Charger Band Students Excel at
UIL Solo Contest
On March 27, 2021. Our Mighty Charger Band Students performed at the UIL Solo Contest in Veterans Memorial Early College HS. These students prepared a competitive solo, where they had to perform their solo with a digital accompaniment. We are extremely proud to announce that all 36 of our mighty Chargers each earned a Superior Rating on their solo performance. In addition, five of our students successfully performed their Class 1 solo memorized, giving them a distinction of advancing to the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in May 15, 2021. Congratulations to all our wonderful Chargers for this historic accomplishment.
Continued Success!!!!
Charger Band Students Advance to TMEA All-State Band
Congratulations to the Veterans Memorial ECHS 2021 All-State Musicians. On January, 2020 our Mighty Charger Band students competed at the TMEA Area G audition virtually. All the best musicians from South Texas including the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, San Antonio, Victoria, and Corpus Christi area competed for the coveted All-State Placement. The following students were selected as TMEA All-State Musicians, whom are the best musicians in the State of Texas. In addition, we have our two All-State Jazz Musicians that made history earlier in the year, that are amongst the top 10 Jazz Musicians in the State of Texas!
Charger Band Students
Represent at TMEA Area Band Auditions
Congratulations to the following students that auditioned at the TMEA Area G Band auditions. These students worked diligently to prepare for their final round in the TMEA All-State Band Process, in which they auditioned . We are super proud of all these students for their hard-work and determination.
Tradition Continues
Charger Band Students Persevere in All-Region Band Auditions
Earlier in the month of November, our Mighty Charger Band Members auditioned virtually for the Texas Music Educators Association Region 28 Band Auditions. Despite having to record and audition remotely, our mighty Charger Band students rose to the challenge and prevailed tremendously. We are super proud to have 32 students representing our school amongst the best students in the Eastern Rio Grande Valley:
OVERALL 1st CHAIRS
| French Horn
! = District Patch/ All-District Recognition |
Laura Quezada Oboe Allison Lucas Bass Clarinet Luis Paz Trumpet Javier Treviño French Horn Gavin Hinojosa Tenor Trombone Nicholas Reyes Tuba | Giselle Mendez Flute Jaime Peña Bass Clarinet Cesar Paez Trumpet Eduardo Fabian Gonzalez French Horn Oscar Huang Tenor Trombone Rodrigo Romo Tuba Robert Stone Percussion | Eliana Villareal Clarinet Orlando Perez Trumpet Hector Montoya Trumpet Amanda Quintanilla French Horn Miguel Rodriguez Euphonium Malachi Valdez Tuba | Gely Torres Clarinet Michael Arizmendi Trumpet Juan Cobos Trumpet Vivian McKinney French Horn Mayaleia Cardenas Tuba Ricardo Perez Percussion Victor Franco Percussion | Nayzeth Treviño Clarinet Elijah Castañeda Trumpet Hannyka Aviles Trumpet Anthony Tabarez Tenor Trombone Diego Gutierrez Tuba Ryan Garcia Percussion |
Overall, Veterans Memorial ECHS had 36 students that auditioned, and 32 students overall gained a distinction.
From there, 25 students earned a chair in one of the TMEA Region 28 High School Bands, 30 students earned a District Patch/ All-District recognition, and 29 students advanced to the Pre-Area Audition.
This was a tremendous victory for our Charger Band students. Best wishes to these students as they move on to the next level.
A special thank you goes to our Charger Parents and Administration for all their support. Go Chargers!!
From there, 25 students earned a chair in one of the TMEA Region 28 High School Bands, 30 students earned a District Patch/ All-District recognition, and 29 students advanced to the Pre-Area Audition.
This was a tremendous victory for our Charger Band students. Best wishes to these students as they move on to the next level.
A special thank you goes to our Charger Parents and Administration for all their support. Go Chargers!!
