James Figueredo is currently the Percussion Director for the Birdville High School band in North Richland Hills, Texas. Mr. Figueredo oversees all aspects of the percussion programs for Birdville HS, Richland MS, and Smithfield MS.
Before coming to Birdville ISD, Mr. Figueredo served as the Percussion Director for the Fowler Middle School band in Frisco ISD, as well as the Assistant Percussion Director at Liberty High School. During his tenure with the Fowler band, he conducted the Fowler MS Percussion Ensemble, which won the Percussive Arts Society International Convention’s 2015 Junior High Percussion Ensemble Competition. He also taught private lessons to the percussionists at Vandeventer Middle School.
Prior to teaching in Frisco, Mr. Figueredo also taught in Lewisville ISD for the highly acclaimed Marcus High School band from 2010 to 2013. He assisted on the field for two of the Marcus band’s 5A UIL State Marching Championships, a PASIC Marching Festival Championship, and the PASIC “Call For Tapes” showcase concert in 2011. He also taught private lessons and clinics for Lewisville ISD, Richardson ISD and Carrollton--Farmers Branch ISD.
Mr. Figueredo earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the prestigious University of North Texas College of Music. While at UNT, he performed with the Indoor Drumline, winning the PASIC Marching Festival Championship in 2008. He also performed with various UNT ensembles such as the Latin Jazz Lab Band, Afro--Cuban, Brazilian, Gamelan, Steel Band, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and the Green Brigade Marching Band. His teachers included Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Jose Aponte, Christopher Deane, Mike Drake, and Ed Smith.
Mr. Figueredo has been no stranger to the marching music and arts. From 2009 to 2010, he was an original member of the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue Drumline. In addition, he performed with the 2008 DCI World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps and earned the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award. He also performed with other Drum & Bugle Corps such as the Boston Crusaders and the Vigilantes in DCA.
Mr. Figueredo is a current member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association and is an endorser of Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets. He is engaged to his lovely fiancé, Noel Andia, who is the AVID Coordinator for Lewisville High School Harmon.