Brian Quakenbush

Brian Quakenbush has been involved with music for much of his life. Originally from Central North Carolina, he played French horn and trumpet through high school. While attending UNC- Chapel Hill, he was an active freelance musician in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, performing with the North Carolina Symphony, Show Choirs with Brightleaf Music Camps at Duke University, UNC Symphony, Durham Symphony, and the Raleigh Symphony, and sitting in countless musicals performing in the pit. While studying at UNC with Jim Ketch, his mentor teacher, he became a founding member of the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, which performs music of historical importance. During this time at UNC, he met his wife, Jenny, and soon moved to the hills of Bristol, Tennessee. While in Bristol, Brian attended East Tennessee State University, where he performed in the Johnson City Symphony and the ETSU Faculty Brass Quintet. After graduating, Brian became band director at Virginia High School in Bristol, Virginia, where he took the band to Virginia Honor Band status by receiving Superior ratings in Marching and Concert Assessment within the same school year. After two years at Virginia High, the Quakenbushes relocated to Lynchburg, where he was band director at Heritage High School, where his bands twice received Virginia Honor Band status in Virginia.

Brian is the band director at Blacksburg Middle School in Blacksburg, Virginia. The program is known for its dedication to music education and student achievement.

Prior to that, Brian was the Music chair and band director at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County and an assistant at Cave Spring Middle School for 20 years. Here, he cultivated a strong music program, with the band receiving honors at competitions and assessment venues across the district and state events. He developed the jazz program into one of the distinguished ensembles in the state, inviting musicians/educators/artists to participate and mentor students, and coaching ensembles to even higher levels. Many students continued with their music endeavors beyond high school.

The Quakenbush family resides in the Roanoke area and has three children, Jason, Samuel, and Drew.

Since 2010, Brian has been a member of Brass 5. This ensemble is in residence for Roanoke County (Virginia) Schools and has performed educational programs throughout Virginia. Brass 5 has been included in the Virginia Commission for the Arts Arts-in-Education Residency Program and has been nominated for the "Governor's Award for the Arts." Brass 5 members are Yamaha Performing Artists and are affiliated with the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Mr. Quakenbush was named “Teacher of the Year” at Cave Spring High School in his inaugural year and has been named to the Marquis "Who's Who in America" and the "Who's Who in Teaching" five times, and presented the President's Citation for the Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts six times. Mr. Quakenbush is a member of the Virginia Music Educator National Conference (MENC and NaFME), National Band Association, alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, and National Educators Association (NEA), and a member of the Jazz Educators' Network (JEN).

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Mr. Quakenbush continues to adjudicate and guest conduct at numerous honor, District, and state band events throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Brian performs often with the Roanoke Symphony and Lynchburg Symphony as well as many local ensembles.

Brian has an invitation to perform at the National Jazz Workshop in the summer of 2026 with the Vosbein-Magee Big Band!
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Brian is featured on three recordings that can be found on Spotify and iTunes with the bands: The Vosbein-Magee Big Band, "Vagabond", “Come and Get It,” and on the recording “Chris White and Pandemusicum.” He has performed locally and regionally with a diverse range of musicians, including James Taylor, Ron Holloway, Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Sherrie Maricle, Chris Vadala, and John D’earth. 
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In 2018, Brian completed his Master's in Instructional Design and Technology through Virginia Tech.