Charger Jazz Students
Make Record-Setting History
Congratulations to our Charger Jazz Students for a record-setting year. These five students recorded for the TMEA All-State Area Jazz audition, and competed against several students from all over the state, containing the best jazz musicians from all 33 TMEA regions in the State of Texas. Despite the challenges and odds our students faced, these students exceeded beyond any expectation and rose to the occasion. We are proud to announce that for the first time ever, Veterans Memorial Early College High School has TWO All-State Jazz Musicians and the first-ever Bass Trombonist in school history. This is Miguel and Michael's first time earning a chair in the TMEA All-State Jazz Band. In addition, all of our students placed above the top 16 in the State of Texas, where some of these students competed against as much as 125 students from all over the State. Congratulations to the following students for this tremendous accomplishment:
Thank you to our 2020-2021
Charger Drum Majors
Camille Parawan Assistant Drum Major- Junior Flute | Eliana Villareal Head Drum Major- Senior Clarinet | Miguel Rodriguez Assistant Drum Major- Senior Euphonium/ Bass Trombone |
Charger Band Student earns 1st Chair in TMEA All-Region Mariachi
Congratulations to Charger Band Student Michael Arizmendi- Junior for earning 1st Chair at the TMEA Region 28 Mariachi Auditions. Michael is the first trumpet student in Veterans history to earn a chair in the TMEA All-Region Mariachi.
Michael also qualifies for the Area round of auditions in pursuit for the TMEA All-State Mariachi.
Congratulations to Michael for this tremendous accomplishment.
Michael also qualifies for the Area round of auditions in pursuit for the TMEA All-State Mariachi.
Congratulations to Michael for this tremendous accomplishment.
Charger Band Students Set New Record
In All-Region Jazz
Congratulations to our Amazing Charger Band Students for auditioning at the TMEA Region 28 Jazz Audition. This year, our students recorded their music in order to have the opportunity to audition remotely. All six students auditioning made it into one of the Region Jazz bands. We had 3 first chairs and 5 will advance to the Area round of competition to compete for a position in the TMEA All State Jazz Bands.
Congratulations to the following Students:
Congratulations to the following Students:
Michael Arizmendi: 11th Grade, Trumpet 1st Chair Jazz Band 1, Advanced to Area-Taping for State Luis Paz: 9th Grade, Trumpet 2nd Chair Jazz Band 1, Advanced to Area- Taping for State | Miguel Rodriguez: 12th Grade, Bass Trombone 1st Chair Jazz Band 1, Advanced to Area- Taping for State Orlando Perez: 11th Grade, Trumpet 3rd Chair Jazz Band 1, Advanced to Area- Taping for State | Robert Stone: 11th Grade, Drum Set 1st Chair Jazz Band 1, Advanced to Area- Taping for State Hector Montoya: 9th Grade, Trumpet 2nd Chair Jazz Band 2, 7th Chair Overall |
Congratulations to all these students for their hard work! Special Congratulations to Robert Stone, Miguel Rodriguez, and Michael Arizmendi for earning 1st chair on their prospective instrument. Go Chargers!!!!
Welcome Charger Band Leadership
On Monday, June 8, 2020 our Charger Band Drum Majors and Squad Leaders came to a three day leadership session., where students were taught basic fundamental marching skills. We are so proud of our leadership for working hard these past three days, and are looking forward to seeing all our Charger Band Students this upcoming Second Summer Session in July.
