John Brennan is currently the Director of Bands at Plano East Senior High in Plano, Texas and serves as the cluster leader for the East Cluster Band Program. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands, he served as an Associate Director for 18 years. Mr. Brennan started his career in Plano ISD serving as the Percussion Specialist for the East Cluster from 1999 to 2002. Bands under his direction have been consistent winners of the University Interscholastic League Sweepstakes Award for Superior Ratings in Concert Performance and Sight Reading and named “Best In Class” at nationally adjudicated festivals in Orlando, Florida, Breckenridge, Colorado, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas. As the Co-Director of the Plano East Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Brennan will be conducting the group at the 49th Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In 2006, the Plano East Percussion Ensemble under Mr. Brennan’s direction was one of three high school ensembles selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin, Texas. Mr. Brennan was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois where he marched in the bass drum and tenor lines from 1992 to 1995 and afterwards, spent eleven years on the Cavalier’s percussion staff as an instructor. A published author, he has written several articles for Percussive Notes magazine on marching percussion. Mr. Brennan is an artist/endorser for the Yamaha Corporation of America, Remo USA, Avedis Zildjian Company, and Innovative Percussion. Mr. Brennan has studied drumset with some of the greatest drummers of all time, including Stockton Helbing, Ignacia Berroa, John Riley, Joe Morello, Antonio Sanchez, Keith Carlock, and Dave Weckl. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a master’s degree in music performance from Texas A&M University – Commerce. Mr. Brennan has presented two clinics at the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Annual Convention/Clinic in San Antonio, Texas. “Effective Use of Electronics in the Front Ensemble” filled a 1000 seat ballroom at the 2012 convention with the Plano East Marching Percussion Section as the demonstration group. 2013’s follow-up clinic of “Let’s Take a Look Under the Hood” was presented in front of a very large audience as well. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer throughout the United States and holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters’ Fraternity. Mr. Brennan is husband to Mrs. Carrie Brennan and is a proud father to Cohen Elias Brennan.
