Head Band Director - velaj@calcoisd.org

Mr. Vela is a 1998 Graduate of Texas A&M University - Kingsville.  In 2002 he earned his Masters in Music Education. In 2009, he became the Head Band Director at A.C. Jones High School.  In 2019, Mr. Vela became the Head Band Director for Calhoun High School Band.  Mr. Vela is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Music Educators Association. 

RBC Mariachi Education Series https://rbcmusic.com/rbc-mariachi-series/

CHS Assistant Director - davidsonh@calcoisd.org

Mr. Davidson is a veteran of the United States Army 1990-1997 peforming in the 1st Infantry Division Band at Ft. Riley, KS and the 77th Army Band at Ft. Sill, OK. He earned his Bachelors in Music Education at Southwest Texas State University in 2001 and his Masters in Music for Euphonium Performance at Texas State University - San Marcos in 2003. He was the Head Director at Bartlett High School in 2008, Granger High School in 2016, Corrigan-Camden HS in 2020 and Palacios HS in 2021. Mr. Davidson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and the International Tuba Euphonium Association.

Head Middle School & Assistant Band Director - pilande@calcoisd.org

Mr. Evan Piland serves as the Head Middle School Band Director for Calhoun County ISD, where he leads the thriving band program at Travis Middle School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance from Texas Wesleyan University ('21) and a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Texas A&M University–Kingsville ('23).

Before beginning his teaching career, Mr. Piland toured across Texas as a professional musician, performing with a wide range of jazz, jazz fusion, alternative rock, and ska bands. His earlier experience with Drum Corps International (DCI) took him on a national tour, deepening his passion for performance and musical excellence.

He is a Lifetime Member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, and actively involved in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, and the National Association for Music Education.

Outside of music, Mr. Piland is recently engaged to his amazing fiancée Jenni and is a proud cat dad to two lovable furballs, Kurt and Zorro. In his spare time, Mr. Piland loves going to the beach, Concerts, MLB games, and both College and NFL football games. 

 Mr. Jordan Lara is a 2024 Graduate of Texas A&M University of Corpus Christi. He joined the Calhoun County ISD band staff immediately after graduation. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success.