Pebble Hills High School Jazz Band

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

Pebble Hills High School Band is located in El Paso, TX, and is the newest High School built in our city. Our program started from scratch with Freshmen students only. El Paso is a border city bordering another state (New Mexico) and another country (Mexico). The band comprises students born and raised in El Paso, in addition to many students who are the children of military parents. Some students come to the program with a music background, and others have started their musical journey in our program. Our students come from many socio-economically disadvantaged working families. We have a very dedicated team of music directors and private staff. We work diligently to fundraise throughout the year to afford to have a small amount of private staff come to work with our students. The jazz band has seen much success winning the Socorro ISD Jazz Festival and continuously placing in the top 3 at the Hanks Jazz Festival year after year. We also have a strong jazz 2 program that places consistently at the local jazz festivals in El Paso. Many students can only attend before-school rehearsals due to being involved in many extra-curricular activities and classes that must be fulfilled during the school day (to maintain their academic track requirements). The Pebble Hills Band Program is a consistent UIL Sweepstakes winner and has appeared in the UIL State Marching Band Contest. The Pebble Hills students are members of the TMEA All-Region, Area, and All-State organizations yearly, boasting the highest number of performers in the region and area levels. All jazz students must participate in marching band and concert band ensembles. The student's success and achievement at a high level are directly attributed to starting the jazz education at the middle school level. Directors Jason Nohe, Leo Castorena, Salina Cobos, and Alexandra Diaz provided the opportunity for a great musical experience and education. This ensemble is open to anyone interested in learning jazz. The Pebble Hills Jazz Ensemble is thrilled and honored to be invited to perform at “The 76th Midwest Clinic in December of 2022. This will be the Pebble Hills Jazz Ensemble’s first appearance at The Midwest Clinic.

Pebble Hills High School Jazz Band

Conductor's Bio

Maximo Sierra, Director of Bands at Pebble Hills High School, is in his 21st year as a Texas music educator, directing Marching Bands, Concert Bands, and Jazz Bands at the middle and high school levels. Mr. Sierra earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Conducting degree from New Mexico State University, where he was also a teaching/directing assistant for the NMSU Pride Marching Band, Jazz II, and Concert Bands. Maximo Sierra is also an active adjudicator and clinician. As a director, Mr. Sierra strives to inspire his own students to achieve excellence. For the past eleven years, his marching bands, concert bands, and jazz bands have consistently rated “Superior” and have received “Best in Class” awards at festivals in California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. In 2018, he led the Pebble Hills High School Marching Band to the UIL State Marching Contest in its first advancement season. In 2022, the Pebble Hills High School Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform at the 76th Annual Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Mr. Sierra holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the International Association for Jazz Education. Mr. Sierra remains active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.