BISD’s Band Legacy

A history of the award-winning Brownsville ISD high school band program is the subject of an interesting article in the 2012 VanderCook College of Music Annual Report. VanderCook, located in Chicago, Illinois, is a world-renowned institution and has been the training ground for numerous successful BISD band directors and their assistants for over 60 years. BISD’s association with VanderCook got its start with James R. Murphy who became the head band director of Brownsville High School in the 1950’s. The tradition continues to this very day. The district currently has seven VanderCook graduates on staff. Paul Flinchbaugh, Instrumental Music Supervisor; Dennis Ewing, Hanna Band Director; Rolando Zapata, Rivera Band Director; Armando Medrano, Vela Assistant Band Director; Mick Kuntz, Hanna Assistant Band Director; Tiffany Gibson, Rivera Assistant Choir Director; and Dave Gibson, El Jardin Music Teacher. Read the entire story.