Band Leadership
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Jose Flores
DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Mr. Jose Flores has served as Director of Bands since 2023.
He is currently in his 7th year of teaching and previously served as Assistant Band Director at Akins High School.
He attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2020.
Outside of band directing, Mr. Flores likes to compose music, take pictures, and hang out with his wife and pets!
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Will Kimmell
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Mr. Kimmell is one of our associate band director at Akins. He grew up in Kentucky, where he studied euphonium and music at Western Kentucky University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2017. Shortly after graduating he moved to Texas and has been here ever since. During his time in school, he was the section leader for the Big Red Marching Band for three years, and performed with the WKU Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, WKU Pep Band, and Tuba Euphonium Ensemble. He is also a member of Mariachi Para Todos, a group here in Austin where he plays trumpet.
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Mary Zapchenk
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Ms. Zapchenk is entering her fourth year as a director with the Akins High School Band in Austin, Texas. Originally from the Chicago area, she moved to Austin after earning her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Morehead State University in Kentucky. She later earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University Texas.
At AEB she also works with chamber ensembles and the percussion program. She has led the Akins Percussion Ensemble to attend the Percussive Arts Society International Convention on two occasions and has directed the Akins Saxophone Ensemble and Flute Ensemble in performances at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. She is passionate about helping students achieve musical excellence while fostering a positive, challenging, and supportive learning environment.
Outside of teaching, she enjoys CrossFit, yoga, reading, and traveling the world; having visited more than 60 countries across six continents and is always planning her next adventure!
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Landon Nay
DRUMLINE INSTRUCTOR
Landon Nay serveS as the Battery Technician for the Akins Eagle Band. He graduated from Westlake High School, where he spent four years performing in the percussion program, including marching snare drum. He also performed on the snare line with the World Class indoor percussion ensemble Rhythmic Force Percussion during its 2025 and 2026 seasons.
With more than eight years of percussion experience and instruction from some of today's top drummers and educators, he is passionate about helping students grow both musically and personally. His goal is to challenge students to exceed their own expectations while fostering a positive, supportive environment where they can build confidence, develop lasting friendships, and achieve success together.
