BRANDEIS
BRONCO BAND
Patrick Aguirre
Director of Bands
Patrick Aguirre is in his 14th year of music education and serves as the Director of Bands at Louis D. Brandeis High School. Prior to his 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.
At Brandeis, Mr. Aguirre oversees all aspects of the band program. He conducts the Wind Ensemble, co-directs the Symphony Orchestra, and directs the award winning Brandeis Bronco Marching Band. 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.
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The Non-Varsity Band received its first superior rating at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading in 2016. This ensemble was comprised of beginners and instrumentalists 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.
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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.
Steven A. Grés-Quintero
Associate Director - Woodwinds
Steven Grés is in his 5th year as a music educator at Brandeis High School, where he oversees the Woodwind Program, conducts the Wind Symphony, and co-directs the Philharmonic Orchestra. He also leads the Brandeis Leadership Team (BLT) and conducts various chamber ensembles.​
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Ensembles under Mr. Grés’ direction have earned superior ratings and first-place awards, while his students have received individual superior ratings and “Best in Room” honors at major state-level competitions. Previously, he conducted the Freshman Wind Ensemble and directed the Jazz Lab Band.
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Mr. Grés graduated with honors from Texas State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Music degree and All-Level Teaching Certification. During his time at Texas State, he performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and the Bobcat Marching Band.
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In 2019, he performed with the Wind Symphony at both the Texas Music Educators Association Conference and the College Band Directors National Association Conference. He also recorded the album Live! From the Texas State Clarinet Fiesta with the TXST Clarinet Choir, which was eligible for GRAMMY nomination in 2020.
Mr. Grés' professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Jazz Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the International Clarinet Association, and the National Band Association. His principal mentors include Amanda Stevenson, Caroline Beatty, Ferd Vollmar, and Richard Herrera.
David Suarez
Associate Director - Percussion
David Suarez is in his 21st year of music education and serves as the Percussion Coordinator and Associate Band Director at Louis D. Brandeis High School. Under Mr. Suarez'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.
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Mr. Suarez is the founder of the South Texas Classic Drumline Invitational, an annual marching percussion contest that has hosted thousands of students and their directors. In its 15 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.
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A graduate of the University of North Texas, Mr. Suarez 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, Mr. Suarez was a member of the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps. percussion section under the direction of Paul Rennick and Dr. Brian West.
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Mr. Suarez 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.
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Mr. Suarez is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, & Dynasty Percussion.
Joshua Tolosa
Associate Director - Brass
Josh Tolosa is in his 1st year serving as an Associate Director of Bands at Louis D. Brandeis High School. He oversees the Brass Program, conducts the Freshman Wind Ensemble, and directs the Jazz Lab Band, Brandeis’ 2nd competing jazz ensemble. A San Antonio native, Mr. Tolosa graduated from Ronald Reagan High School in 2021 before going on to earn his B.M. in Music Education from Texas Tech University in 2025. At Reagan, Mr. Tolosa represented the Fine Arts program at TMEA All-State for both Band (trumpet) and choir (Tenor).
During his time at Texas Tech, he was involved in a multitude of performingensembles including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, The Goin’ Band from Raiderland, Brass Quintet, Jazz Ensemble, The University Choir, and Trumpet Ensemble.
He competed at the National Trumpet Competition four times: three times in the Large Ensemble Division, including a First Place finish in 2024, and once as a soloist in 2025. In 2023, he marched
with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps finishing 4th at the DCI World Championships.
Mr. T was also an active teacher and performer throughout his degree. He served as a Marching Tech at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School, Monterey High School, and Lubbock-Cooper High School, taught trumpet masterclasses at McCool Academy, and taught private trumpet lessons. He was also a choral scholar and orchestral trumpet player at Second Baptist Church Lubbock. Mr. T had the opportunity to complete his student teaching at Vandegrift High School and Canyon Ridge Middle School in Leander ISD during the Fall of 2025.
Outside of the band hall, Mr. T can be found spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs, cooking for his family, or working out.
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 26 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.
Thomas Hammond
Color Guard Director
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Thomas Hammond is in his first year serving as the Colorguard Director at Brandeis High School. He recently earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre with a concentration in Design/Tech from the University of North Texas.
A graduate of Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Thomas was deeply involved in the performing arts. He performed with the O’Connor Marching Band for all four years marching as a bass clarinetist, serving as first assistant drum major, and was a member of the O’Connor Winterguard.
After high school, Thomas continued his performing arts journey with several prestigious programs. He performed with The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 2023 and 2024, contributing to the corps’ historic sixth-place finish in world class—the highest score in Mandarins history. He was also a member of Eagle Mountain Independent in 2024, helping the team become a first-time WGI A Class finalist. Additionally, he competed with the UNT Winterguard, which earned a Silver Medal in the NTCA Circuit. Now finishing his age-out year with The Mandarins, Thomas has been offered a tech position with the corps for the 2025 season.
Outside of colorguard, Thomas enjoys traveling, trying new cafés, working out, and spending time with friends.