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NBHS Band Directors

David Eckert, Director of Bands

Woodwind specialist, jazz aficionado, music educator and conductor David C. Eckert has an incredible passion for music and the people who perform it, and endeavors to share that love with as many people as possible. After graduating from John Marshall High School in San Antonio, TX in 1987, David began his studies in music theory and composition at The University of Texas at Arlington. David quickly realized that his strengths were in his skills as an instrumentalist so he focused his attention on performance and began playing professionally throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world. Prior to beginning a career in music education David was a full time musician and has worked for Sea World, Opryland Fiesta Texas, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Costa Cruises, and the Jack Morgan Orchestra, as well as the international touring company of the Broadway musical Grease. Among his many credits are performances with J.R. Robinson, Danny Seraphine, Gregg Bissonette, Chester Thompson, Russ Miller, Charo, Eric Estrada, Fred Travelena, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Fabian, Chubby Checker, John Davidson, Jim Neighbors, Ben Vereen, Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, Davy Jones, The Fifth Dimension, The Four Tops, The Platters, Will Lee, Bobby Shew, Marvin Stamm, and Bob Dorough. David’s theater credits include Annie, Aint’ Misbehavin’, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line, A Christmas Carol, Evita, Fiddler On The Roof, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Music Man, Singing In The Rain, The Sound of Music. South Pacific, Titanic, West Side Story, and The Wiz.

 

In 2000 David received his Bachelor of Music Studies Degree and in 2012 received his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting, both from The University of Texas at San Antonio. David was employed by Northside Independent School District in 2000 as an assistant band director at Jack C. Jordan Middle School, where he worked for three years. In 2003 became assistant director at Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, and in 2005 was promoted to the position of Head Band Director. In June of 2008 David accepted the position of associate band director at New Braunfels High School and is currently in his ninth year in that position. David’s responsibilities at New Braunfels High School include assisting with the marching program, the colorguard program, and the percussion program, conducting two separate ensembles and assisting with two others, teaching the AP® Music Theory course, teaching the jazz ensemble, and acting as campus coordinator for the school’s chapter of Texas Future Music Educators, as well as performing the various clerical, campus, and district duties associated with being a teacher. Bands under the baton of Maestro Eckert and with which he has been affiliated have received consistent superior ratings at contests and festivals across the state of Texas. In 2013 the New Braunfels High School band program was invited to participate in the National Youth Concert at Carnegie Hall. David is a past member and Sergeant at arms of Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity, and was a founding member and Sergeant at arms of Mu Beta Sigma, the Alpha chapter of the honorary music fraternity at U.T.S.A. David’s teaching accolades include: 2000-2001 Jack C. Jordan Middle School First Year Teacher of the Year, September 2004 Oliver Wendell Holmes Teacher of the Month, April 2017 New Braunfels High School Teacher of the Month, and has been selected to Who’s Who in American Teachers three times. David’s professional affiliations include Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association, Winterguard International, Texas Educational Colorguard Association, American Federation of Teachers, United States Scholastic Band Association, Jazz Education Network, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Technology Institute for Music Educators, and The Conductors Guild.

 Kyle Day, Associate Director of Bands 

Kyle Day is from Spring Branch, Texas, and graduated from Smithson Valley High School in 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Studies from Texas State University (Cum Laude) and a Masters in Music Education from the University of North Texas (Summa Cum Laude) . He studied Trumpet with Jack Laumer, conducting with Dr. Kyle Glaser and Mr. Matthew Holzner, and music education courses with Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt, and Dr. Amy Simmons. While at Texas State, Kyle performed in Concert, Jazz, Salsa, Orchestra, and Baroque Trumpet ensembles, as well as the Bobcat Marching Band where he held the position of Trumpet Section Leader. Kyle has also actively taught lessons and masterclasses as well as guest conducted ensembles in the Central Texas area. He also worked as a Marching Band Technician for Dripping Springs High School in 2015, and completed his student-teaching at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School in San Antonio, Texas. While at Johnson HS, he was under the mentorship of Jarrett Lipman, Alan Sharps, and Jordan Stern. 

 

Kyle's professional affiliations include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, International Trumpet Guild, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Day is looking forward to his eighth year as a part of the Unicorn Band Family and will be serving as the Associate Director of Bands at New Braunfels High School. He directs the Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, runs the Chamber Music program, co-teaches the Ninth Grade Center bands, facilitates the Marching Program,  and oversees the NBHS instrument inventory.

Felicia Garza, Assistant Band Director & NGC Director of Bands

Ms. Garza was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, where she attended Los Fresnos High School. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in clarinet from Baylor University in 2021. While at Baylor, Ms. Garza performed with the Wind Ensemble at the 2020 TMEA Convention and Symphonic Band at the CBDNA Southwestern Division Conference in 2018. She was also a member of the athletic bands and served on the Undergraduate Staff for the ensembles in her final two years. Prior to graduating from Baylor, she completed her student teaching at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School in San Antonio, TX. 

 

 

Ms. Garza’s professional affiliations include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, International Clarinet Association, and NAfME. She is looking forward to her first year as part of the Unicorn Band Family!

 

Analisa Gonzalez, Assistant Band Director/ Director of Percussion 

Analisa Website Pic.jpeg

Mrs. Gonzalez is originally from the small town of Bandera, Texas. Following her passion for music at a young age, Analisa went on to pursue a major in music education at Stephen F. Austin University and Texas State University, with a primary focus in percussion. Her most intensive studies came under the direction of Brad Meyer, Keith Lloyd, Aundray Edwards, Derek Vo, Kevin Hanrahan, and Kari Klier.

Along with playing in many different concert ensembles, Analisa found her niche within the marching percussion community in both DCI and WGI. Her most recent ensembles include the Guardians Drum & Bugle Corps, Tyler Junior College Indoor Percussion, and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion. Analisa also served as the Percussion Director at Lehman High School in Kyle, TX. The percussion ensemble earned numerous high percussion awards in both marching band and indoor percussion competitions, along with a 2nd place finish in the 2023 TCGC State Championships.

Kate Williams, Color Guard Director

 

Kate Williams is in her 7th year as Colorguard Director for the NBHS Colorguard. Kate was born and raised in New Braunfels, and is a proud alumna of the Unicorn Band program! Kate graduated from NBHS in 2009, and was a 4-year member of the Colorguard and Winterguard under the direction of Ed Gonzales. After high school, she attended Texas State University where she received her BSFCS with a major in Fashion Merchandising. Kate was a 3-year member of Identity Independent Winterguard, an Independent Open class guard based out of San Marcos, TX, and a 2012 Open Class Finalist at WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio. Kate worked for 7 years as a Colorguard Instructor for Canyon High School in New Braunfels, where her Varsity Winterguard received numerous TECA Scholastic A Class Championship medals. 
 

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