About us
The Midway Panther 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 program consists of three High School Concert Bands, four Middle School Bands, two High School Jazz Bands, one Middle School Jazz Band, as well as sixth grade beginner instrument classes.
The 2020-2021 Panther 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 program consists of three High School Concert Bands, four Middle School Bands, two High School Jazz Bands, one Middle School Jazz Band, as well as sixth grade beginner instrument classes.
The 2020-2021 Panther 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 fourth year as Director of Bands at Midway ISD and nineteenth year overall teaching. Her responsibilities include directing the Marching Band, Wind Symphony, assisting colorguard, teaching beginner flute, oboe, and low brass classes, and overseeing the band department for Midway ISD. Mrs. Hyatt attended Baylor University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2002. She served as a drum major in 2000 and as an undergraduate assistant in 2001 for the Golden Wave Marching Band. While at Baylor, she had the opportunity to study ensemble conducting with Mr. Michael Haithcock and Mr. Jeff Grogan. Mrs. Hyatt is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. She served as the ATSSB Region 8 Coordinator during the 2016-2017 school year and was the treasurer for the organization prior to her appointment as coordinator. 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 eleventh year of teaching and this will be his fourth 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 dog "Moose". |
Sarah Moss sarah.guhl@midwayisd.org HS Assistant Director Sarah Moss is in her fourth year as Assistant Director at Midway ISD and fifth year overall teaching. Her responsibilities include directing the Midway Concert Band, Jazz Band, assisting with the Midway Panther Marching Band, and teaching beginner woodwind, and horn classes. Mrs. Moss received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor 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 Directors National Association Conference in March of 2012, and again at the Midwest Conference in December of 2014. Mrs. Moss studied with Dr. Isaiah Odajima, Dr. Eric Wilson, Mr. Stephen Heyde, and Dr. Jun Qian. Mrs. Moss’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. In her spare time, Mrs. Moss enjoys playing her clarinet, loving on her dog "Moose" and cat "Rocky", and spending time with her husband Kenneth. |
Noah Alvarado noah.alvarado@midwayisd.org MS Head Director Noah Alvarado is entering his seventh year of teaching and his second year as the Head Middle School Band Director at Midway ISD. 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.” 
Ricky Bracamontes ricky.bracamontes@midwayisd.org Woodgate Intermediate Director Ricky Bracamontes is an educator and performer with a passion for providing meaningful and accurate instruction and performances. Teaching and performing are his primary focus and he has worked with many schools, non-profits, dance companies and local business owners to nurture and grow the music community in Waco. Ricky now works at Woodgate Intermediate teaching trumpet and low brass. Ricky also leads the Midway High School Front Ensemble, which includes rehearsing, writing and arranging for the group. Along with teaching, he is a co-founder and Artistic Director of Percussion Pal, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that focuses on building a community for learning and growing for students that have less access to instructors. This will expand to a percussion ensemble program that will be held in Waco, TX, bringing together students from all around Central Texas to work and perform together. Ricky is also half of 2X1 Media, a production company that aims to provide musicians with a resource to produce engaging and relevant recordings of concerts, recitals and music videos. Ricky received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Baylor University in 2017. While at Baylor he accepted the TMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award for his dedicated and exemplary teaching while in school and now holds a K-12 teaching license in the state of Texas. He holds memberships to the Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Music Educators Association and the National Association for the Future of Music Education. |
Alexa Sanchez alexa.sanchez@midwayisd.org Assistant Director percussion specialist Alexa Sanchez is entering her fifth year of teaching with the Midway Panther Band. Mrs. Sanchez currently serves as Assistant Director and percussion specialist for MISD. 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 all high school band ensembles, and assisting with the High School Drumline. 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 Intermediate Director Mike Devenport is in his seventh year as band director at River Valley Intermediate and his forty-fourth 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. . |
Contact us by email or call:
Midway High School-(254) 761-5675 xt. 2510
Midway Middle School-(254) 761-5680 xt. 3820
