Don Bierschenk serves as Sales Manager of the J.W. Pepper branch in San Antonio, Texas. He is a native Texan and musician who studied music education at the University of Texas and has been serving educators for forty years. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. In addition to his service to music educators, Don is still an active musician in south Texas, serving as principal clarinet in the San Antonio Wind Symphony, and is a member of the SAHarmonie chamber ensemble. He is also a co-author of the Essential Elements band method and is arranger of numerous published chamber ensembles for clarinet.