Congratulations Class of 2020
On behalf of the Stillman Longhorn Band Directors, we want to congratulate our band seniors for their hard work these past seven years. We are so proud of all our students for their efforts in completing their high school years. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
Congratulations to our new
Charger Band Drum Majors
for the 2020-2021
School Year
Congratulations to the following students for being selected to become Drum Major. These students went through rigorous distance learning sessions, and went through an intense interview process as well as completing a service project. We are proud to announce our following Drum Majors:
Head Drum Major
Eliana Villarreal
Assistant Drum Majors
Miguel Rodriguez
Camille Parawan
Setting a Standard of Excellence:
Charger Colorguard achieve
Historic Record-Breaking Season
Congratulations to our phenomenal Charger Colorguard for having an outstanding season. These amazing students placed 1ST PLACE in Scholastic Regional AA Class at the Texas Educational Colorguard Association Block A Invitational in Hidalgo Early College High School on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Due to their high score and outstanding level of achievement, our Charger Colorguard was promoted to Scholastic Regional A Class, where they were competing against stronger colorguard units. On Saturday, February 29, 2020, our phenomenal students placed 2ND PLACE at the TECA Block B Invitational in Mission Early College High School. While there was still room to grow and hopes to show their improvement, our Colorguard season was abruptly ended due the Coronavirus outbreak. On behalf of the Veterans Memorial ECHS band staff, we want to congratulate these students for their tremendous work.
The Fantastic Four:
Charger All-State Band Students
Represent Veterans Memorial ECHS at the
TMEA 100 Centennial All-State Convention
Congratulations to the Veterans Memorial ECHS 2020 All-State Musicians. On January, 2020 our Mighty Charger Band students competed at the TMEA Area G audition at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. All the best musicians from South Texas including the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, San Antonio, Victoria, and Corpus Christi area competed for the coveted All-State Placement. The following 4 students were selected as TMEA All-State Musicians, whom are the best musicians in the State of Texas. The following month, these students traveled to San Antonio, and competed at the TMEA All-State seating auditions, where every All-State musician auditioned for a top spot in the All-State Ensembles. Earlier on November, 2019, Rafael Longoria had already made history by earning a spot in the TMEA All-State Jazz Band. We are proud to announce is the 2nd time Miguel, Michael, and Orlando have advanced to the state level. Congratulations to the Following students on their historic accomphisment:
RAFAEL LONGORIA 4TH CHAIR TRUMPET TMEA ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND 1 1ST YEAR ALL-STATER | MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ 7TH CHAIR EUPHONIUM TMEA 6A ALL-STATE SYMPHONIC BAND 2ND YEAR ALL-STATER | MICHAEL ARIZMENDI 7TH CHAIR TRUMPET TMEA 6A ALL-STATE CONCERT BAND 2ND YEAR ALL-STATER | ORLANDO PEREZ 12TH CHAIR TRUMPET TMEA 5A ALL-STATE SYMPHONIC BAND 2ND YEAR ALL-STATER |
Breaking Barriers!!!
Charger Jazz Students
Represent Record Number at 2019-2020
TMEA All-Region Jazz Concert
Including 1st-ever All State Jazz Student in Charger History!!!!
Congratulations to our Five Charger Jazz Band students for participating at the TMEA Region 28 Jazz Concert on February, 8, 2020 at the Harlingen CISD Performing Arts Center. On September, 2019, our Charger Band Students competed against several of the top-notch jazz musicians in the Lower Rio Grande Valley at the TMEA Region 28 Jazz audition in Harlingen, Texas.
We are super happy for these students as they have broken the school record of number of Chargers to have ever made the TMEA Region HS Jazz Bands. In addition, we are excited to announce four of our jazz students advanced to the area level. These four students recorded individually at the Area Jazz taping at the Harlingen PAC on October, 2019, where they competed agains the best Jazz musicians from each region from all over the State of Texas. Out of 125 of the best Trumpet players and 57 of the best Drum Set players from all over the State of Texas, these students fared amongst the top 15 students in the State of Texas at the TMEA All State Jazz Hearing on November, 2019.
We are extremely proud to announce Rafael Longoria earned a spot in the TMEA All-State Jazz Band 1, where he earned place 4th in the State of Texas.
The following students earned a spot in the TMEA All- Region Jazz Band. Congrats to all for their hard work:
We are super happy for these students as they have broken the school record of number of Chargers to have ever made the TMEA Region HS Jazz Bands. In addition, we are excited to announce four of our jazz students advanced to the area level. These four students recorded individually at the Area Jazz taping at the Harlingen PAC on October, 2019, where they competed agains the best Jazz musicians from each region from all over the State of Texas. Out of 125 of the best Trumpet players and 57 of the best Drum Set players from all over the State of Texas, these students fared amongst the top 15 students in the State of Texas at the TMEA All State Jazz Hearing on November, 2019.
