Dr. Jonathan M. Kraemer, Director of Bands
Dr. Kraemer began teaching in 2006.  A native of the DFW metroplex, he graduated from Waxahachie HS in 1998.  He went on to East Texas Baptist University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 2002, and then to Texas Tech University where he earned both a Master's of Conducting in 2004, and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts: Musicology in 2009.  Dr. Kraemer is now in his 15th year teaching.  Prior to coming to Abilene, Dr. Kraemer was the Director of Bands for Pampa ISD for 3 years and the Director of Bands at Roosevelt ISD for 7 years before that.  Dr. Kraemer was an Assistant Director at Abilene High during the 2017-18 school year before assuming the role of Director of Bands at AHS.  Dr. Kraemer’s specialty is brass with an emphasis in Trumpet.  Dr. Kraemer is also a member of the adjunct teaching faculty of the Hardin-Simmons University College of Fine Arts.  Dr. Kraemer and his wife are co-authors of the book, “The Band Director’s Guide to Success”, a 2016 Oxford University Press publication.  Dr. Kraemer’s family includes his wife, Michelle, their two children, and their adorable West Highland White Terrier.

​Mr. Tyler Jacks, Assistant Director of Bands
Mr. Jacks, a native of Austin, Texas, began his musical career taking piano lessons and singing in choirs.  As a member of the Grisham Middle School and Westwood High School bands, he played trombone in performances at prestigious venues such as the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago and the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio.  He attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Studies with high honors.  As a student at UT, he also had various performance opportunities, including at the International Trombone Festival in Valencia, Spain with the UT Trombone Choir.  Additionally, Mr. Jacks worked as a marching technician for Westwood High School and Leander High School, and student taught at Westlake High School and West Ridge Middle School.  In the summer of 2017, he was a featured soloist with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in their silver-medal winning production, Ouroboros.  Mr. Jacks started his teaching career at Abilene High School in the 2018-2019 school year, where he currently serves as the Marching Band Director and the Symphonic 1 Director.  He spends his summers working as a clinician at places such as the Austin Trombone Camp and the Howard Payne University Band Leadership Camp.

​Ms. Christina Hurlbut, Assistant Director of Bands / Percussion Director
Ms. Hurlbut grew up in Highland Village, Texas where she studied piano for 7 years and began pursuing percussion in 6th grade.  She attended Marcus High School and performed with the UIL State Champion Marching Band and Drumline from 2006-09.  Ms. Hurlbut received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2015 and Master's Degree in Percussion Performance in 2017, both from Brigham Young University.  She has performed with several groups including the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Panoramic Steel Band, BYU Wind Symphony, Cougar Marching Band, and BYU Chamber Orchestra, which toured the Philippines in May 2017.  Ms. Hurlbut has received several awards from the Utah Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and has performed in the Utah Valley Steel Band Festival twice.  She has performed and studied with various artists including, Dr. Ron Brough, Michael Burritt, Ivan Trevino, Nancy Zeltsman, She-e Wu, Lea Salonga, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.  Ms. Hurlbut loves to travel and learn about percussion in other cultures.  She joined the AHS Band Staff in the 2017-18 school year