Our Directors
Email: armando.martinez@elginisd.net
Phone: (512) 285-9176
Mr. Martinez-EHS Head Band Director
Mr. Martinez is currently in his 14th year as a Texas music educator. Mr. Martinez is a native of Seguin, TX and received his Bachelor's of Music from the School of Music at Texas State University in 2007. Mr. Martinez was inspired to become a band director by his high school band director Dr. Mark Waymire. Mr. Martinez follows the lead of Dr. Waymire by wanting the band to be a positive force in every student’s life, and for students to become better people and musicians while being in the Elgin High School Wildcat Band.
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While at Texas State, Mr. Martinez studied euphonium with Mr. Raul Rodriguez, marched with the Texas State University Bobcat Marching Band from 2001-2004, was a marching member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003-2005. Mr. Martinez was a visual instructor for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, and Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Martinez taught in Gonzales I.S.D., Hays C.I.S.D., served as Assistant Director for 4 years at Elgin High School, and currently serves as Head Band Director at Elgin High School.
Mr. Martinez is a member of Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. Mr. Martinez lives in Elgin with his beautiful wife Danielle, their two beautiful daughters, Alaina and Amaya, and cat Jade.
Email: jessicad.martinez@elginisd.net
Phone: (512) 281-3438 ext. 1120
Ms. Martinez-EHS Assistant Band Director
Ms. Martinez is starting her first year as a music educator after graduating from Texas Lutheran University (TLU) in December 2021. While in school, Ms. Martinez studied Clarinet under Paula Corley and served as the principal Bass Clarinet player for five semesters in the TLU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Professor Beth Bronk.
Ms. Martinez also spent the summer of 2019 performing with Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps on Euphonium under the direction of Andy Grindle. Ms. Martinez is an active alumni member of Tau Beta Sigma – National Band Sorority, where she served the Delta Phi chapter at TLU as Vice President. Ms. Martinez is a native Houstonian but absolutely loves the hill country where she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and just generally being outside.
When she is not doing band things or running around outside, she enjoys playing with her year old kitten, Jasper. Ms. Martinez is so excited to get started working with the Elgin High School Band and inspiring students to reach their full potential through music.
Mr. Gonzales-Elgin I.S.D. Percussion Director
Mr. Gonzales is a soon-to-be resident of Austin, Texas and is an alumni of the University of Houston. He obtained his degree in instrumental music education and has experience performing with the school’s wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, percussion ensemble, steel band, and world renowned “Spirit of Houston” marching band. Christian has had the opportunity to perform in Drum Corps International with the Phantom Regiment, and WGI Percussion with Monarch Independent.
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His teaching experience includes numerous high school percussion programs in the Houston area, and independent groups as well. Christian also served as the former percussion caption head at Compass Drum and Bugle Corps during their 2021 season. In the 2022, he also served as a bass technician at Louisiana Stars. Christian is also serving as a bass technician for Rhythmic Force Percussion in Austin. TX. Lastly, he is currently on the bass drum staff for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps.
He is extremely excited to be a part of the Elgin staff, and cannot wait to start making a positive impact on the program and the community!
Email: christian.gonzlaes@elginisd.net
Phone: (512) 281-9879
Mr. Medina-EMS Head Band Director
Email: alfred.medina@elginisd.net
Phone: (512) 281-3382 ext. 1519
Mr. Medina is currently in his 16th year as a Band Director. He is a native of San Antonio, TX. In 2005, he received his Bachelors of Music from the School of Music at The University of Texas in Austin where he studied saxophone with Harvey Pittel and participated in the Longhorn Band. He began teaching at Elgin Middle School for the
2021-2022 school year.
Mr. Medina’s teaching experience began in San Antonio ISD at Rhodes Middle School. There, they achieved their first Sweepstakes award at the UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest. He also worked as an Assistant Band Director at Brackenridge High School. At the Edgewood I.S.D. in San Antonio, he was hired at the head band director and the band achieved its first straight-1st divisions at their U.I.L. Concert & Sight Reading Contest in 2012. He was then hired as the Head Band Director at San Jacinto Intermediate School in Pasadena I.S.D., which the band also earned 1st Divisions including a Sweepstakes award at the U.I.L. Concert & Sight Reading Contest.
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Mr. Medina’s principal instrument is saxophone. Along with the 8th grade band, he currently teaches saxophone, horn, clarinet, trumpet, and low brass at Elgin Middle School and at Elgin Intermediate School.
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Mr. Medina is a member of Texas Music Educators Association. When he is not teaching, Mr. Medina enjoys his time with family and friends.
EMS Assistant Band Director
Email:
Phone: (512) 281-3382 ext. 1518
Mr. Gorden-EIS Band Director
Hey everyone! I am Mr. Gorden, the Band Director at Elgin Intermediate School. I am a transplanted Texan, having been born in New York (many years ago), grew up in New Mexico and finally moved to Texas in 1997. I graduated from HS in 1985 having been successful in academics, basketball, and band. I started college trying to become an architect, wanting to change the world one building at a time. After two years of engineering/architecture studies in college, I realized that something was missing and a career in education was calling my name, so I changed majors after those two years and entered the program in the College of Education. I graduated with my Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education in 1993 from the University of New Mexico. I got my first teaching assignment in 1996 as a math and social studies teacher at a behavioral hospital in Albuquerque, NM. Still having a sense of something missing, I went back to school and received full endorsements to teach all-levels of music. I got my first music teaching job in 1997 in the small town of Chaparral, NM just north of El Paso, TX. Three short years later, my (then) pregnant wife and I moved to Castroville, TX near San Antonio. We stayed in that town up until 2019. While there I taught one year in Lytle, 12 years in D'Hanis, 4 years in Medina Valley (Castroville) and one year in Del Rio.
I have taught everything from Pre-K music all the way up through being the head director of a high school program for 12 years. I am now in my second year in Elgin and loving every bit of it. 2021 marks the end of my 24th year of teaching. I look forward to many more years here in Elgin trying to give students the same love of band and music as I have had.
My wife and I have been married for 25 years and have one son, Philip Jr., who is finishing his second year at UT in Austin.