Mr. Brian Quakenbush
Brian Quakenbush, originally of North Carolina, began his music studies at Elon College, then transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was active with the North Carolina Symphony, Brightleaf Music Camps at Duke University, Durham Symphony and the Raleigh Symphony. While at UNC, he became a founding member of the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra that performs music of historical importance. With his wife, Jenny, he moved to Tennessee and received his Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee University. He has held jobs at Carroll County High School in Virginia; at Virginia High School in Bristol; and Heritage High School in Lynchburg, where his bands twice received Honor Band status in Virginia. Presently, Brian is the music chair and band director at Cave Spring High School, and assistant at Cave Spring Middle School. Mr. Quakenbush was named “Teacher of the Year” at Cave Spring High School his inaugural year and has been named to the Marquis “Who’s Who in America,” and the “Who’s Who in Teaching” five times and has received the President’s Citation for the Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts six times. Mr. Quakenbush has worked as trumpet instructor with the Roanoke Youth Symphony’s Summer Music Institute since 2009. He has been a guest conductor with Virginia Tech’s Honor Bands since 2008. Mr. Quakenbush is the trumpet player with Brass 5. He is a member of Virginia Music Educator National Conference, National Band Association, alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity and National Educators Association. The Quakenbushes reside in the Roanoke area and have three children, Jason, Samuel and Andrew.