle School and Rhea Intermediate, where she directs the Wind Symphony and teaches the beginning saxophone, flute, and double-reed classes. In its inaugural year, the Wind Symphony received Sweepstakes in the UIL Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation and won Second Runner Up at the 2025 North Texas Festival of Distinction. Prior to her appointment at Themer, Ms. Sala opened Jackson Middle School alongside Mr. Graves and Ms. DeShay. Before teaching at Jackson, Ms. Sala was the Assistant Band Director at O.P. Norman Junior High in Kaufman ISD.
In addition to teaching in Forney, Ms. Sala regularly teaches at the Baylor Summer Music Camps and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. She currently lives in the Dallas area with her fiance and two pups, Luna and Sunny.
Quintavia Deshay
Assistant Band Director
Quintavia DeShay is thrilled to join the Themer Middle School Team and the Titan Band Program as a fourth-year Assistant Director! With great enthusiasm, Ms. DeShay will be directing the Concert Band and assisting with both the Honors and Symphonic Bands. Additionally, she is delighted to teach beginning tuba, euphonium, trombone, and trumpet classes, while bringing her passion and energy to every student she works with.
Born and raised in Austin Texas, and a proud first-generation graduate, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in May 2021, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her esteemed mentors at Stephen F. Austin include Dr. J.D. Salas, Dr. Tamey Angelly, Dr. Christopher Kaatz, and Dr. David Campo. Ms. DeShay excelled as a tuba player for the University's Bands/Roarin’ Buzzsaws, and served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the Lumberjack Marching Band. Upon graduation, she was honored with the Outstanding Senior in Instrumental Music Education Award. Outside of teaching, Ms. DeShay enjoys playing her instrument, binge-watching TV, and spending time with her dapple dachshund, Ivy-Simone.
Ms. Deshay is professionally affiliated with the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Young Band Directors of Texas, and International Tuba Euphonium Association.
Ms. DeShay feels honored to have the opportunity to work with and welcome such phenomenal students into the Titan Band family. She is excited about the great things in store for the upcoming school year and looks forward to building connections with her students!
Kohei Sakai
Percussion Director
Kohei Sakai is in his fourth year of teaching and currently serves as the Percussion Director for Themer Middle School and Rhea Intermediate. He teaches all things percussion at Themer/Rhea, and 5th grade music.
Originally from Michigan and Ohio, Mr. Sakai moved to Texas to attend the University of North Texas where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in Percussion. He performed in the marching band, concert bands, various classical and world percussion ensembles, and jazz ensembles. Prior to Themer Middle School and Rhea Intermediate, Mr. Sakai served as the percussion director at North Forney High School, Jackson Middle School, and Rhodes Intermediate.
Mr. Sakai holds professional affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.
Outside of band, Mr. Sakai enjoys time with family and friends, serves on the worship team at his church, loves good food, golf, and pickleball.