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The Band
Program at Leander High School revolves entirely around the
students. As directors and teachers, it is our
responsibility to expose students to a wide variety of
music, to teach them to perform music to the best of their
abilities, and to teach them the benefits and differences in
performing both as a group and as soloists. In doing so, we
seek to have our program critiqued and assessed by
nationally renowned judges and music educators, and to
perform in competition with the best band programs that we
can find, in order that our students understand that they
are being measured against recognized state and national
standards.
Being a
part of a group such as the Leander Band enhances a
student's high school experience as they learn the benefits
and rewards of discipline, motivation, and working together
to meet the challenges presented in a top-class program.
Everyone has a different role in this program, and the staff
are here to see that each student is motivated to perform to
his or her very best level, that each student receives the
best instruction possible, and that this program serves as a
positive influence to the self-esteem of each and every
student. We will work hard, we will reach the top, and we
will have a good time doing it!
Leander High School Band
Directors and Staff
 Nils
Gundersen - Director
Mr. Gundersen is in his tenth year as a teacher in the
Leander Independent School District. He is currently the
Director of Bands at Leander High School after having served
there as an assistant director for six years.
Before coming to LHS, he was an assistant director at Cedar
Park Middle School.
Mr. Gundersen, a native of Gainesville, Florida, received
his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State
University where he studied trumpet under Jim West, and wind
conducting with Frank Wickes. While at LSU, Mr. Gundersen
served as the drum major of the Sudler Award-winning LSU
Tiger Band, and was a trumpet soloist and section leader.
Mr. Gundersen has served as an adjudicator throughout
Central Texas. He has also served as a clinician at the LSU
Tiger Summer Auxiliary Camp.
While at Leander High School, Mr. Gundersen helped develop
the Indoor Theater Music Production that is used as a
recruiting and educational program in the district. This
past March, Mr. Gundersen conducted members of the symphonic
bands in St. Patrick’s Cathedral during a tour of Ireland.
In his spare time, Mr. Gundersen enjoys watching LSU
sporting events and is active in the LSU Austin Alumni
Chapter. He lives in Austin with his wife Kimberly.
 Juan C.
Carrera - Assistant Director
Juan C. Carrera is the Director of Percussion at Leander
High School and is responsible for all aspects of
percussion, 6th-12th at three different campuses. While his
time there, the percussion studio has maintained a high
level of excellence in both the marching and concert genres.
Mr. Carrera has worked with numerous programs throughout the
state as a clinician, adjudicator and arranger since 1994.
In 2002, he received his Bachelor of Music from Southwest
Texas State University. During his time there, he was part
of the 2001 and 2002 SWTSU Bobcat Marching Drumline and
PASIC Drumline staff. He also performed in the SWT Wind
Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Salsa Band, Panorama
Steel Band, Marching Bobcat Band and Orchestra Tradicion
(Professional Salsa Band).
In 2003, Mr. Carrera helped the Winston Churchill High
School Marching Band attain the Music Caption Award at the
Bands of America Contest in San Antonio where they placed
5th overall performing their production entitled “Toxic”.
In 2006, Mr. Carrera joined SASI, Solutions and Specialized
Innovations. SASI is a leadership development firm with more
than one hundred years of collective experience in
developing leaders in public education.
His professional affiliations include the Texas Music
Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and
the Percussive Arts Society. Juan is also a member of the
Vic Firth Education Team. He has been mentored and
influenced by John Stansberry, Genaro Gonzalez, Albert Lo,
Alan Sharps, Beth Bronk, James Hudson, Tony Edwards and Paul
Pape.
Juan resides in Round Rock, TX with his wonderful wife,
Julie.
 Laura Cross
- Assistant Director
Ms. Cross is
in her first year as a band director at Leander High School.
She is a recent suma cum laud graduate of The University of
Houston and a proud supporter of her Cougars!
While at UH,
she was a drum major and section leader for the Spirit of
Houston Marching Band. She studied flute under Dr. Kim Clark
and conducting with Tom Bennett and David Bertman. Ms. Cross
also toured across the United States for three years with
the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton Ohio. She has
been mentored and influenced by Eddie Green, Tom Bennett,
John Benzer, David Bertman, Steve McKeithen and Brett
Johnson.
Ms. Cross's passions besides band include photography,
travel, family, friends and her two cats Spencer and Ody.
 Robert Selaiden
- Assistant Director
Mr. Selaiden
is in his first year as a teacher at Leander High School. He
is currently the conductor of the Symphonic Band, director
of the Private Lessons Program, conductor of the LHS musical
"Oklahoma" as well as the 6th grade saxophone instructor at
Leander Middle School.
Before coming to Leander High School, Mr. Selaiden attended
The University of Texas where he studied saxophone under
Harvey Pittel and served as drum major of The University of
Texas Longhorn Band. While at UT, he conducted the premiere
of John Lato's "Septet for Winds" as well as conducted and
arranged "Danse Bachannale" by Camille Saint-Saens on the
"Tex-Sax: Next Generation" CD, which has been placed on the
Grammy Nomination selection list.
During each summer, Mr. Selaiden has been widely involved in
the Longhorn Music Camp through the Butler School of Music
on the UT campus. He served for three years as a camp
counselor and this past summer participated as the camp
coordinator for the Middle School Band Week.
Before coming to school in Austin, Mr. Selaiden went to
Newman Smith HS in Carrollton, TX. In his spare time he
enjoys spending time with his friends and family in the
Austin area as well as watching UT sporting events and being
involved in the Longhorn Alumni Band. He currently resides
in Cedar Park with his dog Crush.
Bucky
Flores - Color Guard / Winter Guard Director
Bucky Flores comes from the Dallas Ft. Worth area where he
was a percussionist at Burleson High School. It wasn’t until
during college that his colorguard career took off. He first
started colorguard in 2000 performing with Nolan Independent
World winterguard based out of DFW. He joined with no prior
experience and made Independent World finals at WGI. He
continued with Nolan throughout 2001 then moved to Boston,
Massachusetts to perform with St. Ann’s winterguard for the
2002 season where they placed 3rd overall winning the bronze
medal at WGI Finals.
Staying
within the northeast vicinity he moved to Rochester, New
York to perform with the Patriots who placed 4th at WGI
Finals. While performing there he got to learn from Peter
Garrow, who is still the largest inspiration for Mr..
Flores’ teaching. He is one of the most brilliant and
creative choreographers in the colorguard world. He lived in
Rochester for 3 years pursuing his bachelors in graphic
design at Monroe Community College. After an absence from
the colorguard spotlight Bucky moved back to Boston in 2005
to march with the group Blessed Sacrament. Sac as it is
commonly known, placed 4th overall at WGI finals that year.
Bucky’s
teaching career started in 2001 with the company Marching
Auxiliaries. This Texas based company provides summer camps
for students around the country placing an emphasis on
performance and technique. Bucky continues to spend his
summers working for Marching Auxiliaries to this day. During
the years Bucky has worked with, and/or choreographed for
Ronald Reagan High School from San Antonio, Dripping Springs
High School and most recently Akins High School. In 2007 he
worked with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps providing rifle
instruction and choreography.
Bucky
currently resides in Austin, TX working with Leander High
School as the colorguard director. Bucky is looking forward
to the years ahead as the Leander Colorguard Director
watching his students grow into amazing performers and
mature adults.
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