Rebuilding is hard. When coming into a new program, we approach it with the knowledge that there will be hard times ahead; however, what do we do when the challenges encountered are greater than challenges we envisioned? Mireles and Carroll will discuss what they have learned from the rebuilding process of rural, small-school band programs.
John Mireles
- Biographical Information
John Mireles is in his fourteenth year of
teaching and is the director of bands for the Brady Independent School
District. Over the past two years, Brady bands have been successful at UIL and
have seen a large increase in program numbers. Prior to his arrival in
Brady, John was an assistant band director in the Roma ISD. Members of the Roma
High School Trombone Studio excelled in region, area, and state auditions. In
Roma, he assisted with 6 UIL State Marching Band Contest appearances, with the
2020 2C Honor Band (Roma Middle School), with a participant at the 2016 Midwest
Clinic (Roma Middle School), and with an appearance at Carnegie Hall (Roma High
School).
Mr. Mireles
is a 2004 graduate of Brady High School. In 2008, he received his Bachelor of
Music degree (cum laude) from West Texas A&M University, where he was a
trombone student of Dr. Joseph Cox and a conducting student of Mr. Don Lefevre.
While in Canyon, he also studied with Mr. Robert Gillespie, former Principal
Trombonist of the New York Metropolitan Opera. John also holds a Master of
Music – Trombone Performance degree from Texas Tech University, where he
studied with Mr. James T. Decker. As a classical and orchestral trombonist,
John’s performing ensemble credits include the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra,
Amarillo Opera, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Midland-Odessa Symphony and
Chorale, Roswell Symphony Orchestra, and the Laredo Philharmonic.
John Carroll retired in May, 2023 from the
Monahans Independent School District, after a successful career in Texas band
directing, in both small school and large school environments. Bands under his direction were consistent University
Interscholastic League (UIL) Sweepstakes award winners and won several festival
awards. Prior to his tenure in Monahans, he served as Associate Band Director
at Permian High School for 27 years, where he served as the director of the
Concert Band 1, the jazz ensemble, and as the percussion specialist. During his
tenure at Permian, ensembles under his direction were consistent award winners.
Carroll was the recipient of the Marcia Zoffuto Hero Award (named after the
famed band director, who herself grew up at Permian High School) and the 2017
Permian HS Outstanding Master Teacher of the Year Award. He received the Texas
Bandmasters Association Meritorious Achievement Award in 2018. For the school
year 2021-2022, he was selected as a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music
Educator of the Year. He served as the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA)
Region 6 Band Chair, as well as Area A/B Honor Band Listening Center Chair,
clinician, and member of several TMEA and Phi Beta Mu committees. He also
served as the All-State Band Organizer and Percussion Organizer on numerous
occasions. From 2018-2020, Carroll was the State Band Vice-President for TMEA.
He served as TMEA President from February 2021-February 2022. Currently,
Carroll is serving as a consultant/clinician with several small schools in the
western part of Texas. A graduate of Abilene Christian University and West
Texas A & M University, Carroll is also a member of Phi Beta Mu
International Bandmaster Fraternity, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association,
and the Texas Bandmasters Association.