DIRECTORS
Amanda West - Director of Bands
512-424-8862
This is Amanda West's 17th year of teaching, and 7th year with the Bulldog Band! She directs the Honor Band, assists with Symphonic Band, and teaches all beginning woodwind and percussion classes. Under her direction, the Honor Band has earned consistent Superior Ratings at the UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluations. Prior to teaching at Hernandez, Mrs. West taught at both Callison Elementary and Oak Run Middle School.
Mrs. West is a native to Round Rock (McNeil graduate) and a proud alumnus from the University of Texas at Austin. Mrs. West enjoys spending quality time with her husband Andrew, and their beautiful daughter Abigail. She also enjoys exercising and performing with the Cinematic Symphony!
Jonah Bahta - Associate Director of Bands
512-424-8831
This is Mr. Bahta’s 10th year teaching, and 3rd year with the Hernandez Bulldog Band! He directs the Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble, assists with Honor Band, and instructs all beginner brass classes. Mr. Bahta also coordinates the private lessons program at Hernandez. Before arriving to Round Rock, Mr. Bahta was an assistant band director in Pleasanton ISD and San Antonio ISD.
Mr. Bahta holds two degrees in Music Education; a bachelor’s from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and a master’s from Texas State University. During his collegiate studies, he was principal bass trombone with the Texas State Wind Symphony under Dr. Caroline Beatty, the Texas State Trombone Choir under Dr. Martin McCain, and the UTEP Symphonic Winds under Dr. Ron Hufstader.
Mr. Bahta enjoys cooking and exploring his new home of central Texas!
Matt Greene - Stony Point HS Director of Percussion
(512) 428-7186
Matt Greene is the Director of Percussion at Stony Point High School. Mr. Greene began his teaching career in the Round Rock Independent School District and is currently serving in his 23rd year as Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion at Stony Point High School.
His duties include teaching beginning percussion.
Mr. Greene studied percussion pedagogy with Dr. Norman Weinberg at Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi, TX, and with Mr. Dan Hanna at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1999.
Mr. Greene’s professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Texas Music Educators Association.
the Bands
Honor Band (Mrs. West, director) is the top performing group; our premiere band at HeMS, is a competition-level, UIL ensemble. Intended for 7th and 8th grade students with a minimum of one year of previous band experience. This band represents the school at several musical events, and requires a commitment to excellence in musicianship and teamwork. Membership is determined during the preceding school year through audition and teacher recommendation. Technically-challenging music of the highest quality will be explored in this ensemble.
Symphonic Band (Mr. Bahta, director) is a competition-level, UIL ensemble and is intended for 7th and 8th grade students with a minimum of one successful year of band experience. Membership is determined during the preceding school year through audition and teacher recommendation. In a typical school year, the Symphonic Band performs at several, on and off-campus events and concerts.
Beginner Band is open to any student with little or no band experience. It is designed to start students on a band instrument and to learn music fundamentals. Beginner instruments include flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion. All members will have the opportunity to participate in school concerts, competitions.
Jazz Band (Mr. Bahta, director) is a unique ensemble of students selected at the teacher’s discretion. Students are required to be enrolled in either Honor or Symphonic Band. This is a performance-based class focusing on community outreach events.
BELL SCHEDULE
Spring 2024