We are extremely proud to announce Rafael Longoria earned a spot in the TMEA All-State Jazz Band 1, where he earned place 4th in the State of Texas.
The following students earned a spot in the TMEA All- Region Jazz Band. Congrats to all for their hard work:
RAFAEL LONGORIA 1ST CHAIR TRUMPET TMEA ALL STATE JAZZ BAND 1 4th Overall in the State of Texas | MICHAEL ARIZMENDI 2ND CHAIR TRUMPET TMEA ALL STATE AREA FINALIST 15th Overall in the State of Texas | ORLANDO PEREZ 4TH CHAIR TRUMPET TMEA ALL STATE AREA FINALIST 14th Overall in the State of Texas | MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ 4TH CHAIR TROMBONE TMEA Region Jazz Band 2020 All STATE EUPHONIUM | ROBERT STONE 2ND CHAIR DRUM SET TMEA ALL STATE AREA FINALIST 12th Overall in the State of Texas |
Keeping Tradition Alive:
25 Charger Band Members Represent
Veterans Memorial ECHS at
BISD 2020 ALL-City Clinic and Concert
On February 1, 2020. Twenty-four of our mighty Charger Band Veterans Memorial Early College High School at the Annual Brownsville ISD All- City Clinic and Concert. These students were were selected based on their TMEA All-Region Band and TMEA Area Band Results. Under the direction of Mr. Dennis Fisher from the University of North Texas, the students performed a wonderful concert at the University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley.
Congratulations to the following students for representing Veterans Memorial Early College High School:
Congratulations to the following students for representing Veterans Memorial Early College High School:
Flute
Alto Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
| Bassoon
| Bass Trombone
|
Mighty 15:
Charger Band Students Advance to Area G Audition
On Tuesday, November 26, our Charger Band Students competed at the TMEA Region 28 Pre-Area audition. These students competed against the top students from Brownsville and the east side of the Rio Grande Valley. We are proud to announce 15 of our students advanced to the TMEA Area G audition. Congratulations to the following students:
Flute
| Trumpet
| Bass Trombone
|
30 Strong!!!
Charger Band Students Excel at
TMEA Region 28 Band
2019-2020
Audition/Concert
On Saturday, November 17, our Mighty Charger Band Members tried out at the Texas Music Educators Association Region 28 Band Auditions held in Harlingen High School. Congratulations to our Mighty Chargers who made a region band and performed at the TMEA Region 28 Band Concert on Friday, December 6, 2019. We are super proud to have had 30 students representing our school amongst the best students in the Eastern Rio Grande Valley.
OVERALL 1st CHAIRS
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Tenor Sax
| Trumpet
|
Charger Band Students Excel at the
TMEA Region 28 Orchestra Concert
Congratulations to our amazing Charger Band students for performing an outstanding concert at the TMEA Region 28 Orchestra Concert! They had a wonderful performance Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Harlingen CISD Performing Arts Center. Congratulations to the following students for their tremendous accomplishment:
Alberto Guerrero: Senior 1st Chair Bass Trombone- Advanced to Area
Oscar Cantu: Senior 2nd Chair Percussion- Advanced to Area
Rafael Longoria: Sophomore 1st Chair Trumpet- Advanced to Area
Javier Treviño: Freshman 4th Chair French Horn
Alberto Guerrero: Senior 1st Chair Bass Trombone- Advanced to Area
Oscar Cantu: Senior 2nd Chair Percussion- Advanced to Area
Rafael Longoria: Sophomore 1st Chair Trumpet- Advanced to Area
Javier Treviño: Freshman 4th Chair French Horn
Veterans Memorial Early College
High School Band Handbook

band_handbook_2019_-_2020.pdf |
Summer Band and Marching Schedule

summer_band_schedule_19-20__2_.pdf |
Please bring the following items to our Summer Band Session:
| Por favor de traer los siguientes artículos a nuestra sesión de banda de verano:
|
Summer Band Forms
for School Year 2019-2020
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|
Veterans Memorial Early College HS
Concert Bands Earned a Triple Sweepstakes at
UIL Concert and Sight Reading
On April 16 and 17, 2019, our Veterans Memorial ECHS Concert Bands competed at the UIL Concert and Sight-reading Evaluation in the Simon Sauceda Auditorium in Donna, Texas. Out many bands that competed, Veterans Memorial ECHS was the only 5A School in Region 28 that had three bands earn Superior Ratings in both Concert and Sight-reading for all 3 bands, earning each ensemble a Sweepstakes Trophy. Congratulations to the students on a job well done. Thank you to all the parents, campus staff, and administrators for supporting our wonderful students.
