Ray Henricksen

Ray Henricksen is a band director at John P. Stevens HS in Edison, NJ. Prior to this position, Ray spent multiple years in Texas where he taught at Duncanville HS (Dallas) and Weiss High School (Austin), where their programs earned many accolades. Every ensemble under his direction has earned straight 1’s in both the concert band and marching band competition. During his time at Duncanville HS and Weiss HS, both respectively advanced to the State Level in Marching Competition. Weiss HS earned the title of being one of the youngest bands to ever make it to UIL State Finals in 2019. 

​Since 2018, Ray has been a Brass Staff member with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps Organization– the same Drum Corps that he marched in 2011. He also has experience teaching multiple marching bands and Drum Corps in the New York metropolitan area as well as the Austin/DFW areas of Texas.

​Ray holds a master’s degree in Euphonium Performance from The University of North Texas, studying with world-renowned soloist Dr. Brian Bowman. He also received a minor in Wind Band Conducting at the tutelage of Eugene Corporon and Dennis Fisher. Prior to his time in Texas, Ray received his Bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, where he was a student of Dr. Stephen Arthur Allen and Aaron VanderWeele. In 2013, he was presented with the Mason Gross Award for Excellence in Brass Performance.

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." -Colin Powell