Moises V. Vela Middle School
Moises V. Vela Middle School with special guests Ben Patterson and Alex Parker
Jazz Education Network - 14th National Conference Omni Orlando Resort Hotel Orlando, Florida | January 4-7, 2023
Erika R. Uribe, conductor Philip J. De La Fuente & Desi Limon , directors
HARLINGEN CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
407 N. 77 Sunshine Strip Harlingen, TX 78550 Phone (956) 430 9500
HARL I NGE N CON S O LI DATE D INDEPENDENT S CHOO L D IS TR I C T OFF E O THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 407 N
January 4, 2023
As Trustees of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, we are pleased to congratulate our outstanding Vela Middle School Jazz Ensemble as they perform at this year’s Jazz Education Network Conference.
We are honored and excited for our remarkable middle school musicians to experience this incredible opportunity to showcase their talent before your audience.
With a legacy of excellence, these outstanding young musicians bring their talent and skills honed through countless long hours and dedication to practice. With the teaching support and encouragement of world-class music educators as well as community and school system devoted to supporting young artists, these students have become champions in their chosen field of music.
Thank ou for joining us in celebrating these amazing students. Sincerely,
Dr. Bobby Muñiz President HCISD Board of Trustees
HARLINGEN CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 407 N. 77 Sunshine Strip Harlingen, TX 78550 Phone (956) 430 9500
invitation to have our Vela Jazz perform at the Jazz Education Network 14th Annual Conference. It is with great pride and our desire to strive to be the best that our students are here before you to highlight their talents. As educators, we often tell our students that in the end, hard work will pay off, and this opportunity for our students to perform at the Jazz Education Network14th Annual Conference is the ultimate reward for their hard work, time and dedication.
Our band directors, consisting of head band director and jazz band director, Erika R. Uribe, assistant band director Philip De La Fuente and supported by band consultant, Desi Limon, bring extensive years of experience in the field of music. In 2014, Mrs. Uribe formed Vela Middle School’s jazz program. At the time of formation, Mrs. Uribe started molding our sixth-grade beginner band students into future jazz band members by planting the seed in their minds to think of band past the halftime shows at football games and beyond the sit-down concerts.
As the directors continued to water the seed, we have seen the band program grow in numbers and opportunities for our students. Not only do our students learn about music, but they also learn character education and team building by merely having to work together to help one another and by learning the importance of being responsible for their academics. We are fortunate to have excellent band directors teaching the art of music to our students.
Moises V. Vela Middle School would like to thank our parents, community, Harlingen CISD Administration, and our State Recognized HCISD School Board for their support and dedication to our band program and all HCISD Fine Arts programs.
In closing, I would like to say thank you to The Jazz Education Network for inviting our students to be part of this event.
Respectfully, Juan M. Garcia, Jr.
Principle Moises V. Vela Middle School
FeelinG GOod 1
by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley/arr. Roger Holmes
Featuring
Kyah Walker - Vocals
Fast Forward 2
by Howard Rowe
Featuring Samuel Castillo, Benito Segura
Corey Portales and Patrick Williams - Trombones with special guest, Alex Parker
All I want for Christmas is You 3
by Walter Afanasieff & Mariah Carey/arr. Paul Murtha
Featuring Catalina Cabello-Corona - Vocals
Abraham Leal - Bells
Adan De La Riva - Piano
Kyah Walker - Background Vocals
by Gordon Goodwin 4
Crunchy Frogs
Robby Toller - Bass
Jaime Davalos - Bass
Oscar Jimenez - Drumset
Mikayla Galvan - Guitar
Adan De La Riva - Piano with special guest, Ben Patterson
by Jule Styne/arr. Alan Baylock
Avani Garza and Javier Cabello-Corona - Alto Sax with special guest Ben Patterson
Sway (Quien sera)
by
Beltran Ruiz & Norman Gimbel/arr. Mark Taylor
Featuring Kyah Walker and Catalina Cabello-Corona - Vocals
Nathaniel J. Perez -Trumpet
Evan Gilliam - Trumpet
Adan De La Riva - Piano
Robby Toller - Bass with special guest, Ben Patterson
Erika R. Uribe is entering her sixteenth year of teaching and serves as the Associate Director at Moises V. Vela Middle School with the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District. Before Harlingen, Miss Uribe served as Assistant Director at Roma High School and taught within the Roma Independent School District. A native of Harlingen, Miss Uribe received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Baylor University School of Music. She studied trumpet, brass pedagogy, jazz education, and conducting with Barry Hopper, Wiff Rudd, Alex Parker, and Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole.
At Vela, Miss Uribe directs the Vela Jazz I, Jazz II, and Beginner Jazz ensembles. Additionally, her duties include beginner saxophone, beginner trumpet, beginner euphonium/tuba, directing the Symphonic Band I, Symphonic Band II, and assisting with the Honors Band. In the Spring of 2021, Miss Uribe established the campus mariachi group, Mariachi Panteras de Oro.
