Bands at UTEP
Degrees Offered
UNDERGRADUATE:
- Bachelor of Music in Performance
- Bachelor of Music in Education
- Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music
GRADUATE:
- Master of Music in Performance
- Master of Music in Education
For more information on degrees, ensembles and complete curricular handbooks, visit our Undergraduate Programs page and our Graduate Programs page.
Band Area Ensembles
Wind Symphony
The University of Texas at El Paso Wind Symphony is the top concert band in the music department at the University of Texas at El Paso. The Wind Symphony is made up of graduate and undergraduate students and perform a wide variety of literature for the wind band including transcriptions, and works from the standard and contemporary wind repertoire. The ensemble performs six concerts each year and frequently tours the Southwest. The group is active in the commissioning of new works for wind band and performs with some of the top instrumental performers from around the country. The group also has several recordings to their credit which includes their premier release on the Klavier Record Label in the fall of 2017. The ensemble has been invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association convention, the College Band Directors National Association Regional convention and just recently accepted an invitation to perform at the 2019 American Bandmasters Association convention which will be held in Colorado. Auditions, for this ensemble, take place during the beginning of each semester both fall and spring. The ensemble is under the direction of Director of Bands, Dr. Andrew Hunter.
Symphonic Band
With a goal of being one of the finest ensembles of its kind, The University of Texas at El Paso Symphonic Band is comprised of instrumentalists inside and outside of the Department of Music. The UTEP Symphonic Band presents its audience with a wide variety of repertoire including transcriptions, contemporary music, and works from the standard wind band repertoire. The ensemble meets both during the fall and spring semesters and performs four concerts each academic year. Auditions, for this ensemble, take place during the beginning of each semester both fall and spring. The ensemble is under the direction of Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands, Dr. Brandon Houghtalen.
Concert Band
The University of Texas at El Paso Concert Band is comprised of both music and non-music majors. The ensemble performs a wide variety of repertoire and strives to uniquely entertain its audiences with literature that is exciting, aesthetic and artistic. The ensemble rehearses twice a week and performs two concerts in both the Fall and Spring semesters. The concert band is led by Pamela Towry Church.
Marching Miners
Marching Miners is the largest and most visible music ensemble at the University of Texas at El Paso with an annual enrollment of approximately 250 members. The group performs each year for over 250,000 spectators and has appeared at professional football games in San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, and Houston. The Marching Miners perform at all UTEP home football games, selected away games and exhibitions throughout the southwest region.
Consisting of sections of brass, woodwind, percussion, color guard, and the GoldDiggers dance team; the Marching Miners strive for musical excellence coupled with an exciting innovative visual presentation. In addition, the group serves as a spirit leader and musical ambassador for the UTEP athletic community. Membership is open to all students regardless of academic major by audition. A two-week pre-season camp is held in August of each year and attendance is required for all members. The ensemble rehearses three times a week during the fall semester (M, W, F) from 7:30am-9:20am. Service awards are available for all participating members.
Percussionists (both marching battery and front ensemble), color guard and GoldDiggers audition for the ensemble prior to the end of each spring semester in April and May. Interested applicants for these sections should contact the director for audition information. The ensemble is under the direction of associate director of bands and director of athletic bands, Professor Dr. Brandon Houghtalen
Miner Basketball Band
The Miner Basketball Pep Bands (Orange and Blue) are comprised of 60 wind and percussion players selected from the Marching Miners and throughout the university. The Miner Pep Bands play for UTEP home men's and women's basketball games, Conference USA and NCAA tournaments and selected athletic events throughout the spring semesters. Auditions are held each year during the fall semester.
Percussion Ensemble
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Percussion Ensemble is a performing group dedicated to the performance of diverse music for percussion. Under the direction of Andy P. Smith since 2016, The ensemble’s pedagogical philosophy emphasizes the development of chamber music and artist-level performance skills. The versatility and depth of musicianship required of the contemporary percussionist in mind, the broad repertory includes everything from classic works to cutting edge contemporary compositions. UTEP Percussion is currently participating in a joint commission sponsoring a new work for percussion ensemble featuring the Caixa Percussion trio. The Pandemonium Steel Band, and Samba Surdoeste Bateria perform folkloric music and share a cyclic calendar with the flagship ensemble.
UTEP Percussion Ensemble aims to perform relevant contemporary music in addition to historically significant works. The group presents four major concerts per year in addition to off-campus and special events. Recent programs have included Heavy Metals featuring contemporary works, and The Music of Brazil featuring the Batuquê Trio in collaboration with UTEP percussionists. UTEP percussion’s popular Music of Cuba and Trinidad program recently featured folkloric and popular music from Cuba, collaboration with UTEP Concert Chorale, and UTEP Trombone Quartet, and the Pandemonium Steel band performing soca, tassa, samba, and Zimbabwean Shona styles.
Click here to learn more about Percussion at UTEP.
Mariachi Los Mineros
Mariachi Los Mineros is comprised of UTEP students from a variety of disciplines including music, engineering, psychology, education, biology, mathematics, sociology and business. The UTEP mariachi program, Mariachi Minero, which has the enthusiastic support of the administration and the student association, is dedicated to giving students the opportunity to celebrate and express their culture, bringing mariachi music to as many people as possible, bridging gaps between seemingly disparate cultures, and preserving and advancing the art form of mariachi music.
Financial Aid is available to students participating in the ensemble. Contact Dr. Curtis Tredway for information on receiving financial support through the mariachi program.
Booking Mariachi Los Mineros for Your Event
Mariachi Los Mineros is available to play for events on campus, or sometimes off campus if the event is affiliated with the university. Unfortunately, we do not play for weddings, birthdays and other similar events.
Our fee is $150 for any part of one hour. We can play a maximum of 90 minutes ($300). Since the ensemble is comprised of students, we do not play before 4:30pm, as the students are in class up to that time. Contact Dr. Curtis Tredway for more information.
Commercial Music Ensembles
Jazz Band 1
Jazz Band I is a stage band that performs works from the standard jazz and contemporary jazz-rock repertoire. In addition, the group focuses on the study of improvisation and arranging. The group performs throughout the El Paso area, on tour, and in major festivals around the southwest. Membership is open to anyone by audition. Jazz ensemble I is directed by Abel Mireles.
Jazz Band 2
Jazz Band 2 is the second performing jazz band at the University of Texas at El Paso. It is also a training ensemble for jazz styles and improvisation. Experience in jazz ensemble playing is not required and the ensemble is open to all students regardless of academic major. The ensemble plays two-three concerts at UTEP and also performs for high school and junior high band programs throughout the southwest region. The ensemble rehearses twice a week and is directed by professor Frank Otero.
Band Area Faculty
- Andrew Hunter, Director of Bands and Area Coordinator
- Brandon Houghtalen, Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands
Wind and Percussion Faculty
- Cara Luffey, Bassoon
- Greg Luffey, Saxophone
- Nancy Taylor, Trumpet, Injury Prevention and Wellness, Wind & Percussion Area Coordinator
- Richard Lambrecht, Horn
- Steve Wilson, Trombone, Department Chair
- Steve Haddad, Tuba & Euphonium
- Andy Smith, Percussion
- Jesus Apodaca, Bass
Links
El Paso Pro-Musica
Continuous partnership with Zuill Bailey, Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica, involving master classes, clinics, performances, and workshops through UTEP’s Center for Arts Entrepreneurship.