Meet Our Directors

Mike Flake, Band Director

lflake@conroeisd.net 

Mr. Flake serves as the Band Director at Grand Oaks High School. He has taught all levels of band including beginner, intermediate, junior high and high school.  His specialty is woodwinds.

Originally from Texas City, Texas, Mr. Flake graduated from The University of Houston with a Bachelor's Degree in Music.  He also holds a Master's of Music Degree from DePaul University where he studied with the woodwind section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra including former principal clarinetist Larry Combs. He began his career in education in 2000 and his professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Association of Texas Professional Educators.  

​

Mr. Flake's music accomplishments include a variety of milestones.  In 1997, he was one of only four people in the world selected into the DePaul University Clarinet Studio.  In 2007, his McCullough Wind Ensemble won the National Wind Band Honors Concert Band Contest. In 2014, his College Park High School Clarinet Choir was selected to perform at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. And, the Grand Oaks Wind Ensemble was honored as a 2021 Commended Winner of the National Wind Band Honors.

​​

Mr. Flake is happily married to his wife Karen Flake.  They have two beautiful daughters,  Madeline  and Sydney, and live in Spring, Texas.  During his spare time, he enjoys running, cooking and working with his hands.

Luke Stoner, Assistant Band Director 

 lstoner@conroeise.net

Mr. Stoner serves as the Assitant Band Director at Grand Oaks High School.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Stoner graduated from Miami University (OH) with Bachelor's Degrees in Music and Marketing. He began his career in education in 2020 and his professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mr. Stoner is an active musician, serving as euphonium section leader for the Woodlands Concert Band, who are recipients of the Sudler Silver Scroll and have performed at the Midwest Clinic. Mr. Stoner is also a huge advocate for the marching arts. He performed with seven-time Drum Corps International World Champions, The Cavaliers, from 2013 to 2017, serving as baritone section leader and assistant drum major. He has been a World Class DCI instructor since 2018, currently serving as Assistant Brass Caption Manager at Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps.

Prior to coming to Grand Oaks, Mr. Stoner taught at Bleyl Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for three years where he instructed beginner brass classes and the Concert Winds, and Jersey Village High School, where he conducted the Symphonic Band and instructed the marching band's visual program.

Mr. Stoner is happily married to his wife, Jessie.  They have two cats, Tiger and Sean Bean. When he is not teaching, Mr. Stoner loves playing video games, board games, and card games.

Israel Lopez III, Percussion Director

isrlopez@conroeisd.net  

Mr. Lopez serves as the Percussion Director at Grand Oaks High School.

Mr. Lopez will begin his 8th year of teaching with us. Most recently, he was the percussion director at Dekaney High School where his percussion ensemble was chosen to perform at Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Lopez’s will be responsible to oversee every aspect of the percussion program, which includes coordination of the marching band battery, front ensemble, and chamber ensembles. He will also assists in the preparation of the concert ensembles for UIL concert and sight reading. 

Originally from Mission, Texas, Mr. Lopez’s upbringing in the Houston area led him to Sam Houston State University where he received his bachelor of music education degree in 2016. He studied with John Lane, Matt Holm, Matthew McInturf, and Brian Gibbs. He has also benefited from the mentorship of Chase Giddings, Trent Cooper, Jerriald Dillard, and Dana Pradervand. 

Mr. Lopez is an avid baseball fan, he enjoys anything Houston Astros related, as well as golfing and hunting. Mr. Lopez lives in Spring, Texas with his wife, Samantha, also a band director, and their two dogs, Midas and Zoey. His professional affiliations include TMEA, TBA, Phi Mu Alpha, and PASIC.