GO CHARGERS!!!!
GO CHARGERS!!!!
Charger Band Students
Make History with
Record Breaking
7 All-Staters!!!
On January 12, 2019, our Mighty Charger Band students competed at the TMEA Area G audition at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. All the best musicians from South Texas including the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, San Antonio, Victoria, and Corpus Christi area competed for the coveted All-State Placement. As having the most students advancing from Brownsville ISD and TMEA Region 28, Veterans Memorial Early College High School is proud to announce our students made history as breaking the record of the highest amount of All-State qualifiers in school history- Seven All-State Band Musicians.
A special congratulations to Edith Olivares and Hannah Valle for advancing from the All-State Recording Audition. Even though these two students placed 1st chair at Area, they had to go through a recorded audition against the top Area Students from the other seven areas in the State of Texas.
Veterans Memorial Early College HS would like to announce our first Oboe, Euphonium, and Percussion All-State Musicians in school history. This is also the first year in school history two trumpets advance together to All State.
These students will compete at the All-State Chair Placement at February 13, 2019 at the Henry B. Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. They will then perform with the best musicians from the State of Texas in the All-State Concert on Saturday, February, 16, 2019 at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.
Congratulations to the following students
1. Edith Olivares, Senior- 5A Piccolo (2nd Year All-Stater) 1st Chair in the State of Texas!!!
2. Hannah Valle, Senior- 5A Oboe (1st Oboe All-Stater in VMHS school history)
3. Adolfo Peña, Senior- 6A French Horn (2nd Year All-Stater)
4. Michael Arizmendi, Freshman- 5A Trumpet
5. Orlando Perez, Freshman- 5A Trumpet
6. Miguel Rodriguez, Sophomore- 5A Euphonium (1st Euphonium in VMHS school history)
7. Oscar Cantu, Junior- 6A Percussion (1st Percussionist in VMHS school history)
A special congratulations to Edith Olivares and Hannah Valle for advancing from the All-State Recording Audition. Even though these two students placed 1st chair at Area, they had to go through a recorded audition against the top Area Students from the other seven areas in the State of Texas.
Veterans Memorial Early College HS would like to announce our first Oboe, Euphonium, and Percussion All-State Musicians in school history. This is also the first year in school history two trumpets advance together to All State.
These students will compete at the All-State Chair Placement at February 13, 2019 at the Henry B. Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. They will then perform with the best musicians from the State of Texas in the All-State Concert on Saturday, February, 16, 2019 at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.
