James Hubert Blake High School
Department of Music
Department of Music
Meet the Conductors
Mr. Brian Damron, Music Department Chair
Conducts/Teaches: Wind Ensemble, Eubie Blake Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Musical Theatre Company, Roaring Bengals Marching Band, and Advanced Placement Music Theory.
Brian Damron, a native of Topeka, Kansas; has been Music Department Chair here at James Hubert Blake High School since 2002. A graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music, Case Western Reserve University, Kansas State University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music, he brings a wealth of knowledge in music performance to Blake. Brian has served as a professional musician, public relations director, and associate conductor with the US Marine Corps Bands for seven years. In addition, Mr. Damron has served as the associate conductor for many professional ensembles, instructor for the International Association for Jazz Educators, and as a clinician and adjudicator for many national and regional music festivals; as well as regional coordinator for Festivals of Music and Music in the Parks for many years. Bringing music to our neighborhoods, he also serves as conductor of the Olney Concert Band, a community based band of sixty musicians ranging from ages 16-90 which rehearses once per week and presents numerous concerts in the community; and associate artistic director for the Olney Big Band whom he directed at the Montreux International Jazz Festival in Switzerland in the summer of 2008. Mr. Damron attributes his success in music to the wonderful education he received while growing up. With that in mind, he would like to credit the success of the music program at Blake High School; to the focus, desire, and dedication of his over 250 students.
Mr. Jonathan Eising
Conducts/Teaches: Chamber Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Beginning Percussion/Band, Roaring Bengals Marching Band, and Guitar.
Mr. Eising has been teaching instrumental music at Blake for the past 6 years. Prior to that he was the music director in Noble, Oklahoma where he taught at both the Middle and High Schools. He is a product of Montgomery County Public Schools as he graduated in 1997 from Gaithersburg High. Upon graduation he traveled to Oklahoma on a music scholarship where he received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education. While at OU Mr. Eising played in and held leadership positions in many ensembles to include the "Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band" and the Philharmonic Orchestra. He also played the horn professionally in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic for 3 years. In 2004, Mr. Eising moved back to Maryland to get married and continue his education at the University of Maryland. In 2008 he received his Masters Degree in Music Performance while studying under Martin Hackleman, Principal Horn of the National Symphony. While at UMD, Mr. Eising worked with the band department as a graduate assistant working closely with Dr. Richard Sparks and the "Mighty Sound of Maryland" Marching Band and Pep Band. In his first years working at Blake and The University of Maryland he also taught instrumental music at The Academy of the Holy Cross. In addition to teaching, Mr. Eising is an active performer in the Washington DC Metro. He is a member of "The M Street Brass Quintet" and freelances at various churches and orchestra's throughout the area. His private studio consists of various middle and high school players who consistently receive superior rating at festival and qualify for local honor orchestras and bands to include PVYO, MCYO and All County/State ensembles.
Ms. Shirley Letcher
Conducts/Teaches
Ms. Sandra Lee Zinkievich
Conducts/Teaches:
Sandra Lee Zinkievich has taught general/choral music in the Montgomery County Public School System for 19 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Westminster Choir College. During her career she has taught at both the elementary and secondary levels, most recently at William H. Farquhar Middle School. Mrs. Zinkievich is currently the accompanist for the South County Elementary Honors Chorus. She has previously served as director and accompanist for the Sixth Grade Middle School Honors Chorus, as well as accompanist for the North County Elementary Honors Chorus.
