Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Brandeis High School Symphony Orchestra is comprised of the Brandeis Orchestra and Brandeis Band programs. Both programs have flourished during the school's 16 year history. Under the leadership and with the support of principal, Dr. Geri Berger, the orchestra and band programs and received numerous group and individual awards. The Brandeis Orchestra, Band and Symphony have received numerous UIL Concert & Sight-reading superior ratings.
The Brandeis High School Band program continues the tradition of excellence in marching band, concert, jazz, and percussion ensembles. The Bronco Marching Band is a consistent Bands Of America and UIL Area finalist. The Brandeis Jazz Ensemble and Combo are frequent grand champions at festivals in the greater San Antonio area. Percussion ensembles consistently receive high remarks at local and state level contests. Additionally, exceptional visual ensembles complete the program with their commitment to success. The Brandeis Color Guard made their debut in the WGI circuit in the 2022-2023 school year and are two time WGI Finalists. The Brandeis Ballet and Field Dance Company are the first of its kind in Northside Independent School District and directly complement the band program.
The Brandeis Chamber Orchestra was selected to perform for the first time at the Midwest Clinic in 2013, becoming the first high school string orchestra to be invited to the prestigious clinic from San Antonio. Since then, the orchestra has performed as a demonstration orchestra at the TMEA convention, both programs have had tens of students make the Texas All-State Orchestras, and hundreds of students make the Region 29 Orchestras and Bands. Brandeis Orchestra students have been accepted to the Sphinx Summer Academies, National Youth Orchestra 2, the National Youth Orchestra, the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Bowdoin International Music Clinic, the Heifetz Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival. Our students have been accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music, Colburn Conservatory, The Juilliard School, The Eastman School of Music, Jacobs School of Music, Shepard School of Music (Rice), Bienen School of Music (Northwestern), Harvard, Stanford, Thornton School of Music (USC), and many other prestigious schools of music, conservatories, and academic colleges. Our students have been laureates of the Sphinx Competition, the Stulberg Competition, the Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, and the Klein Competition. In 2016, the Brandeis Orchestra was invited to perform at the White House. The Brandeis Chamber Orchestra won the 2022 National Orchestra Cup at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. As well, two Brandeis Orchestra soloists won best solo awards for the competition. Most recently, the Brandeis Chamber Orchestra and Brandeis Cello Quartet won Best in Class and Grand Champion awards at the 2023 Winter Park Music Festival. The Brandeis Orchestras have been directed by Mr. Kevin Garcia-Hettinger during its 16 year history. The Brandeis Band is newly directed by Mr. Patrick Aguirre. This is the first high school symphony in NISD and the first time the Brandeis Symphony has been invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic.
Brandeis High School Symphony Orchestra
Conductor's Bio
Kevin Garcia-Hettinger serves as the head director of the Brandeis High School Orchestra in the Northside Independent School District (San Antonio, Texas). He began his violin studies at the age of ten and was concertmaster of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of San Antonio. Mr. Garcia-Hettinger graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance in 1997 where he served as concertmaster of the UT Symphony Orchestra. In 2011, Mr. Garcia-Hettinger received his Master's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Mr. Garcia-Hettinger served as violin professor at the University of The Incarnate Word from 2019-2022. He remains an active violinist, having performed with the San Antonio Symphony, now the San Antonio Philharmonic and serving as the assistant concertmaster of the Mozart Festival, Texas and the San Antonio Sinfonietta. His students have received numerous awards and performed at international festivals and competitions. He served as the President for the Texas Chapter of the American String Teachers Association in 2022, 2023. Mr. Garcia-Hettinger was selected as Teacher of Year for Brandeis High School in 2018 and the Brandeis Orchestra was selected as the top fine arts program in the Northside Independent School District in 2018. Mr. Garcia-Hettinger’s wife, Jennifer, is a professional violinist/violist and string pedagogue. Their two sons, Nicholas (Violin) and Vincent (Cello), both attended Brandeis High School and now attend The Eastman School of Music and The Curtis Institute of Music.
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