Charles Aguillon serves as Director of Athletic Bands at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX.   Under his direction, the SMU Mustang Band has appeared all over the United States performing as “The Best Dressed Band in the Land.” He also serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor for Music in the Meadows School of the Arts where he teaches courses in music education. 

An educator for over 32 years, he most recently served as Director of Fine Arts and Academic Enrichment for the Lake Travis Independent School District in Austin, Texas. His previous positions include being Director of Fine Arts for Georgetown ISD, Director of Bands for Georgetown HS, Associate Principal for Teaching & Learning at East View HS, and band director for San Marcos CISD schools. 

Mr. Aguillon is a graduate of Texas State University-San Marcos where he received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education. While at Texas State, he was Drum Major of the Bobcat Marching Band and Assistant Conductor of the Wind Ensemble. Additionally, he has a Master of Arts in Educational Administration as well as having completed all coursework for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (ABD). He received his Superintendent certification from Lamar University.

As an educator, Mr. Aguillon’s Georgetown High School Band program was recognized on the state and national levels and appeared at the UIL State Marching Band Championships and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. He is in frequent demand as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the state. His work in the marching arts includes being on staff for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming and is the former Corps Director for Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps Mr. Aguillon has served on the faculties of Texas State University-San Marcos and Southwestern University teaching in the field of music education. 

Philip Flynn serves as the Fine Arts Director of Music Programs for North East ISD.  Prior to his appointment, he served six years as the assistant and six years as the head band director at James Madison High School from 2007 to 2019.  Mr. Flynn’s duties included conducting the Honors Wind Ensemble, directing the 300-member Mighty Maverick Marching Band, collaborating with the orchestra and choir programs to conduct the school musical, and much more.  In his twelve years at Madison, the band grew from 180 students in 2007 to over 320 students in 2019. Mr. Flynn is a native of San Antonio, TX, where he graduated from William Howard Taft H.S.  He attended Texas Tech University where he performed in numerous ensembles, including the 400-member Goin’ Band from Raiderland, a Tuba/ Euphonium ensemble that performed at the ITEC International Tuba Conference, and the Texas Tech Men’s Choir where he was fortunate to sing for President George Bush in 2003.  He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music and also graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Master’s degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University. In 2005, Mr. Flynn held the title of Drum Major for the marching band and was voted as the Outstanding Bandsman for the 2005 season. 

Mr. Flynn currently writes marching drill and designs halftime shows for the Texas Tech University "Goin' Band from Raiderland," the Blinn College "Buccaneer Band" in Brenham, TX, the University of Arkansas "Razorback Marching Band", and other high school bands across Texas.  Each year, he serves on the Fiesta Band Festival Committee where he works closely with Fine Arts Directors and Music Supervisors from around the city to plan and coordinate a performance of 5,000+ San Antonio-area band students each April. From 2006-2019 he served as administrator and activities coordinator for the Texas Tech University Band and Orchestra Camp, one of the largest music camps in the country.  The camp serves students from around the country and provides numerous ensembles, elective courses, and evening activities for the 700+ student campers every year.

Mr. Flynn spent four years marching in Drum Corps International.  He spent two years with Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps from San Antonio, TX where he was a part of the 2002 Division 3 World Champion corps.  He then spent two years marching with the World Class Finalists, Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps from Boston, MA.  Later, he spent two years serving as assistant tour director and teaching brass sectionals for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2007 and 2008.  In 2013, he served as the brass/ visual caption head for the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps from Seguin, TX. He and his wife, Shelly, are proud parents of two NEISD Fine Arts students, Riley and Jack.

Travis Barzee is an active drill writer, visual consultant, choreographer, and private euphonium teacher. He is also active in the drum corps community, having marched 3 seasons with the Cavaliers (2010-12), aging out with the Blue Devils (2013), going on to teach at The Academy (2015), Santa Clara Vanguard (2016-2022) and Phantom Regiment (2023-present.) Travis served as the Director of Bands at Grain Valley High School where he oversaw all aspects of the nationally recognized band program. The Marching Eagles were St. Louis and Indianapolis Super Regional Finalists and Grand National Semi-Finalist in 2022. 

Travis graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, studying euphonium with Kansas City Symphony principal trombonist Mr. Roger Oyster, and music education with Dr. Scott Lubaroff. He recently graduated from the University of Missouri with a Master’s Degree in Music Education. He is currently a fully licensed Financial Rep for Fidelity Investments. Travis and his wife Marisa live in Blue Springs, MO with their two labs named Puppy and Violet.

Luis “Chico” Portillo currently serves as the Director of Fine Arts for the Liberty Hill Independent School District. Prior to this appointment, he served eight years as the Director of Fine Arts for the Bastrop Independent School District and eight years as the Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Pflugerville Independent School District. He is an active band and orchestra adjudicator and clinician. He provides many professional development opportunities for school districts and universities across the state. He has served on numerous UIL and TMEA committees and recently served on the State UIL Standing Committee on Music.

Previous to his administrative positions, he was a band director for twenty-one years. The students in his bands consistently maintained a high level of excellence as they received numerous U.I.L Sweepstakes and “Best in Class” awards for both marching and concert band performances. Under his leadership, the John B. Connally High School Marching Band earned the bronze medal in 2003 and the silver medal in 2007 in the biannual UIL 4A State Marching Band Contest. The John B. Connally Wind Ensemble was twice a state finalist in the 4A TMEA Honor Band Competition.

            Mr. Portillo is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Fine Arts Administrators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association and the honorary band fraternity Phi Beta Mu. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Bandmasters Association and was President in 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Music from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Texas. 

Steve Andre recently retired after a 38-year career in music education. He is currently serving as the managing director of the Servant Leadership Association for Music; as well as an Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M University – Commerce and Richland College. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Andre was serving as the Director of Fine Arts for the Mesquite Independent School District. In this role, he provided leadership for the fine arts programs at 5 high schools, 10 middle schools, and 34 elementary schools. Before moving into administration in Mesquite, Mr. Andre spent 20 years as the director of bands and fine arts department chair at Grapevine High School. During his time in Grapevine the band program received numerous accolades. Some of those awards were: State Marching Band finalist 3 times, medaling twice, Honor Band Finalist, Consistent UIL Sweepstakes Awards; as well as, being named as the outstanding ensemble at numerous music festivals across the country. Mr. Andre received his master’s degree from TCU and his bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is a past recipient of the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award, the GCISD Excellence in Education Award, was named the Outstanding Fine Arts Department Alumnus from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2007 and was inducted into the TCU Band Hall of Fame in 2019. Steve is a Past President of the Texas Music Educators Association, an office he was elected to after serving two years as the TMEA Band Division Vice-President.