Our Team
The Melissa Choir Staff is a passionate team of educators dedicated to developing confident singers while teaching life skills through excellence, collaboration, and a student-first approach.
Katie Patel
Melissa ISD Director of Choral Activities
214-386-2380 Office214
Melissa ISD is proud to welcome Katie Patel as Head Director of Choirs at Melissa High School. With 12 years of experience and a proven record of excellence, Mrs. Patel brings a passion for student growth and high-quality choral instruction to the Melissa Choir program.
Most recently, Mrs. Patel served as Head Choir Director at Jasper High School in Plano ISD, where she was named the 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. During her tenure, she grew the choir program from 111 students to a projected 294 students, reflecting a strong culture of student engagement and program success. Her ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at UIL, and her students were actively involved in the TMEA All-State process and in solo and ensemble events. Under her leadership, the Non-Varsity A Cappella Mixed Choir was selected as a 2025 Invited Honor Choir at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, one of the highest honors in Texas choral music.
Mrs. Patel is an active leader in the North Texas choral community, having served as an assistant conductor with the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas and currently as Principal Conductor of the Treble Youth Chorus with the Greater Dallas Choral Society. She is also a recipient of the Texas Choral Directors Association’s Young Director of Distinction award.
Patel holds both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Texas Tech University. She resides in McKinney with her husband, Neal, Head Director of Choirs at Highland Park High School, and their son, Dylan. They are excited to welcome their daughter, Drew, this summer.
Melissa Martin is in her fourth year as head director of choirs at ECMS. During this time, her ensembles have experienced significant growth, achieved stellar scores at UIL, and consistently had students make the All-Region choir.
Originally from Mansfield, Texas, Mrs. Martin's journey with choir began in 5th grade and has been marked by a consistent pursuit of excellence. Throughout her time in MISD schools, she sang in ensembles that earned numerous awards, recognitions, and superior contest ratings. She continued her choral journey at Stephen F. Austin State University, where she graduated in 2023 with a degree in music education. While there, she performed with ensembles that performed at events such as the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association Convention and the Texas Music Educators Association Convention.
Beyond her professional role, Mrs. Martin and her husband have enjoyed becoming part of the local community and love spending time with their dog, Willow! Music has been a lifelong passion for Mrs. Martin, and she is honored to inspire and cultivate that same passion in her students every day!
Marketing DirectorBrooke Grall is an accomplished music educator, choir director, mezzo-soprano, and collaborating pianist with over two decades of experience in the North Texas choral community. Most recently, she has served in Melissa ISD as the Elementary Music Specialist at Sumeer Elementary. She specializes in Kodály-based pedagogy, leading large-scale music programs, and developing the young singing voice.
Previously, during her extensive tenure at Lovejoy ISD (2009–2024), she was an integral member of the growing choir program. Her choirs consistently earned Sweepstakes at UIL contest, competed at state UIL and TMEA experiences, while continuing to build in program size and stature each year. While teaching in the K-6th grade schools, she also co-directed the Lovejoy Children's Choir, the prestigious auditioned choir offered to 4th-6th graders.
Mrs. Grall is so thankful for the opportunity to invest in the choral program here in Melissa ISD. She is committed to helping young singers feel known, grow in confidence, and experience the joyful connection that comes from making music together.
Mrs. Grall completed both her Vocal Performance and Music Education degrees at the University of North Texas. She lives in Anna with her husband, and their two children, Zoe and Lincoln.