Mr. Steve McGrew, Band Director

Born and raised in Parma, Ohio, Steve McGrew received his bachelor's degree in music education from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio where he studied saxophone with Greg Banaszak.  Upon graduation in 2005, he began teaching middle and elementary school band in Gallipolis, Ohio as the head band director at Gallia Academy Junior High for three years.  He then spent one year teaching elementary band in Brunswick, Ohio before accepting the band director position in Alamo Heights in 2009.

At the Junior School, Mr. McGrew directs the Honors Band and teaches the beginner saxophone and clarinet classes.  Additionally, he also coaches the Cross Country boys and girls teams.

Mr. Jeffrey Vogtlin, Assistant Band Director

Mr. Jeff Vogtlin is an assistant director at Alamo Heights Junior School and has been working in Alamo Heights for 21 years. He teaches beginner flute, trombone, euphonium, and tuba, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, and assists with Honors band at the Junior School.
 
Mr. Vogtlin was born and raised in Gilbert, Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998 and a Masters of Music from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2018.  Mr. Vogtlin has performed with the Central Iowa Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, and San Antonio Wind Symphony.  He is a member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Ms. Erin Amendola, Assistant Band Director

Ms. Erin Amendola was raised in San Antonio TX, and an alumna of Bradley Middle School and MacArthur High School.  She went on to receive her Bachelors Degree and Performance Degree in French Horn Performance from New England Conservatory in Boston Massachusetts.
Upon graduation Ms. Amendola suffered a facial nerve trauma and had to take time off from playing.  During this recovery time Ms. Amendola worked as the temporary audition coordinator for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and later became the Events Coordinator for New England Conservatory.
After a two-year recovery Ms. Amendola moved back to San Antonio Texas to pursue her performance career and start a very successful horn studio which resulted in all-region, area and state students.  Ms. Amendola also went on went on to play with several orchestral institutions.  She was a regular substitute with the San Antonio Symphony,  a guest musician with the New World Symphony and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, was a fellow in the Pacific Music Center Orchestra in Japan and played a one-year position with the Louisiana Philharmonic.
Erin has a passion for teaching and received her Certification in Music Education.  She has worked as a band director, at both the high school and middle school level, in the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Katy ISD.  
In her spare time Erin enjoys: spending quality time with family and friends, walking many miles with her dog, KD; trying to convince her cat, Binky, that she doesn't own the house...or the dog; tending to her butterfly garden; reading; cooking, and coming up with innovative ways to make learning fun.
Ms. Amendola's ambition is to help students find positive paths in life through music.  Her life has revolved around her love of music and education.  She is very excited too return home to San Antonio and be a part of the Alamo Heights Music program!