John Brennan has been Associate Director of Bands at Plano East Senior High in Plano, Texas since 2002. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Brennan was the percussion specialist for the Plano East cluster schools for three years. His responsibilities at Plano East include conducting the symphonic band, jazz ensemble, percussion class, and team teaching the wind ensemble, concert band, varsity band, and marching band. During his tenure at Plano East, his percussion ensemble has won the prestigious Percussive Arts Society’s "Call for Tapes", Black Swamp Percussion's Ensemble Showcase Contest, and the North Texas Percussion Festival. The Plano East Drumline has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention twice, and was a demonstration group at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in 2012.
Mr. Brennan was the founder, executive director, and arranger of Metro Alliance Percussion, an indoor youth performing ensemble based in the Dallas / Fort Worth area that represented Texas well from 2003-2007. His drum corps experience is primarily with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois, where he marched from 1992 through 1995. Mr. Brennan has taught the Cavaliers percussion section off and on since 1997, winning multiple world championships and high percussion awards. During the summers of 2009 and 2010, he was a consultant for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas.
As a performer in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, John plays regularly with several jazz big bands and rock bands. He is on Watermark Community Church’s worship team as well as the bassist for the Christian rock bands Shelter's Edge and CR45. Shelter’s Edge released a debut self-titled album during the summer of 2008. He is also in high demand as a drummer or bassist with many of the area's top jazz combos. He has played with lead players from Maynard Ferguson, the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Buddy Rich Big Band, Clarke Terry, Woody Herman, and the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band. John has studied drumset with some of the greatest drummers of all time, including Stockton Helbing, Ignacio 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 of Louisiana and a master’s degree in music performance from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer throughout the United States, and holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha.
Mr. Brennan is an educational artist and endorser for the Yamaha Corporation of America, the Avedis Zildjian Company, Remo, and Innovative Percussion, Incorporated.
