Director Bios

Garth Gundersen, Head Director

Garth Gundersen is the head band director at Hendrickson High School. He comes to Hendrickson after having served as head band director at Akins High School in Austin, Texas. He served as Akins first band director, and now serves as the Hendrickson Hawks first band director at Pflugerville, Texas.

Mr. Gundersen earned a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Texas. He was a Teaching Assistant for the Department of Bands at UT at Austin, and an Assistant Conductor of the Wind Ensemble. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University.

Mr. Gundersen has also served as director for Westlake High School and Hill Country Middle School Bands in Austin from 1993 to 1996.

Mr. Gundersen's professional memberships include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Kappa Kappa Psi. Mr. Gundersen has studied music with Jerry Junkin, Paula Crider, Robert Duke, Frank Wickes, Kerry Taylor, and Cheryl Floyd.

Andrew Polk, Assistant Director

Mr. Polk is in his second year as a member of the Hendrickson team. Over his eleven years of teaching, Mr. Polk has served as Director of Bands for the Bastrop Independent School District as well as Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Studies for James Bowie High School of Austin, Desoto High School, Smithson Valley High School, South Garland High School and Elgin High School While involved with these programs Mr. Polkk has led numerous ensembles to awards including UIL Sweepstakes, UIL State Marching Contest, BOA Regional Championships, WGI Regional Championships, medals in both NTCA and TCGC circuits, first divisions at UIL State Solo and Ensemble for percussion ensemble, an overall Grand Championship title with the All American Music Festival in the category of Indoor Marching Persussion and a performance at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington.  He is also the Executive Director and Artistic Director for Austin Independent Indoor Percussion Ensemble.  Mr. Polk has also worked as a consultant for Insignia Percussion as well as executive director for Sfortzando Indoor Percussion.

Mr. Polk holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music with emphasis in Voice and Percussion from Texas A&M University at Commerce.  He also attended Texas Tech University working toward a vocal arts degree. Mr. Polk is an alumnus of the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps. He has performed with the St. David's Chamber Ensemble from Austin, the Collin Creek Marimba Choir, and Allen Philharmonic Orchestra. He also has been a guest artist for the Organization of American Kodaly Educators Convention, as well as been a clinician for the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention and UTA Marching Percussion Camp. Mr. Polk has been an adjudicator for marching band and percussion contests throughout the nation.  He also has been the percussion coordinator for the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Band.

Eddie Lopez, Assistant Director

Mr. Lopez is the newest assistant director of the Hawk Band. He graduated from the University of Texas in the Spring of 2008. He is also a graduate of Edinburg Norh High School in Edinburg, Texas. As a clarinet player, he was only one of a handful of undergraduates to be a member of the prestigious UT Wind Ensemble. At UT he was also the president of Kappa Kappa Psi, the UT Marching Band Fraternity. In addition he was also a member of the UT Cactus Yearbook staff, the Texas Cowboys, as well as being a member of the Dean's List. He was also selected as a finalist for UT Student, as well as being named outstanding "new man" in the Longhorn Band. He also worked to establish a $30,000 endowed scholarship in the Longhorn Band. He has also worked as a representative for Texas Music Festivals, UIL, USSBA, YEA and BOA at contests throughout Texas.

Michael Warner, Color Guard Instructor

Mr. Warner is in his eighth year teaching Color Guard.  Over the past eight years he has taught with Pflugerville HS, James Bowie HS, Westlake HS and Round Rock HS.  While at Pflugerville and Round Rock high schools he led their Winter Guards into the top 3 places in their division, for two consecutive years each.  In addition to directing the Guard at Hendrickson, Mr. Warner is also the Color Guard Director and Music Theory teacher for Pflugerville HS. 

Mr. Warner is  a "Pflugerville-native," he attended Pflugerville public schools and is a graduate of PHS.  Mr. Warner holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a Business minor,  from the University of Texas at Austin.  While at UT Mr. Warner was a member of Longhorn Band, Symphonic Band and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble; he is also an alumnus of The Cadets of Bergen County Color Guard.  Mr. Warner looks forward to an excellent first year with the Hendrickson HS Color Guard and Marching Band.