BRANDEIS
BRONCO BAND
Meet Our Staff
The Brandeis Band Program operates through the leadership and guidance of 6 directors. Our staff pushes all of our students to discover their potential and further the success of the program.
Patrick Aguirre
Director of Bands
Patrick Aguirre is in his 12th 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 and 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.
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.
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.
Joshua T. Conner
Associate Director - Brass
Joshua T. Conner is in his 7th year of music education and serves as one of the Associate Band Directors at Louis D. Brandeis High School. He directs the Symphonic Band, Jazz I, and oversees the brass section of the program. He began his educational journey as a student at the University of South Carolina and later made the move to Texas State University in San Marcos where he earned his B.M. in Musical Studies.
Throughout his musical career, Mr. Conner has had the privilege of performing with several renowned ensembles, including the Mighty Sound of The Southeast Carolina Band, USC Trombone Choir, Bobcat Marching Band, Texas State Trombone Ensemble, Texas State Wind Symphony, The Blue Knights DBC, and The Madison Scouts DBC. Currently, he continues to play trombone in the Helotes Area Community Band.
Beyond his performances, Mr. Conner has made a significant impact as an educator, having taught multiple seasons of marching at both the high school and drum corps levels as well as teaching first, second, and third year musicians as a middle school band director. He takes pride in nurturing the musical skills and passions of aspiring musicians.
Outside of his teaching and musical endeavors, Mr. Conner tries to lead an active lifestyle. He enjoys running, biking, and spending quality time with his loving wife and two dogs.
Steven A. Grés
Associate Director - Woodwind
Steven Grés is in his 3rd year of music education at Brandeis. He conducts the Concert Band, directs Jazz II, and oversees the woodwind section of the program. Prior to his position, Mr. Grés student taught at Winston Churchill High School with Amanda Stevenson, and served as a visual and music technician at Brandeis in 2019 and 2021.
Mr. Grés graduated with honors from Texas State University in 2022, receiving his Bachelor's of Music with All-Level Teaching Certification. While at Texas State, Mr. Grés performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and the Bobcat Marching Band. In 2019, Mr. Grés performed with the Wind Symphony at the Texas Music Educators Association conference and the Collegiate Band Directors National Association conference. He studied with clarinet professors Stephen Girko and Dr. Vanguel Tangarov, and studied instrumental conducting with Dr. Caroline Beatty.
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.
David Suarez
Associate Director - Percussion
David Suarez is in his 19th 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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr. Suarez is endorsed by Innovative Percussion & Dynasty Percussion.
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.
Madeline Chambers
Color Guard Director
Madeline Chambers is entering her 11th 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!!