New band director Q&A
New Band Director Q&A
Daniel Villanueva
Featherduster: Where are you originally from?
Daniel Villanueva: I’m from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I went to Albuquerque High School and studied at the University of New Mexico, as well as McGill University.
FD: How did you get into band?
Villanueva: I’ve always been into music. I started as a pianist with my mother as a teacher, and then in fifth grade I started with the saxophone in the elementary school band.
FD: How did you come to Westlake?
Villanueva: I student taught up in Leander at Vandegrift High School, and I heard about a very excellent school down in Eanes ISD. I applied [and got in]. I’m very grateful that Kerry Taylor hired me.
FD: Now that you’re a director, is there anything you would like to change about the band?
Villanueva: I think that there’s always room to grow and get stronger, although it’s an exceptional program. I hope for the Westlake Band Program to been seen as an organization that leads Austin in the definition of musical excellence.
FD: How has band influenced you as a person?
Villanueva: It’s everything that I do. It’s everything about making someone understand how to be honest and work hard.
Drew Saenz
FD: Where are you originally from?
Drew Saenz: I’m from Austin. I went to a school at Connally. You could say I’m very familiar with Westlake.
FD: How did you get into band?
Saenz: I started in sixth grade like everyone else. I was actually more of a baseball player at the time, but then I found out I was good at band. I just stuck with it.
FD: How did you come to Westlake?
Saenz: My predecessor, Mr. Parsons, was the percussion director at Hendrickson High School. I used to take some lessons with him, and I got to know him while I was at Connally. Then he got the job [at Westlake] and hired me to be the drumline tech while I was going to school at Texas State. Then he asked me to teach beginner percussion, and then teaching private lessons [later on]. I’ve actually been teaching here since 2010. But it’s always been as a part-time thing. Now, I’m official.
FD: Now that you’re a director, is there anything you would like to change about the band?
Saenz: We do things so well here already that I’m more concerned with continuing the tradition of excellence.
FD: What’s the best part about being a director?
Saenz: I get to hang out with [students] every day. They have so much personality, and they’re so much fun to be around. I get to teach them something that I’m really passionate about in my life, so it’s just so much fun.
Jana Robertson
FD: Where are you originally from?
Jana Robertson: I’m originally from a house about 10 minutes down the street from Westlake. I grew up through the Eanes school district and went to Westlake High School.
FD: How did you get into band?
Robertson: I was going through fifth grade, and I had four older brothers and sisters who [were all in] choir. So, I wanted to do something different. When the sixth grade instrument drive came, I decided I wanted to do band. I’ve never looked back.
FD: How did you come to Westlake?
Robertson: I always knew that this would be an amazing place to work since I grew up here. I love the community, and I love the school and everything about it, from the band program to the school spirit. So when I heard there were going to be some band openings, I jumped at the opportunity. I had a couple years of experience working at Killeen High School, so I knew that this would be an amazing experience.
FD: Now that you’re a director, is there anything you would like to change about the band?
Robertson: As a director, you’re always thinking about the next step. What’s bigger, what’s better? I just want to keep challenging the students in the program to strive for excellence and take it to the next level.
FD: What’s the best part about being a director?
Robertson: It’s so much fun. Back when I was in high school, my favorite time was always band class. Now, this is my life. I get to do band all day long. And that’s really cool for me, because it’s what I love to do.
![Festival goers gather on the Zilker Park lawn for a day of kite flying, entertainment, and food at the ABC KiteFest Sunday, April 14. “It was super fun to watch people flying their kites and also fly my own,” Tucker said. “[KiteFest] is always a highlight of my year and I plan to return every year moving forward.”](https://westlakefeatherduster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/kite-600x450.jpeg)
![The Wind Ensemble, conducted by director Kerry Taylor, plays in the Performing Arts Center Wednesday, Mar 27. “Some challenges we face with our music are always solved through our weekly sectionals,” Qadan said. “They are helpful because it gives each section the chance to work with one another on their weakest part of the music and fix everything that needs to be [fixed].”](https://westlakefeatherduster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/band-1-600x450.jpeg)
