Meet the Directors 

Bradley Rawson is the Head Director of the Merkel Mighty Badger Band.  His current duties include directing the High School Marching Band and Concert Band, while assisting with both middle school bands. Mr. Rawson also teaches beginner woodwinds and percussion classes at Merkel Middle School.  

Mr. Rawson grew up in Menard and attended Menard ISD where he was a part of the Menard Yellow Jacket Band program.  Some of the most influential teachers in his high school career include Dane Richardson and Chans Mellondorf.  As a part of the Yellow Jacket Band, Mr. Rawson marched the tenors and led the percussion section for 5 years, starting as a captain in eighth grade.  

Mr. Rawson attended Angelo State University from the Fall of 2016 through the Spring of 2020.  He marched in the Ram Band for 4 years and participated in several auditioned concert bands. While at Angelo State, Mr. Rawson spent much of his spare time giving percussion lessons and writing cadences.

Mr. Rawson student taught at Caldwell High School during the Spring of 2020. He was employed by Merkel Independent School District as an assistant band director from August 2020 to June 2023 before being promoted to Head Director July of 2024.  Mr. Rawson earned the Merkel ISD Teacher of the Year Award in 2022 as a second year teacher.

He has also taught at the Angelo State Music camp as a drumline instructor for 3 years and is now the co-director at camp.

Mr. Rawson greatly enjoys re-writing percussion parts to marching shows that are engaging but customized for the group playing the show.

Matthew Hernandez is the Middle School Band Director of the Merkel Band program. His duties include  coordinating operations of the MS band program as well as teaching the 8th grade band, and 6th grade brass and percussion class. At the HS level, Mr. Hernandez Assists with the Marching and Concert Bands, as well as small ensembles.

Born and raised in San Angelo Texas, Mr. Hernandez attended John Glenn Middle School and San Angelo Central HS. In MS, Mr. H performed as a Saxophone player where he made All-City band and the schools Honor Band. In HS, Mr. Hernandez acted as a section leader/instructor. In 2016, Mr. H auditioned and was contracted with Horizon Drum and Bugle Corps and began his transition to French horn/mellophone.  

Other notable achievements  during this time include being a charter member of the Texas Future Music Educators Association Chapter at Central HS, performing as a Jazz Band and Marching Band soloist, and being  in the schools Honor Band.

Mr. Hernandez attended Angelo State University from 2018-2023 with a focus in Music Education. Mr. H studied French Horn under Becca Lunstrum and during his time he performed in the Ram Band, Wind Ensemble, Basketball Band, Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles. In 2019 Mr. H marched mellophone with the Blue Knights based in Denver Co. where he traveled across the country performing in  the highly competitive marching organization. Outside of teaching public school, Mr. Hernandez is the assistant brass caption head at Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps and an ensemble consultant for Ethereal Winds  Independent. 

Mr. Hernandez loves traveling with his wife Sonya, spending time with friends and family, and exploring the world of music.