Birdville ISD has named longtime music educator Mark McGahey as the district’s new Director of Fine Arts. He will take over the Fine Arts Department from Danny Detrick, who is retiring after years of dedicated leadership and service to the district.

McGahey has served as Birdville ISD’s Assistant Director of Fine Arts for the past three years and brings more than three decades of experience in music education to his new role as Director. Over the course of his 37-year career in education, McGahey has helped shape award-winning music programs and mentored generations of student musicians as a teacher, conductor, clinician and adjudicator. 

“I am honored to become the next Director of Fine Arts for Birdville ISD,” McGahey said. “I would like to personally thank Danny Detrick for his leadership and guidance over the past three years – and for the legacy he has helped build with BISD Fine Arts. I look forward to continuing to showcase our Fine Arts Department as a highlight of BISD while providing our students with a variety of performance and artistic experiences.”

Prior to joining Birdville ISD in 2023, McGahey spent 26 years as Director of Bands at Keller High School in Keller ISD, where he led one of the state’s most respected band programs at the time. During his tenure, ensembles under his direction have earned national recognition, including being named a finalist at the prestigious Bands of America Grand National Championships in 2015. 

Before his time in Keller, McGahey directed band programs at South Grand Prairie High School and Shawnee High School in Oklahoma. Throughout his career, he has also been an active clinician and guest lecturer across the country, presenting and working with music programs in states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Missouri, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. 

McGahey earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Oklahoma and his Master’s degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University–Commerce. He is a Past President of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA) and is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity.

McGahey will assume his new role effective July 1.