Jazz ensembles under Miss Uribe have earned the title of 2019-2020 TMEA/TJEA Invited Middle School Jazz Ensemble, have been invited to attend The Midwest Clinic - International Band & Orchestra Conference in 2020 and 2021, and invited to attend the Jazz Educators Network National Conference in 2022. Vela Jazz I was named a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Jazz Honors project in 2020 and a Maestro Award National Winner in the Medal of Distinction Concert Division in 2021.
Miss Uribe currently serves as the TMEA Region 28 Band Division Secretary. She has the honor of serving as a jazz clinician and jazz adjudicator across the nation. Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, JEN - Jazz Educators Network, and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Desi Limon serves as a full-time band consultant with the Moises V. Vela Middle School Band Program. Beginning his teaching career in 1997, Mr. Limon has worked within the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District and San Benito Consolidated Independent School District. While serving as a brass and percussion consultant at Coakley Middle School, the band was named the 2005 and 2009 CC Honor Band. Mr. Limon previously attended the Baylor School of Music.
At Vela, Mr. Limon instructs beginner French horn, beginner trombone, beginner percussion, and assists with the concert bands and jazz program. He is the director of the award-winning Vela Drumline, which has won their caption multiple times at the Roma and Edinburg Drumline Contests. Private students under Mr. Limon have achieved top honors in the TMEA All-State Process, Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest, and TMEA All-Region Contests.
J. De La Fuente Assistant Band DirectorPhilip James De La Fuente, native of Harlingen, Texas, is currently in his eighth year of teaching and first year serving as Associate Director at Moises V. Vela Middle School at Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District. Prior to Vela MS, Mr. De La Fuente Served as an Associate Director and Director of Percussion at Veterans Memorial Early College High School at Brownsville Independent School District.
Mr. De La Fuente received his Bachelors of Music from West Texas A&M University studying percussion under Dr. Susan Martin Tariq. While at WTAMU he performed with various ensembles including the WTAMU Percussion Ensemble, The Sound of West Texas Buffalo Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Russell Teweleit, the Symphonic Band under Donald Lefevre, and the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Mark Bartley. Mr. De La Fuente also had performance opportunities with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps.
Under the direction of Mr. De La Fuente students have been successful through the TMEA All- Region, Area, and All-State audition processes, UIL marching, UIL Region and State Solo and Ensemble, and Indoor Percussion Ensemble.
Mr. De La Fuente is supported by his friends, parents Luis De La Fuente and Nora Rush, his wife Dr. Jessica Davis, and his newborn son Beau Davis De La Fuente.
GUEST ARTISTS BIOGRAPHY
Alex Parker is the Director of The Wayne Fisher Jazz Program at Baylor University. He directs the Baylor Jazz Ensembles and teaches many jazz disciplines. Mr. Parker holds the MM from the University of Miami and a BM from the Eastman School of Music. His background is in jazz writing, performance and pedagogy, as well as trumpet performance and instrumental teaching. Before coming to Baylor, Mr. Parker taught for five years in the public schools. He is a founding director of the Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA), the Executive Officer of TJEA, and the editor of the Texas All-State Jazz Etudes. As a writer and arranger Parker has written for the Harrisburg Symphony, the US Air Force Band in Washington, DC, and collegiate ensembles. He has performed clinics, adjudicated and directed jazz ensembles all over the country in Greece, Peru and Costa Rica, and he continues to perform as a free-lance musician. Mr. Parker also serves as the Director of Baylor Summer Music Camps and won the Baylor University Outstanding Professor Award for Teaching in 2010.
Reach beyond what you thought possible.Philip
Trombonist, composer, and producer, Ben Patterson is known internationally for his unique musical voice and his explosive technique. After playing lead trombone in the acclaimed One O’Clock Lab Band, Ben spent 22 years with the USAF Band The Airmen of Note. With the ‘Note, Ben traveled all over the the U.S. and abroad giving concerts and educational events. Ben’s latest group of monster musicians from Washington, D.C. explores the convergence of melody, groove, and improvisation, and can be heard on Origin Records releases, “The Way of the Groove,” and “Push the Limits.”
Website: benpattersonjazz.com Praise for the Ben Patterson Group:
Showcasing his impressive slide work alongside a positively electric outfit, Patterson digs deep in offering some slick and seriously smart art.
-Dan Bilowski, All About Jazz 2022
Ben Patterson, a master trombonist, composer, arranger, and former long-serving member of the Airmen of Note, brings forth a delightful album with his latest release.
