John Brennan

Director of Bands

Email: John.brennan@pisd.edu

John Brennan is currently the Director of Bands at Plano East Senior High and serves as the cluster leader for the East Cluster Band Program.  Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands in 2020, he served as an Associate Director for 18 years.  Mr. Brennan started his career in Plano I.S.D. serving as the Percussion Specialist for the East Cluster from 1999 to 2002.

Bands under his direction have been consistent winners of the University Interscholastic League Sweepstakes Award for Superior Ratings in Concert Performance and Sight Reading and named “Best In Class” at nationally adjudicated festivals in Orlando, Florida, Breckenridge, Colorado, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas.  In 2006, the Plano East Percussion Ensemble under Mr. Brennan’s direction was one of three high school ensembles selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin, Texas.   Mr. Brennan was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois where he marched in the bass drum and tenor lines from 1992 to 1995 and afterwards, spent eleven years on the Cavalier’s percussion staff as an instructor. 

A published author, he has written several articles for Percussive Notes magazine on marching percussion.  Mr. Brennan is an artist/endorser for the Yamaha Corporation of America, Remo USA, Avedis Zildjian Company and Innovative Percussion.  John has studied drumset with some of the greatest drummers of all time, including Stockton Helbing, Ignacia Berroa, John Riley, Joe Morello, Antonio Sanchez, Keith Carlock, and Dave Weckl.  He holds the Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a Masters Degree in Music Performance from Texas A&M University - Commerce.

Mr. Brennan has presented two clinics at the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Annual Convention/Clinic in San Antonio, Texas.  “Effective Use of Electronics in the Front Ensemble” filled a 1000 seat ballroom at the 2012 convention with the Plano East Marching Percussion Section as the demonstration group.  2013’s follow-up clinic of “Let’s Take a Look Under the Hood” was presented in front of a very large audience as well. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer throughout the United States and holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha and was just recently inducted into Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters’ Fraternity.  Mr. Brennan is husband to Mrs. Carrie Brennan and is a proud father to Cohen Elias Brennan!

Ryan Albert

Associate Director of Bands

Email: ryan.albert@pisd.edu

Ryan Albert has served as an Associate Director of Bands at Plano East Senior High School since 2018, and currently directs the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band and co-teaches all other concert bands and the marching band program. Prior to joining Plano East, he began his teaching career at McMillen High School and Murphy Middle School, where he taught beginning band students and directed performing ensembles for four years.

Bands under Mr. Albert’s direction regularly participate in UIL Marching, Concert, and Sight-Reading evaluations and consistently earn Excellent and Superior ratings. Mr. Albert is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. He graduated with honors from the University of Houston in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and earned a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University in 2020.

In his free time, he enjoys playing trumpet and piano, as well as hiking and camping in the outdoors.

Megan Pickle

Associate Director of Bands

Email: megan.pickle@pisd.edu

Megan Pickle currently serves as an Associate Director of Bands at Plano East Senior High. She began her teaching career in 2013 after graduating from Texas Tech University. While a student, she was an active participant in The Goin' Band from Raiderland and served as a Teaching Artist for Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Her first job was in Plainview, TX, and she moved to DFW in summer 2014 to join the Allen High School Band staff. During this time, she was the director for the Symphonic II Band and consistently received superior ratings and outstanding recognitions. In 2019, the Symphonic II Band was recognized as a Commended Winner through the Citation of Excellence. Prior to joining the Plano East Band staff, she was the Assistant Band Director at Wilson MS in central Plano.

Mrs. Pickle is an active member of Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.

When Mrs. Pickle is not conducting to a movie score or helping to develop drum major patterns or body movement, she enjoys doing LEGOs, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and exploring outdoors. Mrs. Pickle's husband serves as the Percussion Director for Royse City ISD, and they live in Wylie with their son Darren and corgi, Pebbles.