The Department of Access and Opportunity presents March’s installment of Your Voice, Your Story, a series highlighting diversity and the many unique individuals who shape our community.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we spoke with Arminda Velasquez, the head band director at Cedar Ridge High School and the first female high school head band director in Round Rock ISD.
Velasquez, who has been with Cedar Ridge since 2014, has spent years helping students find their rhythm—both on the field and in life. Her journey as an educator began with a short stint in elementary music, but she quickly found her passion in marching band.
Though she initially envisioned herself as a middle school band director, she said that stepping into the world of high school marching bands changed everything for her.
“I thought I was going to be more on the middle school director side,” Velasquez said. “Then I got this job at Cedar Ridge and said, ‘I’ll see if I like it.’ And I just fell in love with it more and more.”
That passion has fueled years of dedication, culminating in a historic achievement—leading Cedar Ridge’s band to the 6A UIL State Marching Band Contest this past fall during her first year as head director.
“[Marching season] is a long process that starts the first Wednesday after Spring Break,” Velasquez said. “And then the kids go home for the summer, and they return at the end of July to condition themselves to be able to do what they did [at the State Marching Contest].”
Being the first female high school head band director at Round Rock ISD is an achievement Velasquez said she doesn’t take lightly. Statistics show only an approximated 20% of high school band directors are female.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” she said. “I love this place. I love this school. It feels like home.”
Velasquez isn’t the only female band director in Round Rock ISD. Brittany Dacy, Director of Bands at Westwood High School said she also understands the impact of her presence in music education.
“When I was in fifth grade, I got to see Paula Crider with the Longhorn Band. She was the first band director that I saw,” said Dacy. “It’s a huge deal having our kids see both men and women getting to be successful. It shows anyone that it’s possible.”
Velasquez said that, as a leader, she is deeply aware of the importance of every student in her program. Cedar Ridge’s band is one of the smallest in its division, so every member plays a crucial role.
“For a 6A program, we are quite small,” she said. “What that means for our students is: you are always a soloist and a teammate. Every single kid is important out there.”
