UTEP 2025 Honor Band

November 21-24, 2025  
REGISTER NOW!  

Come join the fun!  

UTEP Bands is excited to host the annual UTEP Honor Band in November 2025. UTEP Honor Band brings together high school musicians across Texas and New Mexico for a weekend of music-making and fun. Join world-class clinicians, faculty and staff for an unforgettable weekend on the UTEP campus.  

Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 12, by 11:59pm MT  

Meet our Guest Conductors  

Travis Cross

UCLA Director of Bands, Herb Alpert School of Music  

Travis J. Cross serves as professor of music and director of bands at UCLA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and leads the graduate wind conducting program. Cross has conducted the UCLA Wind Ensemble at the California All-State Music Education Conference and College Band Directors National Association Western/Northwestern Division conference and prepared the band for centenary performances of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  

Kenneth Capshaw

The University of Texas at El Paso (retired),  
Director of Bands - Coronado High School (retired)  

Kenneth Capshaw retired from his lecturer position at the University of Texas at El Paso in May of 2024 where he was the Director of the UTEP Jazz Ensemble 1 and taught brass chamber and brass methods classes. He has been involved in music education for over fifty years in the El Paso area The Coronado High School Band, under his direction, received the Texas Bandmasters Exemplary High School Band award in 2012. He has performed as a guest soloist, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the Southwest for many years, and teaches trumpet master classes and private lessons throughout the state. He was selected as The Texas Bandmaster the Year in July of 2018.  

Alphonse Mendez

Director of Fine Arts EPISD (retired)  

Alphonse J. Mendez is a retired Director of Fine Arts for the El Paso Independent School District. During his tenure as Director of Fine Arts for EPISD, ensembles performed at TMEA, the Midwest Clinic, Texas Association of School Administrators Conference, and at El Colegio Americano de Torren, Mexico. He was the first recipient of the Lifetime Administrator Achievement award presented by the Texas Bandmasters Association in 2001. In 2023 he received the great honor of being selected Texas Bandmaster of the year by the Texas Bandmasters Association. Mr. Mendez is an active performer, adjudicator, clinician, and conductor throughout the United States.  

FAQ

What does Honor Band Registration include?  

Registration involves two steps:  

• Information  

• Audition Video Link  

• Perform the first three lines of two contrasting etudes (current TMEA/ATSSB), submitted as unlisted (not private) YouTube videos with performer visible.  

What if I don’t have my videos ready?  

Don't have your audition video ready to go? No worries! Fill out your registration, and we'll send you a reminder to submit your video before registration closes!  

When are registration materials due?  

• Registration materials (information and two audition videos) are due by Wednesday, November 12 by 11:59pm MT  

When will I be notified if I made the 2025 UTEP Honor Band?  

• You will be notified by email of your admittance into the UTEP Honor Band by Friday, November 14, 2025. A link to the participation fee of $40 in the UTEP Honor Band will also be sent via email.  

Is there a fee for the 2025 UTEP Honor Band?  

• Upon admittance into the 2025 UTEP Honor Band, participants must pay a $40 fee, which covers food for the weekend, facility use, and a commemorative 2025 UTEP Honor Band letterman jacket patch.  

REGISTER TODAY!  
Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 12, by 11:59pm MT  

Questions? Contact UTEP Honor Band Coordinator  

Coleman Spears  
UTEP 2025 Honor Band Coordinator  
ckspears@miners.utep.edu  
(915) 747-5665