UTRGV School of Music hosting first Vaquero Marching Band workshops

(UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

By Amanda L. Alaniz

Edinburg, Texas, Aug. 20, 2023 – UTRGV School of Music is gearing up to welcome the first-ever Vaquero Marching Band to the university. Before the Fall semester begins Aug. 28, the School of Music will be hosting a week of marching band workshops on the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses.

The workshop schedule and locations are as follows:

Monday, Aug. 21 – Edinburg, EPACA 1.320 (Band Hall)

•     9-10:15 a.m. ­– All WW’s/Front Ensemble
•     10:30-11:45 a.m. – All Brass/Battery
•     1 p.m. – EHPE2 118 (Gym)
•     1-2:30 p.m. – All Students for Marching Fund./Guard

Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Brownsville, BMSLC 1.203 (Red Room)

•     9-10:15 a.m. – All WW’s/Front Ensemble
•     10:30-11:45 a.m. ­– All Brass/Battery
•     1-2:30 p.m. – All Students for Marching Fund./Guard

Wednesday, Aug. 23 – Edinburg, EPACA 1.320 (Band Hall)

•     9-10:15 a.m. ­– All WW’s/Front Ensemble
•     10:30-11:45 a.m. – All Brass/Battery
•     1 p.m. – EHPE2 118 (Gym)
•     1-2:30 p.m. ­– All Students for Marching Fund./Guard
•     3-4 p.m. – Leadership Orientation for Section Leaders/DM

Thursday, Aug. 24 – Brownsville, BMSLC 1.203 (Red Room)

•     9-10 a.m. – All WW’s/Front Ensemble1
•     10-11 a.m. – All Brass/Battery
•     2-3:30 p.m. – All Students for Marching Fund./Guard

Friday, Aug. 25 – Edinburg, EPACA 1.320 (Band Hall)

•     9-10 a.m. – All Students Music Rehearsal
•     11 a.m.-12 p.m. – All Students for Marching Fund./Guard
•     2 p.m. – Leadership Auditions for Section Leaders/DM           

All auditions for the UTRGV Marching Band will be done visually and orally in class.

Last year, UTRGV announced the approval of expanding the spirit programs and the creation of football, women’s aquatics, and marching bands on both Brownsville and Edinburg campuses.

The marching band has been in the works for several months, including the hiring of Ronnie Rios, the new marching band director, and opening registration forms to students with more than 300 students showing interest.

For more information, contact Ronnie Rios, UTRGV marching band director, at [email protected] or David A. Rios, UTRGV School of Music program coordinator and part-time lecturer, at [email protected].