Jeremy Figlewicz

Director of Bands

Jeremy Figlewicz is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and is excited to join the Glenn High School Band family! Before coming to Leander ISD, Jeremy taught in Michigan, Illinois, and most recently, at Langham Creek High School and Klein Oak High School in Houston, Texas. He has taught high school, middle school, and college students, and has served as both an assistant and head band director. A brass specialist, this will be his 13th year in the music classroom. Mr. Figlewicz is proud that his ensembles have regularly received high honors and top ratings in concert, marching, and jazz performance. In Texas, his ensembles have earned consistent Division 1 ratings on the stage and on the field at UIL concert and marching contests. While teaching in the Midwest, his bands were recognized for outstanding performances, including honors as BOA Midwest Regional Class Champions and multiple sweepstakes awards in marching and concert contests.

Jeremy’s passion for music extends back to his fourth grade “experimentation” with the cello, but brass soon captured his heart. Music has always been an integral part of his family and his friendships. He comes from a background of performing and teaching in many venues. As a performer in Drum Corps International from 2002-2007, he “aged out” in 2007 as the baritone soloist (the metaphorical “Firebird” in a rendition of Stravinsky’s classic piece) with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. He currently serves on the music staff for The Cavaliers (since 2015), and has also been a member of the music staff for Phantom Regiment (2009-2014) and Spirit of Atlanta (2008). 

Jeremy received his degree in Music Education from the Michigan State University College of Music, where he is a proud alumnus of the MSU Spartan Marching Band and the MSU Wind Ensemble. Having completed two Chicago Marathons, Jeremy is excited to live in the Leander area where he can continue running and be close to school as well. He also loves listening to podcasts, watching horror movies, and spoiling Jarvis, his incredible cat. He feels incredibly fortunate to have been chosen as The Grizzly Band's Head Director and is thrilled to be the newest member of the Glenn HS community.



Jacob Gall

Percussion Director

Jacob Gall is excited to begin year five as Director of Percussion at Glenn High School! Prior to Mr. Gall's appointment to the Glenn High School band program, he previously held the Director of Percussion position with the Wakeland High School band program. During Mr. Gall’s three years at Wakeland, the group advanced to UIL 5A State Finals twice where they were recognized among the best 5A bands across the state of Texas. Prior to Mr. Gall’s appointment in Frisco, he was on faculty at Bloomsburg University, where he served as percussion studio professor, marching band director, director of percussion ensembles, director of percussion methods, and lecturer of world music. Prior to teaching at the college level, Mr. Gall taught middle school band for two years in Stafford County, Virginia.

Mr. Gall hails from Richmond, Virginia where he was raised in a musical family of six. Growing up, Gall had the privilege of learning from his father, a band director of thirty-one years, and his mother, an active performer as a singer and guitarist. From an early age, Gall’s passion was inherently centered around playing, teaching, writing, and performing music. With the experience he gained as a musician under the tutelage of his father, Gall’s passion led him to choose a life of music.

The 2022 summer season marks Mr. Gall’s fourteenth year on staff with The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, where he serves as the Battery Caption Manager. In most recent history, Mr. Gall was proudly awarded the highest recognition within The Cadets' organization, having been inducted into The Cadets Hall of Fame in the winter of 2021. During Gall's tenure within The Cadets' organization, he was an integral part of the percussion staff that shaped and refined the performance of the DCI world-champion percussion section in the summer of 2013. In addition to earning the Fred J Sanford award in 2013, Mr. Gall was recognized as Staff Member of the Year in 2012. Before assuming a role on The Cadets' staff, he was a member of the snare line for three years under the direction of Tom Aungst and Colin McNutt. In 2007, Gall earned a distinguished service award, and in 2008 as the battery section leader, was awarded Cadet of the Year. Before his time as a member with The Cadets, Gall marched snare for the Crossmen in the summer of 2005, and marched tenors for the Jersey Surf in the summer of 2002.

Mr. Gall earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, with an instrumental emphasis in percussion, while attending the Pennsylvania State University. During Gall’s studies at PSU (2005-2010), he was an active performer both on and off campus. Notable classical performance venues include, Juniata College (Huntingdon, PA), Heinz Hall (Pittsburgh, PA), the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia, PA), and the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.). In addition to his classical studies at Penn State, Gall also marched five consecutive seasons in the Penn State Blue Band, where he served as drum captain his final three years. Also while studying at Penn State, Gall was awarded the Eleanor Beane Scholarship for outstanding performance on marimba and multiple- percussion, the Brewster Scholarship for outstanding performance on marimba, and the Performer’s Recognition Certificate.

Following his undergraduate studies, Mr. Gall continued his education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2010-2012), and graduated with a master’s degree in percussion performance. During his two years at UMASS, he served as graduate teaching assistant to professor Thom Hannum. In addition to teaching marching percussion techniques, Gall performed regularly in the premiere UMASS Marimba Band. It was during Gall’s first year performing in the Marimba Band that the ensemble received the prestigious Downbeat Magazine Jazz Showcase Award. While Gall’s teaching assistant position was in the area of marching percussion and his degree emphasis was in classical percussion, his performance and teaching schedule was highly diverse on a day-to-day basis. As an extension of Gall’s classical performance experience, he was selected to perform chamber music in the McCormick Marimba Festival at the University of South Florida (January of 2012), and the Bard College Chamber Music Performance in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (February of 2012).

Jacob Gall holds professional affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Gall proudly endorses the products of Vic Firth, Zildjian, and Remo.

Ryan Thornton

GEMS Director

Ryan Thornton is a dance and marching arts designer, choreographer, and educator based out of Austin, TX. He graduated from The Woodlands High School in 2015 and earned multiple championship titles at BOA Conroe, BOA San Antonio, and BOA Grand Nationals. In 2013, he had the privilege of earning a BOA Grand National Championship title.

Thornton is currently the Executive Director of Omega Performing Arts in Austin, TX, and is the Director of its independent winter guard, dance company, parade color guard, and design/consultation division. He is also the program coordinator and a designer for the Ocean Lakes HS Marching Dolphins and Wave Dance Company in Virginia and has assisted the program in earning two consecutive AIA State Championship titles in 2022 and 2023. He also recently began consulting for the University of Texas Longhorn Color Guard. Thornton pursued a performance career in Drum Corps International. He spent his first season in 2015 with Crossmen Drum and Bugle corps as a baritone and mellophone player. He was later contracted by the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard in 2018 and earned a Silver Medal at DCI Finals.

Before becoming the Executive Director at Omega Performing Arts, Thornton began his teaching career as an Assistant Instructor at Cypress Springs HS and Cypress Park HS under the direction of Grace Zientek.  Thornton is currently a Dance Major at Austin Community College with intentions on transferring to a university. He spends his free time studying jazz/jazz-funk, hip-hop, and pro-style dance techniques in addition to his tumbling training.