FACULTY

"Music leaves an imprint that will last the rest of your lifetime."

Director of Bands

James Hairston

Email: james.hairston@pfisd.net

Phone: 512-594-1166

Mr. Hairston joined the Robert E. Hendrickson Hawk Band in 2019.

Mr. Hairston received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He received his master's degree in Saxophone Performance from The University of Texas at Austin where he studied with Harvey Pittel. While at The University of Texas, Mr. Hairston was a member of the UT Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jerry Junkin.

Prior to joining the Hawk Band & Guard, Mr. Hairston was the Assistant Band Director at Dripping Springs H.S. His responsibilities included directing the H.S. Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and assisting with the H.S. Wind Ensemble.

While teaching at Lamar Middle School & Fine Arts Academy, Mr. Hairston conducted the Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble, as well as holding responsibility for woodwind pedagogy. Under his direction, the Jazz Ensemble was invited to the 69th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois and the 8th Annual Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Symphonic Winds was an invited ensemble at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana and the 71st Midwest Clinic.

Mr. Hairston's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and The Jazz Education Network.

Associate Director

Isaac Medina

Email: isaac.medina@pfisd.net

Mr. Medina is the associate band director at Hendrickson High School. He is the conductor of the Hendrickson Philharmonia and the Hendrickson Theater Company pit orchestra. Isaac assists with teaching the marching band as well. Mr. Medina is starting his sixteenth year of public education in Texas where he served as a head band director in Manor ISD for ten years and an assistant director at Socorro and San Elizario High School in El Paso for three years. While under his direction, Mr. Medina's bands have earned district, regional, and state recognition, including 2019, 2020, and 2022 Best Communities for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation.

Mr. Medina is the conductor of the Austin Flute Choir and serves on the board of the Austin Flute Society. Isaac has also performed with the Cedar Park Winds since 2013 and has previously performed with the Abilene Philharmonic, El Paso Opera, El Paso Wind Symphony, Dallas Wind Symphony, the Roswell Symphony, and the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Medina received a bachelor's degree in Music Education from New Mexico State University and a master's degree in Music Performance from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Medina is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, The Austin Flute Society, and the National Flute Association. He will forever be indebted to his mentors, Dr. William Clark, Dr. Lisa Van Winkle, Barbara and Rick Lambrecht, Jerry Junkin, and Marianne Gedigian.

Assistant Director

Nicole Davis

Email: brenda.davis@pfisd.net

Ms. Davis graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Middle Tennessee State University in 2019. She is a multi-instrumentalist, with a depth of experience performing and teaching music on flute, bassoon, and trumpet.

Ms. Davis has spent a decade performing and teaching in Drum Corps International. She toured as a high brass performer for five Summers with Music City, Spirit of Atlanta, Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights, and the Bluecoats. She has worked with the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps as part of the Visual Staff since 2018, the year the corps first broke into World Class Finals. Ms. Davis now teaches as a member of the Visual Staff at her home corps, the Bluecoats. In addition to DCI, she spent two years performing in WGI Percussion Independent World Class with Rhythm X as a member of the Visual Ensemble. Ms. Davis spent one year on staff with Rhythm X teaching the Visual Ensemble prior to moving to Texas.

Ms. Davis previously taught at Pasadena Memorial High School in Southeast Houston and Haltom High School in Northeast Fort Worth, TX. While at Pasadena Memorial, she directed the Sub-Non Varsity A & B Concert Bands, choreographed the marching band visual package, taught the color guard, and assisted with the TCGC World Class indoor percussion program. At Haltom High School, she directed the Sub-Non Varsity A Concert Band, choreographed the marching band visual package, and directed the Jazz Band.

Outside of teaching, Ms. Davis loves long-distance running, traveling, cooking, yoga, gardening, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and spending time with her amazing boyfriend and two dogs.

Ms. Davis would not be where she is at this moment without first being inspired by her incredible middle school band director, Mrs. Nancy Randall, who is retiring this year after 35 years as a band director.

Director of Percussion

Nathan Zamora

Email: nathan.zamora@pfisd.net

Nathan Zamora currently serves as the Percussion Director for Hendrickson High School and Kelly Lane Middle School. He oversees the percussion program from 6th-12th grade, manages the Hawk Band website, oversees and manages all Hawk Band Social Media, assists with the Hawk Band concert ensembles, and serves as the program's audio engineer and graphic designer. Nathan is also a Front Ensemble Instructor for the World-Class Finals Independent Percussion Ensemble, Rhythmic Force. While at Hendrickson the Band & Percussion have made 2021 & 2023 UIL 5A State Marching Finals and were a 2022 BOA Grand Nationals Finalist for the first time in school history. The Percussion also placed 2nd in the 2023 UIL State Marching Contest.

Nathan attended The University of Texas at Austin earning a degree in Music Education. While at The University of Texas, he was a member of the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Opera, Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Percussion Ensemble, Longhorn Band, and Marimba Band. Alongside Dr. Tiffany Galus he helped pioneer the UT LIVE! Livestreams, creating graphics, and leading the videography.

He studied percussion under Dr. Thomas Burritt & Tony Edwards, both world-renowned artists, and performers. He was a member of the 2016 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition winning collegiate ensemble with The University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Zamora studied conducting under Jerry Junkin, Dr. Tiffany Galus, and Dr. Scott Hanna. He was also a member of the Guardians Drum Corps Front Ensemble and has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Cedar Park Winds.

Mr. Zamora has worked with different programs such as Westlake HS, John Paul Stevens HS, Austin High, and The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. He also helps lead the UT Conducting Workshop in Austin, Texas. In his spare time, he serves as the Operations Specialist at Ultimate Drill Book, is a member of the KeepMakingMusic team, creates virtual performances with KeepMakingMusic, and loves to play footgolf.

Guard Director

James Jackson

Email: james.jackson@pfisd.net

James Jackson is proud to be joining the Hendrickson Hawk Band as the Hendrickson Color Guard Director. Last year he moved to Pflugerville, TX to take the next steps in his career of teaching and other adventures.

Mr. Jackson has been in the activity for 12 years now, and performing and teaching professionally in Drum Corps International for the past 8 years. His performing experience includes touring the country as a world class performer in 16’-17’ with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, making finals for the first time in corps history in 16’. In 18’-21’ with The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps receiving a bronze medal in 18’, a silver medal in 19’, and serving as Guard Captain in 21’. In addition to DCI, he has performed with the inaugural season of Bluecoats Indoor Winter Guard in 18’, the inaugural season of Inspire Winter Guard in 20’, and the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard in 21’-22’ earning his first World Championship title in 2022. In 2019, Mr. Jackson also traveled to Hong Kong with the Bluecoats to perform in the Chinese New Year parade.

Aside from performing, Mr. Jackson has been teaching for a number of years at the scholastic and independent levels. Prior to moving to Texas, Mr. Jackson was a director, choreographer, and designer for Columbus North High School and the Sound and Spirit of Columbus marching band and Winter Guard since 2016, and continues to help in design and choreography in his spare time. He has been teaching the Bluecoats Color Guard since his age-out, 2022-present. In 2023, he was a staff member for One Light Independent Open Guard out of Indianapolis, Indiana, and now teaches the Origins Independent World Guard in Austin, TX.

Outside of teaching, Mr. Jackson is also studying to receive his Real Estate License. He loves to spend his time at the gym, running, traveling, exploring the outdoors, hanging out with friends, and going on spontaneous adventures.

He looks forward to this exciting new adventure with the Hawk Band and Guard!