About us
The Midway High School Band is an award winning program, with a long standing tradition of UIL Sweepstakes (First Division in UIL Marching, Concert, and Sight-Reading contests).
Off the field, the Midway band program consists of three High School Concert Bands, four Middle School Bands, two High School Jazz Bands, two Middle School Jazz Bands, as well as sixth grade beginner instrument classes.
The 2022-2023 High School Band is composed of 195 students. Students are actively involved in individual competition as well as full band. The directors stress the importance of individual strength by encouraging students to try out for Region bands, Solo and Ensemble, Central Texas Youth Wind Ensemble, and Waco Youth Symphony.
Off the field, the Midway band program consists of three High School Concert Bands, four Middle School Bands, two High School Jazz Bands, two Middle School Jazz Bands, as well as sixth grade beginner instrument classes.
The 2022-2023 High School Band is composed of 195 students. Students are actively involved in individual competition as well as full band. The directors stress the importance of individual strength by encouraging students to try out for Region bands, Solo and Ensemble, Central Texas Youth Wind Ensemble, and Waco Youth Symphony.
The Directors
Pam Hyatt pam.hyatt@midwayisd.org Director of Bands Pam Hyatt is in her sixth year as Director of Bands at Midway ISD and twenty-first year overall in music education. Her responsibilities include directing the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, assisting colorguard/ winterguard, co-teaching the full orchestra and overseeing the band program from 6th through 12th grade for Midway ISD. Mrs. Hyatt attended Baylor University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. She served as a drum major and as an undergraduate assistant for the Golden Wave Marching Band. While at Baylor, she had the opportunity to study ensemble conducting with Michael Haithcock and Jeff Grogan. Before her appointment at Midway ISD she was the Director of Bands at China Spring ISD. Mrs. Hyatt’s ensembles have consistently earned the University Interscholastic League Sweepstakes Award. She led the China Spring marching band to the UIL State Marching Championships in 2008, 2010, 2012 (finalist), and 2016 (finalist). The China Spring Wind Ensemble won the title of the Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA) Honor Band in 2017. The China Spring band also performed in the 2016 London New Year’s Day Parade and London Gala Concert Series. Mrs. Hyatt is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu and is an active clinician and judge around the country. She was the recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence Award in 2017. Mrs. Hyatt resides in Waco with her son, Aiden and her encouraging and supportive husband, Brandon. |
Kenneth Moss kenneth.moss@midwayisd.org HS Associate Director Kenneth Moss is in his twelfth year of teaching and this will be his fifth year as a Midway Panther. His responsibilities include directing the Midway Symphonic Band, High School Jazz Orchestra, assisting with the Midway Panther Marching Band, assisting with the High School Drumline and Percussion Ensembles, and beginning percussion and woodwind classes. His percussion ensembles have consistently advanced to UIL state competition. He has also been a clinician for Central Texas area drumlines and percussion ensembles over the past decade. Mr. Moss received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Baylor University in the fall of 2009. During his time at Baylor, Mr. Moss was a member of the Baylor Golden Wave Band, Baylor Percussion Group, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and the Baylor Orchestra. He studied with Dr. Todd Meehan, Dr. Eric Wilson, Dr. Barry Kraus, and Mr. Stephen Hyde. Mr. Moss's professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. He served as the ATSSB Region 8 Webmaster from 2014 to 2017. Mr. Moss lives in Waco with his wife Sarah and their cat "Rocky" and dogs "Moose" and "Finn". |
Sarah Moss sarah.guhl@midwayisd.org HS Assistant Director Sarah Moss is in her sixth year as the Assistant Director at Midway ISD and her seventh year of teaching. Her responsibilities include directing the Midway Concert Band, the Jazz Band, assisting with the Midway Panther Marching Band, and assisting in all ensembles. Mrs. Moss received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in the spring of 2016. During her time at Baylor, Mrs. Moss performed in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Golden Wave Marching Band. In these ensembles, Mrs. Moss was able to perform at the College Band Director’s National Association Conference in March of 2012, and again at the Midwest Conference in December 2014. Mrs. Moss studied with Dr. Isaiah Odajima, Dr. Eric Wilson, Mr. Stephen Heyde, and Dr. Jun Qian. Mrs. Moss is professionally affiliated with the Texas Music Educators Association. In her spare time, Mrs. Moss enjoys playing her clarinet, loving on her pets Moose, Finn, and Rocky, and spending time with her husband Kenneth. |
