Directors
Danielle Aicher is the Director of Bands at Driscoll Middle School where she conducts the Honors Band, co-teaches the Symphonic Band, and teaches the beginning woodwind and percussion classes. Mrs. Aicher was recently named the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year at Driscoll. Her bands consistently earn “Sweepstakes” at the UIL Concert and Sight-reading Evaluation and “Outstanding Performance” awards at the TLU Band Festival. The Driscoll Honors Band, under the direction of Richard Gonzalez and Danielle Aicher, placed 12th in the 2017 TMEA State Honor Band competition. The Driscoll Middle School Band was also named the 2017 Exemplary Middle School Band Program by the Texas Bandmasters Association, an award given to one middle school in Texas each year.
Prior to teaching in Northeast, Mrs. Aicher began her career at Lamar Middle School in the Marcus High School cluster in Lewisville ISD for 5 years. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree with summa cum laude honors from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. Mrs. Aicher studied instrumental methods with John Benzer and served as Principal Flutist in the University of Houston Wind Ensemble under the direction of Tom Bennett. She studied flute with Dr. Kimberly Clark and performed in the university’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Ballet Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band, Graduate Woodwind Quintet, AURA: Contemporary Ensemble, and Flute Choir. She is a proud product of NEISD where she learned to play clarinet, saxophone, flute and piccolo at Bradley Middle School and Ronald Reagan High School.
Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda (National Music Honor Society). She was also awarded a Lifetime PTA membership in 2017.
She actively performs with one of San Antonio’s newest chamber ensembles, SAHarmonie. This summer, SAHarmonie was named the National Winner of The American Prize! In addition to all of her music endeavors, she loves being a mother and enjoys outdoor adventures with her husband and two boys.
Greta Simmel is the Assistant Band Director at Driscoll Middle School where she conducts the Symphonic Band and beginning brass classes, and assists with Honors Band instruction.
Greta grew up in Wylie, Texas and graduated from Wylie East High School in 2017. She went on to pursue a Music Education degree at Baylor University, completed with cum laude honors in December of 2021. In her years with the Baylor School of Music, she was fortunate to play in tours and performances with Baylor's Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and brass and woodwind quintets, and to receive extensive conducting instruction from Baylor faculty. In addition, she received individual instruction on each instrument, held leadership roles in the amazing Baylor Horn Studio, and led Baylor's Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon in many roles, including President.
She finished her degree by student teaching in North East ISD at Ronald Reagan High School and Lopez Middle School. This is her second year to assist and work alongside Mrs. Danielle Aicher here at Driscoll.
Outside of school, Mrs. Simmel is a proud wife and pet parent to her husband Corey, cat Mia, and puppy Guster.
