Directors

Marco Gonzales, Director of Bands

Marco Gonzales grew up in Texas and in Germany. His father served in the US Army, and retired in San Antonio where Mr. Gonzales calls home. He went to Judson High School in Converse, TX and participated in the marching band, jazz band, concert bands, Winter Drumline and the Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps. Following high school, Mr. Gonzales went to the University of North Texas to pursue a degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance with a related field in Jazz Studies. He performed with the Green Brigade Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, Lab Bands, and the Mariachi Band. He also got the chance to travel and study in the Czech Republic performing around the country with various orchestras. His professional affiliations include the Jazz Educator’s Network, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Master’s Association, and Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Gonzales also performs around the DFW metroplex as a professional musician with big bands, musicals, churches, and various other instrumental groups. He resides in Argyle with his wife Kendra, an elementary teacher at Pecan Creek, son Miles, daughter Luna and his two dogs Dizzy and Ginny.

Mr. Gonzales taught for four years in Keller ISD and this is his eleventh year teaching in Denton ISD at Calhoun Middle School.

Linden Lanier, Associate Director of Bands

Linden Lanier is a Texas native and grew up in Houston, Texas. She attended Stratford High School, where she participated in the school’s marching band, concert band, full orchestra, musical orchestra, Collegium choir, and Madrigal. After graduation, Ms. Lanier continued her musical studies at the University of North Texas with degrees in Piano and Music Education, concentrating on Bassoon with a minor in Spanish. While at UNT, she was a member of the Green Brigade Marching Band (clarinet/keyboard), University Band, Concert Band, and piano and bassoon studios. Throughout her years of studying music, she has also performed in local bands, accompanied fellow musicians for competitions, taught private voice, clarinet, piano, and bassoon lessons, and served as the music specialist at Hollibrook Elementary School.

Currently, Ms. Lanier lives in Denton, Texas with her boyfriend and menagerie of pets, and hopes to continue growing as a musician and educator during her seventh year at Calhoun Middle School.

Mr. Brian Cheesman-Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Percussion Studies

Brian Cheesman comes to Denton High School from the University of North Texas where he served as Graduate Academic Advisor/Counselor in the College of Music. He holds the B.M. degree from The University of Mississippi, the M.M degree from Wichita State University, and the D.M.A. in Percussion Performance/Pedagogy from The University of Southern Mississippi. He has more than ten years of experience in higher education in music spanning from marching and concert band, various percussion specific ensembles, applied lessons, theory and history, and academic advising.

As a percussionist Dr. Cheesman has remained active as an educator, performer, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator throughout Mississippi and the southeast. During his orchestral career, he has held the position of principal percussionist with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, and section member with the Gulf Coast Symphony and North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra as well as performing credits with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

His passion for sharing music education is evident through numerous clinics and masterclasses given ranging in topics from rudimental, drum set, Afro-Cuban, and classical percussion.

Outside of music, Dr. Cheesman enjoys sports and outdoor activities like tennis, golf, fishing, cycling, and camping.

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