PCA Bands

The band program at PCA seeks to fulfill Psalm 150:3-6 (…Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!) and awaken a love and understanding of music in our students.  We want this to lead to a better understanding of worship and how creating and performing music is part of being made in God’s image. 

Band Course Descriptions 

Course Offerings and Descriptions

Beginner Band - Students starting in middle school are offered the opportunity to learn an instrument.  Current offerings are: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, electric bass.  Students learn to read music and apply written notation to their personal instrument.  Basic music theory is discussed and life skills such as time management, commitment, team-building, and more.  Academic concepts in math, science, history, grammar and foreign language are reinforced and generalized.  Students participate in a Christmas Concert, Spring Concert, attend a festival in the spring, and have on occasion led in various school chapels.

Concert Bands - Concert bands are the primary ensemble for middle school and high school.  Skills continue to develop, more advanced concepts are taught, and students are prepared for contests and opportunities such as All-Region Band, All-State (concert and jazz), and Solo and Ensemble.  Students learn to prepare music on their own as part of taking responsibility for their learning, and taking pride in their accomplishments.  Goal-setting and achievement are chief among skills taught in band outside of basic instrument and music skills.

Jazz Bands - Students learn the American art form of jazz as means of teaching creative expression, furthering musical development, reinforcing American Music History and providing further opportunities to perform and learn.  While a separate jazz band for middle and high school is preferred, on some occasions students will combine into one large jazz band.  Non-standard band instruments such as piano, guitar, and bass are taught and performed.  Jazz Band performs throughout the year at school and at community events.

Marching Band - Marching band is the required ensemble for high school band students in the fall, and an extra-curricular volunteer ensemble for select middle school students.  Students learn marching skills, gain school spirit, and perform at all home varsity football games, pep rallies, and community events. 

Pantego Panther Band Accomplishments 

Concert Band:

2004 Region Sweepstakes
2005 Region Sweepstakes
2006 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental Runner Up TAPPS 4A
2007 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental 5th TAPPS 4A
2008 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental State Champion TAPPS 4A
2009 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental State Champion TAPPS 3A
TPSMEA Concert and Sight Reading Contest-Sweepstakes
2010 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental 5th TAPPS 3A
TPSMEA Concert and Sight Reading Contest-Sweepstakes
2011 Region Sweepstakes Award, State Sight Reading Division 1
TAPPS Instrumental 3rd Place TAPPS 4A
2013 Region Sweepstakes Award, TAPPS State Sweepstakes-highest scoring band
TAPPS Instrumental 3rd Place TAPPS 4A
2014 Region Sweepstakes Award
2020 Sweepstakes First Division, TPSMEA

Marching Band:

2006 Rhapsody in Blue
2007 Music of Russia
2008 Big Band Show
2009 Across the Stars
2010 The Planets (Superior Rating, 3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2011 Carmen (Superior Rating, 3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2012 Earth, Wind & Fire (3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2013 Les Miserables (Superior Rating, 3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2014 Rhapsody in Blue
2015 Phantom of the Opera
2016 Beyond the Stars
2017 The Wild West
2018 Fan Favorites
2019 Music of Chicago
2020 Power! (Superior Rating, 3rd place TAPPS State Championships)
2021 Let’s Groove! with Earth, Wind & Fire (Sweepstakes First Division, TAPPS State Championships)

Jazz Band:

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Superior Ratings at TAPPS Region and State Competitions

TPSMEA All-State Band:

2009-2010 Daniel Norwood, Caleb Smutzer, Jacob Fitch (alternate)
2010 - 2011 Caleb Smutzer, Jacob Fitch, Josh Smith, Jonathan Hryekewicz, Zach Shutt (alternate)
2011 - 2012 Mackenzie Moore, Ben Connel, Caleb Smutzer, Daniel Norwood, Jonathan Hryekewicz, Grant Strickland
2012 - 2013 Caleb Smutzer, Daniel Norwood, Tyler Todd, Nick Frederick (alternate) Brennan Spear (alternate)
2013 - 2014 Darcy Todd, Nick Frederick

TPSMEA All-Region Band:

2019 Michael Onyango, Caitlyn Morris, Melvin Onyango, Matthew Roath
2020 19% of PCA Band qualified (25% high school, 15% middle school)
Michael Onyango, Caitlyn Morris, Caroline Smith, Saxton Garmon, Kirby Schwartz, Alex Warren

ATSSB All-Region Band:

2011 - 2012 Mackenzie Moore, Caleb Smutzer (area), Jonathan Hryekewicz
2012 - 2013 Darcy Todd, Nick Frederick, Brennan Spear
2013 - 2014 Tanner Marshall, Darcy Todd, Jonathan Passmore, Tyler Todd (area)

TMEA All-Region Band:

2012 - 2013 Caleb Smutzer

History of the Pantego Panther Band

Directors Joey Guess (2001 - 2003) and Don Hanna (2003 - 2004) began our band program. Mr. Ross Brown was Director of Bands 2004 - 2017. Mr. Brown grew the program to include our marching band (2006 - present) and jazz band (2007 - present). During this time the band advanced to the TAPPS State level numerous times and the bands performed at many community events and venues, including AT&T Cowboys Stadium, Barnes & Noble (Parks Mall), and The Levitt Pavilion. 2009 brought about the middle and high school concert bands becoming independent ensembles.

In 2011, Cody Schwartz was hired to start the beginner band at the Mansfield campus, and the following year he began directing the jazz band and assisting in woodwind instruction with the Arlington Elementary and middle school bands. In 2018, Mr. Schwartz was named Director of Bands for PCA.