Directors/Staff
Jonathan Mireles
Director of Bands
Mr. Mireles was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. He attended Woodlawn Elementary, Tafolla Middle School, and is a graduate of Jefferson High School as a Fine Arts Magnet Academy student. He studied Music Performance at St. Mary’s University where he studied trumpet with San Antonio Symphony Principal Trumpet Dr. John Carrol, Jazz trumpet and piano with Mr. Cecil Carter, and classical Piano with master piano tutor Mr. Emmett Vokes. He has been a performer with the San Antonio Symphony, Gabrielli Ensemble, San Antonio Brass, YOSA, and as a freelance classical and jazz artist. Mr. Mireles has an audio engineering certificate from the Audio EnginEARing Institute, and has recorded and produced classical, jazz, hip hop, and rock albums as a performer or engineer with a variety of San Antonio and Austin area artists. Mr. Mireles has been a music educator with SAISD for fourteen years, with Jefferson HS for thirteen years, and TJHS Head Director of Bands for four years.
Under his direction the Mustang band has been Battle of Flowers Feature Band, received sweepstakes UIL first division marching and concert superior ratings, Fiesta parades best 5A awards, and a YOSA invitational featured wind ensemble. The TJHS Jazz ensemble has received 1st place awards at the South Texas Jazz Festival, Fiesta Jazz festival, guest artists on KRTU’s South Texas Jazz Project, and hosts the “Monticello Art and Jazz Showcase.” Mr. Mireles enjoys performing, recording, and listening to all kinds of music, cooking but not eating meat, the west coast, dogs, playing chess, movies, art, coffee with almond milk, and road cycling training and racing.
Jesse Cuellar
Associate Director of Bands
New to the Jefferson Band team is Mr. Jesse Cuellar! Mr. Cuellar is in his 24th year of teaching and 1st year as an Associate Director of Bands at Thomas Jefferson High School. Prior to Jefferson, Mr. Cuellar spent the last 23 years in NISD working at John Jay HS (2001-2005), Earl Warren HS (2005-2008), and more recently Louis D. Brandeis HS (2008-2023).
While at John Jay HS and Earl Warren HS, Mr. Cuellar assisted with the Varsity Marching Band and Symphonic Band. He taught Music Theory I and was in charge of the Concert Band ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Mariachi ensemble. Mr. Cuellar was one of the original staff members of Louis D. Brandeis HS in 2008. While at Brandeis Mr. Cuellar also assisted with the Varsity Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Freshman Band, conducted the Non-Varsity Concert Band, and was in charge of developing the Jazz Studies program, where he developed one of the most competitive Jazz programs in South Texas.
At Brandeis, Mr. Cuellar was the creator of the South Texas Jazz Festival, which under his direction provided MS/HS students the opportunity to perform and learn from leading professionals in the business, and the community with the opportunity to hear world renowned musicians. Mr. Cuellar’s Jazz Ensembles have hosted and shared the stage with Jazz legends such as Arturo Sandoval, Tamir Hendelman, Curtis Calderon, The Wasabi Big Band, Adrian Ruiz, Henry Brun, Cpt. Kirk Convington, Ron Wilkins, the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, LA Studio Trumpet Legend Rick Baptist and LA Studio Studio Drumset/Percussion Legend Bernie Dresel.
Mr. Cuellar’s Concert bands are consistent “Sweepstakes” recipients and his Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Combos have repeatedly earned 1 st division ratings at Jazz Festivals across the state, as well as receiving “Outstanding HS” performance and “Overall Outstanding HS” performance awards. Mr. Cuellar has been to the Area marching contest every year and was consistently in the Finals with Brandeis HS where they came out “alternate to state.” Students in Mr. Cuellar’s Jazz bands have been recipients of “All-Star Soloist” and “Outstanding Soloist” awards, and several have gone on to study music at Texas State University, The University of North Texas, and Berklee College of Music.
Mr. Cuellar served as the Region Jazz Coordinator for Region 29 in San Antonio for the past 5 years.
A native of Texas, Mr. Cuellar grew up in the San Antonio area, attending Central Catholic High School and St. Mary’s University, where he earned a B.A. in Music Education and a B.B.A. in Human Resources. While at St. Mary’s, Mr. Cuellar was very active in the Jazz Orchestra, Concert Band, Rattler Pep-Band, and Vocal Ensembles. Mr. Cuellar is currently pursuing his Masters in Music Education at Lamar University.
Outside of work, Mr. Cuellar enjoys spending time with his Amazing wife Natalie and three children, Gabriel, Elena, and Edward.
Brennan Wingenter
Associate Director of Bands
Mr. Wingenter is entering his 3rd year teaching at TJHS! Mr. Wingenter is from San Antonio, TX and graduated from Sandra Day O'Connor HS in NISD. He then attended UTSA to study music education, which is where he performed in the concert bands, SOSA marching band, orchestra and jazz band. He is a trombone player, but also enjoys playing the other brass instruments as well as the saxophone. Mr. Wingenter plays trombone in several community bands in the San Antonio area including the South Texas Symphonic Orchestra, the River City Big Band, the Boerne Big Band, and the Boerne Village Band. He is also a founding member of the San Antonio Slide Association (SASA) Trombone Choir. Outside of all things band, Mr. Wingenter enjoys Star Wars, video games, DND and almost everything nerdy!