BRANDEIS
BRONCO BAND
Mr. Patrick Aguirre
Director of Bands
Patrick Aguirre is in his 10th year of teaching music and his first year with Northside ISD. Mr. Aguirre is excited to take on the role as Director of Bands at Louis D. Brandeis High School. Prior to this position, he served as Assistant Band Director at Southwest High School in Southwest ISD from 2017-2022, Assistant Band Director at Memorial High School from 2014-2017, and Band Director at Dwight Middle School in the 2013-2014 school year.
While at Southwest High School, Mr. Aguirre taught the Non-Varsity Band, Jazz Band I & II, co-taught the Marching Band, and started the school's Texas Future Music Educators Chapter. Every year the Non-Varsity Band received superior ratings, both Jazz Bands received numerous group and soloist awards, and the Marching Band placed in the top 10 at UIL Area in both 2019 & 2021. At Memorial High School, Mr. Aguirre taught the Non-Varsity Band and Jazz Band. The Non-Varsity Band received its first superior rating at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading in 2016. This ensemble was comprised of beginners and instrumentalist on secondary instruments. The Jazz Band earned 2nd place in the 5A category at The St. Mary's Jazz Festival in 2017. At Dwight Middle School, Mr. Aguirre managed the entire program by himself. Elevating the concert band from fair/poor ratings to excellent ratings at UIL Concert & Sight-reading in one school year.
Mr. Aguirre is a graduate from The University of Texas at San Antonio where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree. He was a member of the UTSA Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. He is grateful to have been directed and inspired by Dr. Robert Rustowicz, Mr. Ron Ellis, Dr. Si Millican, Mr. Charles Kuentz, Dr. Don Miller, and Dr. Utah Hamrick. As a saxophonist, Mr. Aguirre studied under David Debus, gold medalist at The Bordeaux Conservatory. In 2017, Mr. Aguirre received his Masters of Arts in Educational Administration From Texas A&M University San Antonio.
Mr. Jesse Cuellar
Associate Director, Jazz Studies
Jesse Cuellar is in his 9th year of teaching music and as Associate Director of Bands at Louis D. Brandeis High School. Prior to his appointment at Brandeis, Mr. Cuellar was the Associate Director of Bands at John Jay High School and Earl Warren High School. While at Jay, Mr. Cuellar assisted with the Varsity Marching Band and Varsity Concert Band. He conducted and directed the Non-Varsity Band, the John Jay Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo I, Jazz Combo II, and during his first two years the Mariachi ensemble as well. At Warren, Mr. Cuellar taught Music Theory/Appreciation, assisted with the Varsity Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Prep Band, and directed the Non-Varsity Concert Band, as well as the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I.
Mr. Cuellar is a graduate of St. Mary’s University where he earned a B.A. in Music Education and a B.B.A. in Human Resources. While at St. Mary’s, Mr. Cuellar was very active in the Jazz Orchestra, Concert Band, Rattler Pep-Band, and Vocal Ensembles. Alongside his college ensembles, Mr. Cuellar also performed with a local Mariachi ensemble that had the privilege of performing a two week tour in Europe with several other groups.
Mr. Cuellar’s professional affiliations include: Texas Music Educators Association, Texas BandMasters Association, and Who’s-Who Among American Teachers.
Mr. Cuellar is married to Dr. Natalie Cuellar, his wife of eleven years. They have a 8 year old son named Gabriel, a 6 year old daughter named Elena and a 3 year old boy named Edward.
Mr. David Suarez
Associate Director, Percussion Studies
David Suarez currently serves as the Percussion Coordinator and Assistant Band Director at Louis D. Brandeis High School in San Antonio, Texas. Under David’s guidance Brandeis High School has developed an exciting percussion program that includes a variety of performing ensembles. Brandeis percussion has enjoyed consistent competitive success in the Texas All-State process and is recognized
regularly at marching and chamber music competitions.
David is also the creator of the South Texas Classic Drumline Invitational, an annual marching percussion contest that has hosted thousands of students and their directors. In its 14 years of existence, the South Texas Classic has hired adjudicators and clinicians from across the country that includes leaders in the marching percussion industry and music education.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, David performed in the 22-time PAS National Champion Indoor Drumline. While at UNT he studied under Mark Ford, Christopher Dean, Paul Rennick, Ed Soph and performed in several World, Classical, and Marching Percussion ensembles. Prior to UNT, David was a member of the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps. percussion section under the Direction of Paul Rennick and Dr. Brian West.
David continues to support percussion arts and education through adjudicating, conducting clinics, and arranging. He serves as an Executive Committee Member for the Battle of Flowers Band Festival, a nearly 100-year-old marching festival known nationwide as one of the oldest and largest events of its kind. As a Committee Member David coordinates and arranges for this popular event.
