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The Band
Program at Leander High School revolves entirely around the
students. As directors and teachers, it is our
responsibility to expose students to a wide variety of
music, to teach them to perform music to the best of their
abilities, and to teach them the benefits and differences in
performing both as a group and as soloists. In doing so, we
seek to have our program critiqued and assessed by
nationally renowned judges and music educators, and to
perform in competition with the best band programs that we
can find, in order that our students understand that they
are being measured against recognized state and national
standards.
Being a
part of a group such as the Leander Band enhances a
student's high school experience as they learn the benefits
and rewards of discipline, motivation, and working together
to meet the challenges presented in a top-class program.
Everyone has a different role in this program, and the staff
are here to see that each student is motivated to perform to
his or her very best level, that each student receives the
best instruction possible, and that this program serves as a
positive influence to the self-esteem of each and every
student. We will work hard, we will reach the top, and we
will have a good time doing it!
Leander High School Band
Directors and Staff
 Nils
Gundersen - Director
Mr. Gundersen is in his tenth year as a teacher in the
Leander Independent School District. He is currently the
Director of Bands at Leander High School after having served
there as an assistant director for six years.
Before coming to LHS, he was an assistant director at Cedar
Park Middle School.
Mr. Gundersen, a native of Gainesville, Florida, received
his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State
University where he studied trumpet under Jim West, and wind
conducting with Frank Wickes. While at LSU, Mr. Gundersen
served as the drum major of the Sudler Award-winning LSU
Tiger Band, and was a trumpet soloist and section leader.
Mr. Gundersen has served as an adjudicator throughout
Central Texas. He has also served as a clinician at the LSU
Tiger Summer Auxiliary Camp.
While at Leander High School, Mr. Gundersen helped develop
the Indoor Theater Music Production that is used as a
recruiting and educational program in the district. This
past March, Mr. Gundersen conducted members of the symphonic
bands in St. Patrick’s Cathedral during a tour of Ireland.
In his spare time, Mr. Gundersen enjoys watching LSU
sporting events and is active in the LSU Austin Alumni
Chapter. He lives in Austin with his wife Kimberly.
 Melissa
Wood - Associate Director of Bands
Mrs. Wood is in her seventh year at Leander High School. She
is the visual director of the marching band program and
conducts the Symphonic Band in the spring semester. She is
also the co-director of the Leander White Diamonds Color
Guard, which participates with the band in the fall and as
an individual unit in the spring semester.
Mrs. Wood attended Sam Houston State University completing a
Bachelor of Music degree, followed by a Master of Music
degree in Conducting/French Horn performance. She is
currently pursuing a degree at Texas State University in
Educational Administration and will graduate in May 2008.
She is a horn specialist, having studied with Peggy DeMers
at Sam Houston, and having participated in master classes
with: Gail Williams, formerly with the Chicago Symphony,
William ver Meulan, with the Houston Symphony, Douglas Hill
and Michael Hatfiled. Also while in college, Mrs. Wood
marched with the 1996 World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum
and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois.
Mrs. Wood is an active adjudicator in the TMEA circuit and
has served as a judge for the TMEA All-State Auditions for
the past 6 years. Her professional affiliations and honors
include: Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda, Pi Lambda Theta,
TMEA, TBA, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and National
Dean’s List (Graduate School).
In her “free” time, she enjoys playing golf, reading,
traveling, and spending time with friends and family both
here in Austin and in Houston.
 Duane O.
Hill - Assistant Director
Duane O.
Hill has been the Associate Director of Bands and Director
of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble since 2004. During his
tenure, he has facilitated the private lesson program,
coordinated the leadership team and conducted the school
musicals (Once Upon A Mattress and The King and I). Though
the majority of his time is with the Leander Band, he enjoys
playing basketball and attending church at Greater Mt. Zion.
Mr. Hill, a graduate from Texas Tech University, earned his
Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Music Education. He studied
saxophone with Professor David Dees, while Keith Bearden and
Christopher Anderson have been his educational mentors
(former and current directors of the marching band). Beyond
being a member of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland, he was
Social Chairman (2001) and Drum Major (2002 & 2003).
Mr. Hill is on faculty at the Texas Tech Band & Orchestra
Camp, which has been in existence for over 70 years, making
it one of the oldest music camps in the nation. Each year
the camp brings nearly 1,000 music students from around the
world. He is also active in Choice Music Events, a
non-profit organization dedicated to providing band students
with positive, educational and enriching performing
opportunities. Mr. Hill is also involved with SASI
(Solutions and Specialized Innovations) which is a
leadership development firm. The foundational belief is that
an organization’s leaders and participants become empowered
to succeed in their work environment and their personal
lives when they are properly equipped with a deeper
knowledge and understanding of people, organizations,
systems, and processes.
His professional affiliations include the Texas Music
Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association,
and Kappa Kappa Psi.
 Juan C.
Carrera - Assistant Director
Juan C. Carrera is the Director of Percussion at Leander
High School and is responsible for all aspects of
percussion, 6th-12th at three different campuses. While his
time there, the percussion studio has maintained a high
level of excellence in both the marching and concert genres.
Mr. Carrera has worked with numerous programs throughout the
state as a clinician, adjudicator and arranger since 1994.
In 2002, he received his Bachelor of Music from Southwest
Texas State University. During his time there, he was part
of the 2001 and 2002 SWTSU Bobcat Marching Drumline and
PASIC Drumline staff. He also performed in the SWT Wind
Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Salsa Band, Panorama
Steel Band, Marching Bobcat Band and Orchestra Tradicion
(Professional Salsa Band).
In 2003, Mr. Carrera helped the Winston Churchill High
School Marching Band attain the Music Caption Award at the
Bands of America Contest in San Antonio where they placed
5th overall performing their production entitled “Toxic”.
In 2006, Mr. Carrera joined SASI, Solutions and Specialized
Innovations. SASI is a leadership development firm with more
than one hundred years of collective experience in
developing leaders in public education.
His professional affiliations include the Texas Music
Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and
the Percussive Arts Society. Juan is also a member of the
Vic Firth Education Team. He has been mentored and
influenced by John Stansberry, Genaro Gonzalez, Albert Lo,
Alan Sharps, Beth Bronk, James Hudson, Tony Edwards and Paul
Pape.
Juan resides in Round Rock, TX with his wonderful wife,
Julie.
 Lauren
Caffey
- Color Guard Director
Lauren
Caffey is in her second year as Director at Leander High
School. She is responsible for the success of the White
Diamonds as well their dance training. The White Diamonds
are the visual aspect of the marching band in the fall and
perform and compete individually in the spring semester.
Miss Caffey graduated from Leander High School where she
appeared in numerous school productions serving as a senior
captain of the Blue Belles. After she joined on Staff with
Marching Auxiliaries she then went on to East Texas where
she became a World Famous Kilgore College Rangerette,
featured soloist and Swingster. She then transferred to the
University of Texas at Austin in ’03-’06 where she received
her BA, majoring in History, minor in Dance and her teacher
certification.
Miss Caffey is an Austin native with 21 years experience in
the field of dance, including over 10 years as a dance
instructor to students of all ages. Her training encompasses
jazz, modern, lyrical, ballet, hip hop and tap which she has
studied under many dance institutions.
Among her other accomplishments, Miss Caffey directed the
Liberty Hill High School Liberty Belles for two years before
arriving at Leander High School. She continues to
choreography, instruct dance camps, and judge dance
contests. She recently choreographed a piece for the
television show “Friday Night Lights”.
In her free time she enjoys watching movies, and spending
time with her family and close friends.
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