Congratulations to the following students
1. Edith Olivares, Senior- 5A Piccolo (2nd Year All-Stater) 1st Chair in the State of Texas!!!
2. Hannah Valle, Senior- 5A Oboe (1st Oboe All-Stater in VMHS school history)
3. Adolfo Peña, Senior- 6A French Horn (2nd Year All-Stater)
4. Michael Arizmendi, Freshman- 5A Trumpet
5. Orlando Perez, Freshman- 5A Trumpet
6. Miguel Rodriguez, Sophomore- 5A Euphonium (1st Euphonium in VMHS school history)
7. Oscar Cantu, Junior- 6A Percussion (1st Percussionist in VMHS school history)
Charger Trumpet Students Represent at
TMEA Region 28 Jazz Concert
Congratulations to our Mighty Charger Band trumpet students for participating at the TMEA Region 28 Jazz Concert on February, 9, 2019 at the Harlingen CISD Performing Arts Center. On September, 2018, our Charger Band Students competed against several of the top-notch jazz musicians in the Lower Rio Grande Valley at the TMEA Region 28 Jazz audition in Harlingen, Texas. The following students earned a spot in the TMEA Region 28 All-Region Jazz Band, where two students advanced to the Area Jazz Taping. During the Area audition, our two students competed against 120 of the best jazz trumpet students in the State of Texas. We are proud to announce both Area Qualifiers, advanced to the final round, where they were placed amongst the top 20 in the State of Texas. Michael Arizmendi, placed as the State alternate. The following students earned a spot in the TMEA All- Region Jazz Band:
Rafael Longoria | Alejandro Montoya | Michael Arizmendi | |
Congratulations Area Candidates
On Tuesday, November 27, our Charger Band Students competed at the TMEA Region 28 Pre-Area audition. These students competed against the top students from Brownsville and the east side of the Rio Grande Valley. We are proud to announce 17 of our students advanced to the TMEA Area G audition. Congratulations to the following students:
Piccolo
| Bassoon
| French Horn
|
Congratulations Charger Region Band Members!!!
On Saturday, November 17, our Mighty Charger Band Members tried out at the Texas Music Educators Association Region 28 Band Auditions held in Harlingen High School. We are pleased to announce that 36 of our Mighty Charger Band Students earned a chair in one of our region bands. In addition, we are pleased to announce that 4 students earned first chair at the region auditions.
OVERALL 1st CHAIRS
Piccolo
| Trumpet
|
Charger Band Members
Break 1st Chair Record at
All-Region Orchestra
In a historic win for our Mighty Charger Band, these phenomenal students achieved a record-setting 6 First Chairs at the Texas Music Educators Association Region 28 Orchestra Audition. The available wind and percussion chairs are quite limited as the orchestra is primarily composed of string players. Having our Mighty Charger Band Members earned 1st chair on six out of the eleven available instruments is truly a historic accomplishment- one that beats all BISD and TMEA Region 28 records. On behalf of all the Veterans Memorial ECHS band directors, Charger Staff, and administration, we would like to congratulate the following students on their tremendous accomplishment.
Congratulations to both Indoor Ensembles for a Successful Season
Congratulations to our Veterans Memorial ECHS Indoor Ensembles that performed phenomenal performances at the Texas Education Colorguard Association contests, earning each ensemble various awards and accolades. Way to go Chargers on an amazing season!!!
Congratulations TMEA 2018 All-State Band Members
Congratulations to the Veterans Memorial ECHS 2018 All-State Musicians. On January, 2018 these students were selected by auditioning at the TMEA Area G All-State Audition, where many students competed for a spot in the TMEA All-State Ensembles. The following 3 were selected as TMEA All-State Musicians, whom are the best musicians in the State of Texas. The following month, these students traveled to San Antonio, and competed at the TMEA All-State seating auditions, where every All-State musician auditioned for a top spot in the All-State Ensembles. Congratulations to the Following students on their historic accomphisment:
1. Adolfo Peña- Principal French Horn (1st Chair) 6A Symphonic Band
2. Edith Olivares- 3rd Chair Piccolo 5A Symphonic Band
3. Sinuhe Maldonado- 12 Chair Trumpet 5A Symphonic Band
1. Adolfo Peña- Principal French Horn (1st Chair) 6A Symphonic Band
2. Edith Olivares- 3rd Chair Piccolo 5A Symphonic Band
3. Sinuhe Maldonado- 12 Chair Trumpet 5A Symphonic Band