Noah Alvarado noah.alvarado@midwayisd.org River Valley MS Head Director Noah Alvarado is entering his eighth year of teaching and his third year as the Head Middle School Band Director at River Valley Middle School. His responsibilities at the Middle School include directing the Wind Ensemble, co-directing the Jazz Band and Concert Band, assisting the Symphonic Band and ensuring that the MS Band program is evolving and developing to best meet the needs of our student musicians. In addition to his MS responsibilities, Mr. Alvarado also teaches beginning horn, trumpet and trombone at River Valley Intermediate and assists with the HS Marching and Jazz Bands as needed. Mr. Alvarado attended the University of Northern Iowa where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies. Prior to entering the teaching profession, Mr. Alvarado was a professional trumpet player for Royal Caribbean Cruises, traveling the world on six different ships as a member and assistant musical director of the RCCL Stage Bands. Mr. Alvarado currently performs with the Waco Jazz Orchestra, Temple Jazz Orchestra and the Austin based band Groove Knight. Mr. Alvarado resides in Waco with his wife, three year old son and their dog “Nacho.” |
Alexa Sanchez alexa.sanchez@midwayisd.org River Valley MS Assistant Director Alexa Sanchez is entering her sixth year of teaching with the Midway Panther Band. Mrs. Sanchez currently serves as Assistant Director at River Valley Middle School. Her responsibilities include directing the MS Symphonic Band, co-directing the MS Jazz Band and Concert Band, teaching beginner percussion, assisting with the MS Wind Ensemble, assisting high school band ensembles. Mrs. Sanchez graduated from Baylor University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Music Education. At Baylor, Mrs. Sanchez participated in the Baylor Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Baylor Percussion Group, and the Golden Wave Marching Band. During her time with these ensembles, Mrs. Sanchez performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra in 2014, and with the Baylor Wind Ensemble in Chicago at the Midwest Clinic in 2014. Mrs. Sanchez was a student of Dr. Todd Meehan, Dr. Eric Wilson, Mr. Stephen Heyde, and Dr. Isaiah Odajima. Mrs. Sanchez is professionally affiliated with the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. She currently resides in McGregor with her husband José and twins Eleanor and Jonah. |
Mike Devenport mike.devenport@midwayisd.org River Valley MS Assistant Director Mike Devenport is in his eighth year as band director at River Valley Intermediate and his forty-fifth year overall. He teaches the beginner flute, oboe bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, euphonium and tuba classes and oversees the band program at River Valley. Mr. Devenport is a 1975 graduate of Cisco Junior College and a 1977 graduate of Tarleton State University where he graduated with honors. Mr. Devenport is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association and the international bandmasters’ fraternity, Phi Beta Mu. He lives near Gatesville with his dog Mackey, who was named for band composer John Mackey. . |
Sara Wiley
sara.wiley@midwayisd.org
sara.wiley@midwayisd.org
Midway MS Head Director
Mrs. Sara Wiley is looking forward to her new position as the Director of Bands at Midway Middle School. She has taught band for over 20 years in many states before moving to Texas 7 years ago. Her primary instrument is the flute. Mrs. Wiley’s ensembles have consistently earned superior ratings and have reached state level recognition.
Mrs. Wiley earned her bachelor’s degree in 2001 from Indiana University in Bloomington and completed post-graduate work at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD in 2005. Mrs. Wiley has performed in many professional and community orchestras and bands.
Mrs. Wiley currently lives in Temple with her husband, five children (ages 3-15), two dogs, and two cats. When not making music, she enjoys sewing, scrapbooking, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Contact us by email or call:
Midway High School-(254) 761-5675 xt. 2510
Midway Middle School-(254) 761-5680 xt. 3820
