Our Shepton Band Directors
Our wonderful Shepton Band is led by two talented directors, Mr. Zach Shirley and Mr. Ian Aigner-Varoz.
Emails: zach.shirley@pisd.edu, ianaignervaroz.aign@pisd.edu
HEad Band director, Mr. Zach Shirley
Mr. Shirley is honored to be in his 4th year as Director of Bands at Shepton High School. Prior to his appointment as head director, Mr. Shirley served as the Associate Director of Bands at Shepton for 8 years, and as the Associate Director of Bands in Moody, TX, for 2 years before that.
The Shepton Band is an award-winning performance group consisting of several different ensembles across many mediums and genres. Mr. Shirley directs the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and the Shepton Marching Band. Mr. Shirley also assists with the Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, and the Shepton Symphony Orchestra. In Mr. Shirley's tenure as the director of bands, the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble have earned consistent Superior Division ratings at marching and concert UIL contests. The Symphonic Band has also gone from non-existent to earning Superior and Excellent ratings in their contest performances as well.
Following his graduation in 2008 from Plano West Senior High School, Mr. Shirley attended the University of North Texas and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music Education - Secondary Instrument Music. He played flute and piccolo in the Green Brigade Marching Band, the UNT Flute Choir, and the UNT Concert Band 1.
Mr. Shirley's professional affiliations include TMEA, TBA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has a passion for community ensembles and has not gone more than 7 months of his career without playing in a local group. Throughout his career, Mr. Shirley has played with the Temple College Wind Ensemble, the UMHB Conservatory Flute Choir, the Bell Civic Chorale, the Plano Community Band, and he most recently became a founding member of the Renaissance Winds, based in Rowlette. In his spare time enjoys running, working out, checking off restaurants from the Michelin Guide, and spending time with his cats, Juniper and Giblet, and his wife, Lindsy, who is a music therapist at the UTSW Cancer Center in Dallas.
Associate Director, Mr. Ian Aigner-Varoz
Ian Aigner-Varoz is entering his third year as the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of Jazz Bands at Shepton High School. He directs the Wind Symphony and also works with the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and the Symphonic Band.
Last year, Mr. Aigner-Varoz and the students of the Wind Symphony made history when they achieved superior division ratings at the Texas UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation for both the stage and sight-reading portions of the contest for the first time since 2009.
As the Director of Jazz Bands, Mr. Aigner-Varoz teaches around 50 students across three performing ensembles, the Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Jazz Combo.
Mr. Aigner-Varoz is a graduate of the University of North Texas, earning a degree in Music Education in December 2023. As a trumpet player, Mr. Aigner-Varoz was involved in many ensembles during his time at UNT, including the Green Brigade Marching Band, Brass Band, and Wind Ensemble. He served the students of Carroll ISD as their student teacher under the direction of Mr. Ken Johnson (Carroll Senior HS) and Mrs. Bethni Lown (Carroll MS).
Mr. Aigner-Varoz is also a proud alumnus of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, earning the silver medal in 2022. He returned this past summer during their 2026 season as a member of the brass staff.
Mr. Aigner-Varoz holds professional affiliations with TMEA and Essentially Ellington. He also performed as a cornetist in the award-winning Dallas Brass Band for multiple years. During his free time, Ian enjoys weightlifting, iced lattes, walking his Chihuahua, Rosie, and spending time with his partner and fellow music educator, Abby.