David is endorsed by Innovative Percussion & Dynasty Percussion.
Mr. Shane Lemanski
Associate Director
Shane Lemanski was born and raised in central Texas as an eighth generation Texan. He has recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University and is excited to start his teaching career at Brandeis High School.
A clarinet player by trade, he also marched as a self-taught euphonium player with the World Class Finalist Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015.
During his college career, Mr. Lemanski seized many opportunities to lead, perform, and teach within central Texas. He served as the Drum Major and Band Manager of the Texas State Bobcat Marching Band during his four years with the ensemble under Dr. Kyle Glaser. He performed in the TXST Wind Symphony under Dr. Caroline Beatty, TXST Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Jacob Harrison, TXST Clarinet Choir under Dr. Vanguel Tangarov, TXST Salsa Del Rio under John Lopez, as well as several community bands and orchestras. He also worked three years with the award winning Dripping Springs High School Tiger Marching Band with Keith Lancaster and Derek Woods.
Making the move to San Antonio, Mr. Lemanski finished his student teaching at Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School and Hidden Forest Elementary School with the incredible mentorship of: Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt, Dr. John Denis, Jarrett Lipman, Allen Sharps, Angela Leonhardt, Amanda Stevenson, and Richard Herrera.
Mr. Lemanski is excited to join the “Spirit of Brandeis” team and looks forward to meeting the students, making music, and becoming a part of the band family.
In his free time, Mr. Lemanski enjoys being with friends and family, disc golfing, kayaking, listening to podcasts, eating Whataburger, and composing music.
Ms. Jacqueline Aguirre
Field Dance Director
Jackie Aguirre is the fine arts dance teacher at Louis D. Brandeis High School in San Antonio where she created NISD’s first Ballet Company. Dance has played a central role in her life for the past 33 years. Jackie began her dance training at age eight at the Vladimir Marek Ballet Academy under the instruction of Vladimir Marek, Nancy Smith and Joyce Knapick.
She attended the summer program at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City and the Kirov Academy in Washington, DC. After graduating from John Marshall High School, Jackie attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where she performed as a part of the Meadows School of the Arts. She earned a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Psychology and graduated magna cum laude in 1999. For the past 19 years, Jackie has worked with dance students as well as dance team members at Thomas Jefferson High School, Edgewood Fine Arts Academy, and Brandeis High School.
In addition to teaching dance, she is a vbarre teacher trainer and has presented workshops for Northside ISD, Comal ISD, San Antonio ISD, TDEA, and AAHPERD. Jackie was awarded the 2016 TDEA Dance Educator of the Year.
Ms. Madeline Chambers
Color Guard Director
Madeline Chambers is entering her tenth year in teaching colorguard and comes to us from Luther Burbank High School where she served as Colorguard Director from 2019-2021.
Madeline has over 20 plus years of dance experience, performing, studying, and training in various dance forms, including, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Classical Spanish, Ballet Folklorico and Flamenco. She has taught and performed throughout San Antonio with Image Dance Company, Cynergy Dance Academy, SASPA, along with the Dorothy Keck Dancers of San Antonio.
Madeline began her career in Colorguard when she joined the MacArthur Band and Colorguard program as a clarinet player and colorguard member. She performed and competed with the Winterguard program in the TCGC and WGI Circuit. In 2011 Madeline had the honor of representing San Antonio, Texas as a selected member of the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band as a Colorguard Flag and Rifle performer. As an Alumnus, she served on staff as a Mentor, Colorguard Technician and Parent Liaison for 2 consecutive years. At the young age of fifteen, Madeline auditioned for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp and was selected as one of the youngest colorguard members and continued on to march in 2010, 2011, 2012 seasons. She helped push the Crossmen into the DCI Finals in 2012 with the “Fragile” Tour. In 2013, Madeline was selected a cast member of the Identity Winterguard, winning the WGI Independent Open Class Championships in Dayton, Ohio performing, “Eyes Only for Me”.
Madeline joined the staff of Performer’s Academy and was assigned to Madison H.S. in 2012 as an Assistant Colorguard Director for four years. She moved on to serve as Assistant Colorguard Director for Warren H.S. then moved to Holmes H.S. where she took on the position of Head Colorguard Director. Madeline Moved to San Angelo, Texas to pursue her education at Angelo State University where she became the Colorguard Director for Central High School and the Angelo State University Colorguard. Madeline received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/ EC-6 generalist and has taught first and second grade in San Angelo, Texas and San Antonio, Texas. Madeline is in her second year here at Brandeis High School and has found her home where she will continue the growth and success of the colorguard program. Go Broncos!!