-Peter Tijerina, Online Trombone Journal 2022
His command of the trombone is awe-inspiring -International Trombone Association Journal 2021
The technical excellence of the group is undeniable... The musicianship on Push the Limits is exemplary -Jack Bowers, All About Jazz 2021
A body of work that is truly inspiring...out of this world technique! prepare for feats of rhythmic insanity -Trombone Festival.net -2021
His ability to weave extraordinary lines at any speed in all registers is exemplary, but when we get into his ability to craft a wonderful arrangement as well as write a captivating original to his musical persona, we start to get the whole picture: Ben Patterson is a complete musician. -Steve Wiest 2016
A CD full of action scenes and grooves -Jazz’halo (Belgium) 2021
Killer stuff. -Midwest Review 2022
REEDS
RHYTHM
Harlingen C.I.S.D. Board of Education
Dr. Bobby Muniz , President
Javier De Leon , Vice President
Dr. Belinda Reininger , Secretary
Greg Powers , Member
Superintendent Senior Team
Dr. Alicia Noyola , Superintendent
Dr. Nolan Perez, Member
Eladio Jaimez, Member
Dr. Gina Cano Monreal, Member
Dalia Garcia , Associate Superintendent for Data Governance and Outcomes
Shane Strubhart , Associate Superintendent for Community Engagement/Workforce Development
Julio Cavazos , Chief Financial Officer
Oscar Tapia , Assistant Superintendent for District Operations
Julio Cavazos , Chief Financial Officer
Debbie Scogin , Assistant Superintendent for Human Services
Joseph Villarreal , Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education
Loranda Romero , Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education
Veronica Kortan , Assistant Superintendent for Leadership and Innovation
Robert Davies , Director of Athletics
Kara Hoeflinger , Director of Music Programs
Moises V. Vela Middle School
Juan M. Garcia , Principal
Venessa Acosta , Assistant Principal
BJ Cooley , Assistant Principal
Veronica Cretors , Instructional Coach
Cano Freshmen Academy
Imelda Trevino , Principal
Linda Salinas , Assistant Principal
Cesar Peña, Assistant Principal
Jose Antonio , Assistant Principal
Ashley David , Instructional Coach
Special Thanks from the DirectoR
To Dr. Alicia Noyola, Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District Administration and School Board: Thank you for your continuing support and expansion of the Fine Arts programs in HCISD. We reach, we aspire, we dare to be, we are HCISD!
To Juan M. Garcia: Thank you for continuing to encourage our program to flourish.
To Philip De La Fuente and Desi Limon: Thank you for making this happen and for being there every step of the way. New team, same dream.
To Estella Monasmith: Thank you for allowing me to develop as an educator and musician. Your “director emeritus” status will continue in perpetuity. Please visit as much as possible.
To Ruben, Liz, and Monica Uribe: Thank you for supporting me from the beginning and being my cheerleader.
To Vela Jazz I: Congratulations! Thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. Keep reaching beyond what you thought possible. You can be anything you dream to become. Love you all.
To the Vela Band Parents: Thank you for allowing your students to be a part of our organization – the extra practices, encouragement, instrumental needs, extra lessons, etc. Thank you for choosing Vela and Harlingen CISD.
To Alma Cavazos, Juan Restrepo, Joseph
Armendariz: You are amazing. Thank you for being so good to all of us.
To the Harlingen CISD Music Department: We are one big family. Thank you to every one of you that worked with our students, listened to the band, offered a suggestion, leant equipment, and more. I could go on and on. I appreciate each one of you.
Special thanks to Jose Antonio Diaz: Thank you for being a friend and supporting our students and program. Love you, Liz and Joseph. Good luck Friday, Baby Caliente!
Special thanks to Alex Parker: Thank you for everything. Your optimism and willingness to give of yourself are beyond words. Thank you for teaching me how to play, how to be good to people, and for turning every disappointment into a teachable moment. My collegiate experience was better because of you. It is a blast every time we get to work together.
To my teachers: The late Barry Hopper, thank you for instilling your passion for music. It lives on within all of us. Wiff Rudd, thank you for showing us how to persevere in any situation. Kevin Sedatole, thank you for showing me how to be a leader and for always giving me a chance to learn. Thank you all for helping shape me into the person and educator I am today.
Harlingen High School South
Fernando Reyes , Principal
Kathleen Hollon , Associate Principal
Dalia Moore , Assistant Principal
Aaron Garcia , Assistant Principal
Robert Euvino , Assistant Principal
Kristal Gracia , Instructional Coach
Performing Arts
Kara Hoeflinger , Director of Music Programs
Alma Cavazos , Secretary to Director of Music Program
Juan Restrepo , Audio Engineer
Joseph Armendariz , Lighting Engineer
Lee Ann Ince , Fine Arts Coordinator
To the Vela Middle School Family: Teachers, coaches, directors, sponsors, administration and support staff, we could not do it without you. Thank you for being a champion of children.
To Ronnie Rios: Thank you for believing in our band and offering your expertise and support. I learn from you every time you step in front of the band.
To JEN: Thank you for allowing our students to have this opportunity and a stage for others to play on.
To my husband, Michael J. Corcoran: You used to be the one standing behind me and now you’re by my side. Thank you for loving me and choosing to be with me on this crazy ride called life. Love you!
Experience H.C.I.S.D.
