Southside High School
Mighty Cardinal Band
Announcements:
Sign up for Remind text messages to stay up-to-date with our events!
What is Our Band All About?
Being part of our Southside High School band program includes numerous opportunities for learning, performance, and leadership. As your band directors, we will do our best to be prepared, organized, and to have a good time learning music with you. We try to offer the best and we expect the same from you. The memories and friendships you make will last a lifetime! Remember, a band is made up of individuals, and individual effort goes a long way. Let’s continue to build on the Mighty Cardinal Band tradition of success!
2021- 2022 band staff after earning 1st division at the 2021 UIL marching contest
How to Sign Up for Our Remind Messages!
We regularly send out information through a free service called Remind. Students and parents can sign up through the app, their email, or through text. Please join!
Students:
Brass https://www.remind.com/join/shsbrass2 or class code @shsbrass2
Color guard https://www.remind.com/join/shsguard4 or class code @shsguard4
Percussion https://www.remind.com/join/shsperc3 or class code @shsperc3
Woodwinds https://www.remind.com/join/shsww2 or class code @shsww2
Parents:
https://www.remind.com/join/mrmisko or class code @mrmisko
Add Our Band Calendar to Your Calendar!
We keep an up-to-date Google Calendar with all band rehearsals, color guard practices, competitions, performances, and other events.
View below and click the plus sign in the bottom right corner to add to your calendar, or send me an email (subject Band calendar) to request access to have the calendar automatically sync with your personal Google calendar app.
Google Classroom:
We will have band assignments posted in Google Classroom. Students are encouraged to use Flipgrid (info on Google Classroom) to complete playing tests ahead of time.
2023 Class Codes TBA:
Concert band-
Music theory-
DC Music appreciation: 1st period-
DC Music appreciation: 2nd period-
Jazz band-
Percussion-
Symphonic band-
Wind ensemble-
Color guard-
Meet Your Band Staff!
Mr. Mike Misko, Head Band Director
Mr. Misko has been teaching since 2009, when he started as the assistant band director at Southside High School. Mr. Misko took over as head band director in 2015. Under his direction, the band members have enjoyed continued success, including numerous 1st division ratings in UIL marching, concert, and sight reading contests, numerous first division ratings and state qualifiers in solo and ensemble contest, and a high level of success in the all-state audition process. In the 2021 - 2022 school year, Mr. Misko helped lead the Mighty Cardinal Band to winning the UIL "Sweepstakes" award.
Mr. Misko currently teaches music theory, dual credit music appreciation, and directs the marching band, jazz band, and wind ensemble. He co-teaches the concert band, percussion, and color guard, and assists with the symphonic band.
Mr. Misko has a Bachelor's degree in music education from Miami University and a Master's degree in music education from Texas State University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, traveling, camping, and cheering for the (perpetually disappointing) Cleveland Browns.
Email: Michael.Misko@southsideisd.org
Phone: 210-882-1606 ext.1522
Mr. Erik Gamez, Assistant Band Director
Saxophonist Erik Gamez grew up in San Antonio, Tx., where he attended Brackenridge High School. During his time there, Mr. Gamez was a member of the TMEA 5A All-State Band (2017 & 2018) in the tenor saxophone section.
Recently, Mr. Gamez served on the marching band staff at Sandra Day O’ Connor High School in Helotes, TX, Jack C. Hays High School in Kyle, TX, and James Bowie High School in Austin, TX. Mr. Gamez avidly gives saxophone lessons and masterclasses to schools in central Texas.
Mr. Gamez has his undergraduate degree in Music Studies – Instrumental, at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. At Texas State, he performed in the Bobcat Marching Band, Bobcat Basketball Ball, saxophone quartet, and the Texas State Wind Symphony. Mr. Gamez studied classical saxophone with internationally acclaimed classical saxophonist, Dr. Todd Oxford. In 2021, Mr. Gamez competed in the TXST Concerto and Aria Solo Competition, winning an opportunity to perform movement 1 of Classical Concerto for Tenor Saxophone by Eric Ewazen, in 2022 with the Texas State Symphony Orchestra.
