​Instrumental Music Department:  240-740-1364 ​

Jonathan (Jon) Eising
Co-Director - Band and Orchestra

​Mr. Eising began teaching at Blake in 2004 and is a product of Montgomery County Public Schools. After graduating from Gaithersburg High School, he went on to get his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from The University of Oklahoma in 2002. While at OU, Mr. Eising marched in "The Pride of Oklahoma" for 5 years and performed in the school's top ensembles. Upon graduation, he was employed for two years by Noble Public Schools in Noble, Oklahoma as a band director where he worked at the middle and high school levels. During this time, Mr. Eising was also employed by The Oklahoma City Philharmonic and played professionally in various other orchestras throughout the state and region. In 2004, he moved back to Maryland to get married and begin work on his Master's Degree in French Horn Performance at The University of Maryland. While at UMD, Mr. Eising studied with Marty Hackleman, Principal Horn in The National Symphony Orchestra, and worked alongside Rich Sparks and "The Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band" for three years as a graduate assistant. While studying, Mr. Eising also began performing (and still performs) with The M Street Brass Quintet, a professional group that has been a staple in the DC metro area for over thirty years, and also headed the instrumental music program at The Academy of the Holy Cross. He is a member of The National Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha National Music Service Fraternity and The American String Teachers Association. Mr. Eising has two beautiful daughters and enjoys spending as much time as he can with his family.

Email:  Jonathan_K_Eising@mcpsmd.org

Phil Barnes
Co-Director - Band and Orchestra

Mr. Barnes joined the music faculty at James Hubert Blake High School in 2017. He spent the first fourteen years of his teaching career as the Instrumental Music Director and Music Department Chair at Rockville High School, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2013. Under his leadership the RHS music program was named a finalist in the GRAMMY Foundation's Signature Schools program in 2009, recognizing it as among the most outstanding public school programs in the nation. Over the course of his career Mr. Barnes has coached, managed and conducted several All-County & All-State ensembles. He holds current memberships with the National Association for Music Education and the Maryland Music Educators Association, and he is an alumni member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa, National Leadership Honor Society. Mr. Barnes grew up in Salisbury, Maryland and earned both a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and a Master of Education Degree in Human Development from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was Drum Major for the "Mighty Sound of Maryland" for two years. He has also completed a post-graduate program in Educational Administration at Towson University. Mr. Barnes maintains an active schedule as a music arranger for Baltimore’s Marching Ravens, an adjudicator for various music festivals and an “on-call” musician for several local ensembles. A versatile performer on instruments of both the saxophone and brass families, Mr. Barnes is the baritone saxophonist for the Free State Saxophone Quartet. ​

Email:  ​Phillip_P_Barnes@mcpsmd.org

Choral Music Department:  240-740-1351​

Sandra Lee Zinkievich
Choral Department Chair & General/Choral Music Teacher

Mrs. Zinkievich is a graduate of Westminster Choir College and has taught general/choral music in the Montgomery County Public School System for over twenty years. During her career she has taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. Mrs. Zinkievich has previously served as director and accompanist for the Sixth Grade Middle School Honors Chorus, as well as accompanist for the North and South County Elementary Honors Choruses. Additionally, she has piloted curriculum for the Maryland State Department of Education and has served as a writer for the MCPS Grade 6 World Beat Music Curriculum. Mrs. Zinkievich currently teaches guitar and serves as the director for Honors Concert Choir and A CAPPELLA!

Email:  Sandra_L_Zinkievich@mcpsmd.org

Kris Zinkievich 

  

Email:  Kris_M_Zinkievich@mcpsmd.org