Our Directors

Danette Conard is in her fifth year as middle school band director in the Blanco Independent School District where she enjoys teaching 5th through 12th grade. Her love for music was recognized at the age of 5 when she began teaching herself to play the piano and organ. In 7th grade, she wanted to play the flute because she saw one at a garage sale. Her parents bought it for her, and there was no turning back. At age 14, she was asked to play flute in the pit orchestra for College of the Mainland’s production of Gypsy. She then went on to actively perform in the college’s flute ensemble, woodwind quintet, jazz band, and musicals throughout her time in high school. 

After graduating with Valedictorian honors from Hitchcock High School in 1994, she furthered her education at Texas State University, studying both flute and piano. While there, she enjoyed performing in numerous ensembles including marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, flute ensemble, steel drum band, jazz band, and mariachi band. One of her fondest memories was traveling to Mississippi with her flute instructor, Dr. Adah Jones, to spend a weekend in concerts and classes with world-renowned flutist, Jean-Pierre Rampal. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in the fall of 1998. In 1999, Mrs. Conard got married to her husband, Bryce, and began her career as a band director. 

Mrs. Conard has taught for 18 years in both public and private schools in Texas. While at First Baptist Academy in Universal City, the high school band was twice named the TAPPS 2A State Champions, and the band received Sweepstakes all four years. Since teaching in Blanco, the middle school band has received four Sweepstakes ratings and placed 9th in the State in the ATSSB OPS competition. 

Danette completed 39 graduate hours in flute performance at UTSA where she studied with Dr. Rita Linard. She was a teaching assistant at the UTSA Flute Camp from 2004-2015. Danette has been an active performer and flute section leader with the San Antonio Wind Symphony (SAWS) since 2006 and has served on the Board of Directors as Secretary since 2016. She was one of the founding members of San Antonio’s adult flute choir, Fiesta Flutes. She has participated in master classes with Lady Jeanne Galway, Jim Walker, Paul Edmund-Davies, and Rhonda Larson. She has traveled to New York City, Albuquerque, and Kansas City for the National Flute Association convention where she has presided clinics and performed. In NYC, she was part of a Guinness World Record flute choir. She has served as an adjudicator at the State level for OPS and TMEA 5A All-State Flutes. In 2019-20, she was the ATSSB Region 12 MS Symphonic Band Coordinator. In addition to SAWS, she currently performs with Nelda Etheredge (harpist) and frequently performs at area churches.

Her hobbies include collecting Volkswagen toy cars (she has an entire room in her house devoted to this) and collecting Godzilla figures. Her brother holds a national record for 1/8 mile VW drag racing, and her husband's show car (a 1963 VW Standard Bug) has been featured in Hot VWs magazine and won Best of Show at the TX VW Classic Car Show. 

Professional affiliations include: Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Association of Texas Small School Bands, & National Flute Association.

Jonathan VanOmmeren
Blanco ISD Head Band Director

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