Student Voice: Benjamin Mendez, Highlands High School trombone player
Highlands High School junior Benjamin Mendez is making history by being the first SAISD musician selected as a member of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, an "All-Star" band with top musicians, color guard members and dancers from all over the country. Mendez will represent San Antonio ISD and Texas at the Macy’s Day Parade in New York on Thanksgiving, being one of only 185 musicians with the distinction of being invited.
“I chose to play the trombone in middle school, not knowing it was the hardest instrument, and I kind of got the hang of it,” Mendez said. “Throughout my middle school years, I was the only trombone player. That put a lot of pressure on me to get better.”
Mendez credits Highlands High School Band Director David Torch on his selection to the all-star band. Torch informed Mendez of the opportunity, and Mendez, the band president, submitted videos of both a marching sample and a music sample as a virtual audition in September. A week later, he was notified he got the part!
The SAISD Foundation is assisting Mendez by gathering donations to raise the $2,000 he needs by Nov. 3 to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Calendar items
Oct 28-29 (Sat-Sun) – SAISD Mariachis perform in Muertos Fest tribute to Belle Ortiz
Civic Park at Hemisfair, 434 Alamo St., 78205
• 7-8 p.m. Sat, Fox Tech HS/ALA/CAST Tech HS Mariachis, Civic Park stage
• 3-4 p.m. Sun, Lanier HS and Edison HS Mariachis, parade procession
San Antonio’s annual Muertos Fest will have a special altar honoring the “Godmother of Mariachi Music,” Belle Ortiz. The pioneering music instructor who started the first folklorico classes at Lanier High School and the first mariachi class at Jefferson High School passed away in July. Now the band she co-founded, Mariachi Campanas de America, will perform along with SAISD Mariachis to honor her legacy.
Oct 30-Nov 2 (Mon-Thurs) – SAISD Rightsizing Community Meetings – Round 2
This is the last week of San Antonio ISD’s neighborhood meetings on its rightsizing initiative. Meetings are being held at campuses impacted by the recommendation to hear firsthand the insight and feedback from these specific school communities.
• Oct 30 (Mon) – 6 p.m., Knox Early Childhood Education Center, 302 Tipton Ave., 78204
• Nov 1 (Wed) – 6 p.m., Baskin Elementary, 630 Crestview Drive, 78201
• Nov 2 (Thurs) – 6 p.m., Forbes Elementary, 2630 Sally Gay Drive, 78223
Nov 1 (Wed) – Burbank High School Dia de los Muertos event
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Burbank High School, 1002 Edwards St., 78204
Burbank High School is opening its doors to the community for its annual Dia de los Muertos celebration. Student performances by the Burbank High School Folklorico dancers, Mariachis “Estrellas de Oro” and the Orange Jackets dance team will highlight a festive night. The massive campus “ofrenda” is the centerpiece of the evening. Families can also win prizes with fun games of loteria!
Nov 2 (Thurs) – Twain Dual Language Academy Dia de los Muertos event
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Twain Dual Language Academy, 2411 San Pedro Ave., 78212
The public is invited to the Dia De Los Muertos Altar event that celebrates the late San Antonio artist Jesse Trevino. There will be fun activities for kids including face painting, performances by the Twain Mariachi los Lobos, plus several food concessions.