Jim Palmer

Director of Bands

Jim Palmer is the Director of Bands at Cain Middle School in Rockwall, Texas. He joined the Cain program in 2021.

Mr. Palmer is beginning his twenty-fifth year of teaching and is also the TMEA Region 3 Middle School Band Coordinator.

In his time away from band directing, Mr. Palmer enjoys spending time with his wife Kasye, who is a music therapist, his son Kyle, who plays the bassoon, and their puppy Bella.

Mr. Palmer is passionate about sharing his love of music with others and cannot wait to get started working with the students and parents at Cain Middle School.

Preston Prior

Assistant Director of Bands

Preston Prior is the Assistant Director of Bands at Cain Middle School in Rockwall, TX, a position he accepted in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University as well as a Master of Music Education with an emphasis in Wind Conducting from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Prior to his arrival at Cain Middle School in 2019, Prior was the Director of Bands at Garcia Middle School in Dallas ISD, where he grew the program from 50 students to 400 students as well as helped the band program earn its first-ever Sweepstakes Award at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. The program consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings under his direction.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Prior is an active trumpet player, conductor, and clinician. In 2010, Mr. Prior founded the Dallas Civic Wind Ensemble, an all-professional wind band. Mr. Prior serves as the ensemble’s Executive Director as well as associate conductor and occasional trumpet section member. The ensemble performs regularly in the Dallas Metroplex and has been featured at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in San Antonio.

Mr. Prior is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Delta Pi honors society for educators.

Kenneth “Rod” Kosterman

Percussion Director

Rod Kosterman began his first year as the Percussion Director at Rockwall-Heath High School in the Summer of 2016. He is also the Front Ensemble Designer and Coordinator for Vigilantes Indoor Percussion.

In 2010, Rod graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Percussion Performance from UNT and was awarded Outstanding Undergraduate in percussion. Later that year, Rod was the recipient of Indiana University’s Artistic Excellence Scholarship. He served as the department’s Graduate Assistant in 2011-12.

Rod’s composition for marimba and cello, in nebulous suspension held, won third prize in the 2010 PAS Composition Contest and is now published by Mostly Marimba. Song for Monica, a vibraphone solo, is available through Tapspace publications and is on the Ohio and Texas Prescribed Music Lists for Solo & Ensemble.

From 2011 through 2016, Rod was on the front ensemble staff for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. He also served as Education Program Director for the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble in 2015.

Rod is a proud endorser of Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Remo drum heads, as well as Mapex and Majestic marching percussion instruments.