Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
Reagan High School is situated in the north central area of San Antonio, and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Our Fine Arts programs enjoy an incredible amount of community support, with well over half of our students studying privately. In addition to the wonderful support we receive from the community and administration, all of our music programs are supported by booster organizations, which are registered as 501c3 corporations. The Reagan Orchestra and Choir Booster Clubs, and Reagan Band Parents Association provide financial, organizational and volunteer support to the directors and students. Our instrumental music programs are fed by two successful feeder middle schools, Barbara Bush, and Jose Lopez.
The Reagan Orchestra has 7 performing ensembles: 5 string orchestras meet the curricular day and two full orchestras meet outside of school hours. Each string orchestra prepares five concert cycles annually. All of the orchestra ensembles consistently earn Superior ratings at UIL events. The Reagan Orchestra performed at the 73rd Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, has been a Finalist in the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition, Commended Ensemble in the Mark of Excellence National Orchestra Honors project, an Invited ensemble for the 2021 TMEA convention. The orchestra is frequently requested as a demonstration group for the annual TMEA convention. Additionally, the nearly 200 member Reagan Orchestra program is active in the community, performing at elder care facilities, volunteering at the San Antonio Food Bank, and taking an active role in other service events on campus and around the city.
The Ronald Reagan High School Band and Winter Guard are nationally recognized for their artistry, excellence, and tradition. The Reagan Band has earned multiple appearances at the UIL State Marching Contest, Bands of America Grand Nationals, and has proudly represented our community in performances at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the Midwest Clinic. The Reagan Winter Guard has achieved success at the state and national level, showcasing creativity and precision in both performance and competition. In addition, Reagan’s Instrumental Chamber Ensembles have distinguished themselves with top honors, including first place in the Junior Division of the prestigious Fischoff International Chamber Ensemble Competition as well as championship titles at the UIL State Chamber Music Contest. Together, these ensembles provide students with world-class musical and artistic opportunities while fostering teamwork, leadership, and lifelong memories.
Ronald Reagan High School Choir an award-winning organization that has the largest choir program in San Antonio’s Northeast Independent School District with 240 students in 8 performing ensembles. Reagan choirs have consistently received all Superior ratings (what is known as a Sweepstakes) at Texas UIL Concert and Sightreading Contests for 25 consecutive years. Since it opened in 1999, Reagan has placed over 220 students in the Texas All-State Choirs, often having the highest number in any given year. In 2019, Reagan Choir competed at the Leonardo da Vinci Choral Festival in Florence, Italy where they placed first in the University and Youth Choirs division and were named Grand Prix Champions for the whole festival. Reagan choir also won the prestigious Texas Madrigal and Chamber Choir Festival in 2017 and 2024 and “Best Vocal Performance” at the 2018 Margaret Tobin FAME Awards. The students are involved in the community and perform consistently around San Antonio, to the delight of their audiences.
The Ronald Reagan Symphony Orchestra begins rehearsing in late November as marching season comes to a close. The ensemble meets once per week for 2.5 hours. This is made possible through the cooperative collaboration of our band faculty, led by Brett Nelson and assisted by Tyler Estrada Simon and Paula Boothman. The RRSO annually performs three concert cycles including a Holiday Concert, UIL Evaluation, and our Spring Pops Concert. The ensemble also presents an annual Young People's Concert for approximately 1500 elementary and middle school students in our cluster. A second full orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra begins rehearsing in January and prepares a program for the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation. Additionally, the Fine Arts Department works collaboratively to present a Choral Masterworks performance with the Choral department and RRSO every December, and a Broadway style musical each Spring.
The Reagan Fine Arts Department strives to instill the importance of collaboration and service in our community through supporting events in our middle and elementary school cluster, and producing multiple cross-disciplinary events annually. The Reagan Fine Arts programs have a longstanding tradition of excellence in performance, competition, and service.
Ronald Reagan High School Symphony Orchestra
Conductor's Bio
Sixto Elizondo IV is the Head Orchestra Director at Reagan H.S. in San Antonio, Texas, and is celebrating his 26th year of teaching. The Reagan Chamber Orchestra and Ronald Reagan Symphony Orchestra have earned state and national level awards under his baton, and he relishes the opportunity to annually conduct the Reagan Fine Arts Department musical. Under his direction, the Reagan Orchestra program has consistently won sweepstakes awards at UIL, and has received several national and state level commendations with invitations to perform. Invitations include performances at the 73rd Midwest Clinic in 2019, as an Invited Ensemble for the 2021 TMEA Convention, and being named a Finalist in the 2023 TMEA String Honor Orchestra Competition. In the summer of 2024, the orchestra gave performances in Salzburg, Vienna and Prague.
Elizondo has served state organizations in many capacities. Positions include All State Orchestra Student Registration Chair, Area Audition Coordinator, Chair of the Orchestra UIL PML Committee, Past President of Mu Omicron, and Past President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association. In 2025 he was named the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio, School Music Educator of the Year, and was added to the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Churchill High School. He receives frequent invitations for conducting engagements and to adjudicate UIL events and festivals.
Elizondo is a graduate of Baylor University. Professional affiliations include TODA, TMEA, and TMAA. Mr. Elizondo is an active freelance violinist and vocalist in the San Antonio area, and is a member of the Corpus Christi Symphony, Mid Texas Symphony and subs with the San Antonio Philharmonic. He and his wife Heather have been married for 25 years, and they have two children: Eos and Sixto V. He is an avid golfer, wake surfer, and cook.
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