In his free time, he enjoys collecting vinyls, taking care of his cats, and enjoying live music.
Mr. Gamez is very excited to start his teaching journey at Southside HS!
Email: Erik.Gamez@southsideisd.org
Mr. Phil Salas, Color Guard instructor
With a career spanning 40 years, Mr. Salas began teaching color guard in 1981, teaching throughout the state of Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Salas is also a former member of Drum Corp International and Winter Guard International, as well as former Secretary, Vice President and President of the Texas Educational Colorguard Association. In the 2021 - 2022 Winter Guard season, Mr. Salas led our guard to "podium" at every single color guard contest, including claiming the title for State Champions, a Southside High School first!
Mr. Benjamin Swaner, Assistant Band Director
Mr. Swaner is thrilled to be joining the Southside ISD Family in a city that he loves and calls home! Mr. Swaner began teaching in 2017 at Springlake-Earth High School In Earth, Texas, then returned to Central Texas in 2018 to teach at Navarro High School in Seguin. Since 2017, Mr. Swaner’s students have made two trips to the UIL State Marching Band Contest, upheld numerous Superior ratings at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest, and garnered two chairs in the All-State Jazz Band.
Mr. Swaner currently teaches the high school percussion section, and assists the directors with sectionals and team-teaching rehearsals. Mr. Swaner also spends his mornings at Losoya Middle School and Matthey Middle School teaching percussion and assisting the directors there. Mr. Swaner says that he is grateful to get to work with young musicians of all ages.
Mr. Swaner has Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Texas Lutheran University. Outside of the band hall, Mr. Swaner enjoys cooking, caring for his exotic pets, live music, and classic geek culture.
Email: benjamin.swaner@southsideisd.org
Important Documents, Links, and Info!
Physical/medical history form 2023-24: new physical required for all members this year, to be turned in before the start of any in-person rehearsals (summer band camp begins July 24 for most students)
Trip/event permission to travel slip
Band Handbook: last page required to be filled out and signed at the start of summer band
Early pickup from event: must be completed if student rides bus to a band event but will be picked up at the event by a parent/guardian
Band shirts TBA soon! All students need the 23-24 show t-shirt. This can also be worn to school as a "spirit shirt". When ordering, please fill student's name under "Additional/Special Instructions" box. Parents can order band shirts too!
Our Band Booster Organization & Parent Volunteer Info:
It really does take a village to raise a child and the Southside community is the best of all! We, quite literally, could not do anything without the tireless efforts of our amazing band parent booster organization.
Band Boosters:
Band booster meetings are typically held at 6:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month, at the high school band hall. The support of our band booster club is crucial to our success. The band boosters are a group of volunteer parents and community members who dedicate some of their free time to helping our band students find success. Any parents or Southside community members are welcome to join! Interested?
Submit your contact info to have a booster officer or Mr. Misko reach out to you.
Officer position info/booster bylaws
From band booster bylaws:
The objectives for the Southside High School Band Boosters are as follows:
To aid and sponsor financial undertakings that will benefit the members of the Southside High School Band.
To assist in the maintenance of uniforms, instruments, and band equipment.
To assist in the replacement or the purchase of new uniforms, instruments, and band equipment if needed.
To help chaperone students during band related functions, such as football games, marching contests, parades, concerts, and band trips.
Examples of chaperon duties include:
Passing out water during football games
Escorting band students to and from the restrooms during the games
Providing help when band booster organization is operating concession stands
Riding on the bus and monitoring students during band related functions
Assisting with the loading and unloading of the instrument truck
Throughout the year, we frequently ask for parent volunteers to chaperone trips, feed students, and fundraise. To volunteer at any time throughout the year, you must have the parent volunteer background check turned in. The form above should be printed out and submitted to Mr. Misko along with a copy of any ID/driver's license. This form must be completed every year for any parent wishing to volunteer.
We're Social!
Follow us on Instagram @shsmightycardinalband!!
