Directors
Meet the Central Band staff.
Central students are zoned to L.D. Bell and Trinity, and percussion directors from both campuses work with our students here.
Jacob Groening
Director of Bands
Jacob Groening is in his ninth year of teaching and third year as Director of Bands at Central Junior High. Mr. Groening (pronounced Grain-ing) is a native of Hurst, TX where he graduated from L.D. Bell High School. For his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Groening graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Houston Moores School of Music in 2017. While at the University of Houston, Jacob studied with Jim Austin, John Benzer, David Bertman, and Marion West. As well, he performed with the Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, and Spirit of Houston Marching Band. Mr. Groening just completed his master’s degree in Music Education at the Meadows School of Music at Southern Methodist University.
After graduating from UH, Mr. Groening taught at Hurst Junior High in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD for 5 years with Monica Dominguez and for 1 year as head director at Durham MS in Lewisville ISD. His biggest mentors include, but are not limited to, David Bertman, Marion West, Monica Dominguez, Christine Cumberledge, Van Mathews, Suzanne Dell, Steve Madsen, Melodianne Mallow, Dana Pradervand, and John Benzer.
Outside of band, Mr. Groening loves playing trivia, running, and spending time with his family. He currently resides in Lewisville, TX with his dog, Rosie.
Gbohunmi Fawehinmi
Assistant Band Director
Oluwagbohunmi Fawehinmi is the Assistant Band Director at Central Junior High. His responsibilities include teaching beginner woodwind classes, directing Concert I, and assisting with Symphonic Band and Concert II.
Prior to his move to HEB ISD, Mr. Fawehinmi spent four years as an Assistant Band Director at Hays Middle School. His groups consistently received Superior ratings during his time in Prosper ISD.
Mr. Fawehinmi graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University, where he studied with Dr. David Shea, Dr. Sarah McKoin, Dr. Eric Allen, and Dr. Jacqueline Henninger.
While at Texas Tech, Mr. Fawehinmi played clarinet in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and the Goin’ Band from Raiderland Marching Band. His tenure with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble included performing at the TMEA Clinic and Convention in 2017 and at the CBDNA Regional Conference in Houston in 2018.
While in Lubbock, Mr. Fawehinmi was also an active private lesson instructor, teaching lessons in both Lubbock ISD and Frenship ISD. Mr. Fawehinmi student taught in Frisco ISD at Lebanon Trail High School with Kelly Wykoff and Adelle R. Clark Middle School with Benjamin Katz.
His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Fawehinmi spends his time watching sports, lifting weights, graphic design, and spending time with his wife, Tolu.
Matthew Kossick
L.D. Bell HS Percussion Director
Matt Kossick is an Associate Band Director and Director of Percussion at L.D. Bell High School. Mr. Kossick directs all percussion activities for the entire L.D. Bell cluster, which includes Bedford Junior High, Hurst Junior High, and Central Junior High.
Previously, from 2019-2021, Mr. Kossick was the Assistant Percussion Director at Trinity High School. During that time, he also directed the Harwood Junior High Percussion Ensemble that won both the Midwest and Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble competitions during the 2019-2020 school year. These same students won the high school division of the Percussive Arts Society competition during the 2021-2022 school year.
Mr. Kossick earned his Master’s of Music degree in Percussion Performance under the tutelage of Svet Stoyanov and Joe Petrasek at the University of Miami. During his graduate studies, he served as a teaching assistant for the University of Miami Athletic Bands. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas studying with Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, Poovalur Sriji, and Mark Ford.
During his time at UNT Mr. Kossick was a member of the UNT Wind Symphony under Eugene Corporon and was a member of the UNT 2016 Percussive Arts Society showcase performance. Mr. Kossick was also awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate in Percussion award for the 2017-2018 school year.
Outside of school, Mr. Kossick spent three summers participating in Drum Corps International. In 2015 Mr. Kossick was a member of the front ensemble of the Troopers Drum Corps. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Mr. Kossick performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard front ensemble. The SCV percussion section won the Fred Sanford high percussion achievement award for both of these seasons.
Manny Flores
Trinity HS Percussion Director
Mr. Manny Flores serves as Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion at Trinity High School in Euless, TX. Mr. Flores is responsible for the Trinity High School percussion cluster, which includes Harwood, Central, and Euless Junior High. He previously served as percussion director at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, TX from 2014-2020. During this time, his students performed at the UIL State Marching Contest, The Midwest Clinic, TMEA All-State Band, and The Texas Bandmasters Convention.
During his short tenure at Trinity HS, Mr. Flores has had recent success with the Trinity HS Percussion Cluster. Central JH Percussion Ensemble finished 3rd Place at the 2022 North Texas Percussion Festival. Mr. Flores assisted with the Harwood Junior High invited percussion ensemble for the 2021 Midwest Clinic. Also, the Trinity HS Percussion Ensemble received highest honors at the 2022 North Texas Percussion Festival.
Mr. Flores studied under Dr. Michael Varner and Dr. James Yakas at The University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He performed with the UT Arlington Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, African and Brazilian Ensembles and various marching percussion ensembles. While at UT Arlington, he was the recipient of the Victor C. Gonzalez Percussive Arts Society Scholarship, outstanding musician award and the 2014 UT Arlington Concerto Contest winner.
As a performer, Mr. Flores was a member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Surround Sound Percussion, Dallas Cowboys Drumline, Dallas Mavericks Drumline, FC Dallas Drumline, and Dynamic Rhythm Entertainment.
Manny Flores is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. He also serves as a member of the Vic Firth Educational Team. Manny lives in Crowley, TX with his wife Amanda, two dogs Mikko and Archer, and cat Rimsky. Mr. Flores enjoys grilling, yard work and spending time with his family and friends in his minimal, but highly cherished free time.