Monahans Big Green Band

05/23/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Ella Upchurch.

What are your future plans?
-Attend Texas Tech, get a degree in Kinesiology, ultimately becoming a physical therapist.

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-Golf
-UIL Academics

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Honors Band for two years
-Drum Major (senior year)
-State solo and ensemble qualifier for two years

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Thriller

Favorite Marching Show:
-80’s Mixtape

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Going to Disneyland with my friends

Any parting words of wisdom?
- No matter how many bad days you’ve had, you’ll only remember the good ones.

05/23/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Lash Caldwell.
What are your future plans?
-”I will be joining the United States Army and my job will be cannon crew member and after I serve, I will be a mechanic.”

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Football
-Powerlifting
-Band

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Advancing to the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest with my brass ensemble.

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Never had a favorite, they were all good!

Favorite Marching Show:
-Black Gold

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-The band trip to California last year

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Embrace the moment, it goes by quickly.

05/21/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Amy Coffey.

What are your future plans?
-Continue pursuing art and practicing flute

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Track
-Powerlifting
-Band

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Division one rating on our flute ensemble “All Through the Night” and on my solo “Syrinx
-Advancing to TSSEC on my flute ensemble

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Thriller

Favorite Marching Show:
-Sing, Sing, Sing by Tokyo Tachibana SHS

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Practicing in the band hall alone

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Bring powerbanks and chargers for away football games.

05/19/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Holly Rasband.

What are your future plans?
-I plan to go to Oklahoma State University and be a part of the marching band. After two years, I will be going on my mission for my church.

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-4H activities

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Honors band all four years
-First chair for three years
-State solo and ensemble qualifier all four years
-All Region band for three years
-Colorguard for three years
-NEWEST MEMBER OF THE OSU MARCHING BAND

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Seven Nation Army

Favorite Marching Show:
-Under an Irish Sky

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Creating my solo and playing it for the spring band concert of 2024

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Play from the heart, stay true to your sound, and let the music guide you.

05/17/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Cain Leyva.

What are your future plans?
-”After graduation I’m going to be working in the oilfield, making money and stark making a living for myself and traveling places.”

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-Powerlifting
-PAL
-Accounting UIL
-Lifeguarding

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-1st chair for 3 years straight in HS
-1st chair all of JH
-4 year division one ratings at Solo and Ensemble contest

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Down with my Loboes

Favorite Marching Show:
-Black Gold

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Going to San Antonio and going to the mall and walking back to our hotel during state contest.

Any parting words of wisdom?
- “Don’t be cringe @ Ms. Bryant. 😂”

05/15/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Nathaly Rodriguez.

What are your future plans?
-Attend Odessa College to become a Radiology tech.

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-Tennis
-Powerlifting

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-All Region band-two years
-State solo and ensemble qualifier ALL FOUR YEARS
-Drum major - senior year

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Crazy Train

Favorite Marching Show:
-Black Gold

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-When we had to go to a football game, but it was freezing cold, so I huddled up in about 4 blankets with my favorite upperclassmen who made band so much fun for me.

Any parting words of wisdom?
-Try to make the best of every moment in high school. It’ll be over before you know it and it’s best to look back and know you made the best of it rather than just moping. Just because something about it sucks doesn’t mean your memories have to suck, too.

05/12/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Ambrielle Salazar.

What are your future plans?
-Practice Real Estate in the Lubbock area.

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-Powerlifting

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Colorguard for two years
-Honors band for three years
-State solo and ensemble qualifier for three years

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Land of a Thousand Dances

Favorite Marching Show:
-Black Gold

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Getting to ride a rollercoaster for the first time my freshman year.

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Don’t try to grow up too soon.

05/10/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Arely Tovar.

What are your future plans?
-Pursuing a career as a florist and cosmetologist

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-UIL Area marching band qualifier

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Paint it Black

Favorite Marching Show:
-80’s Mixtape

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Seeing the Band Directors get a pie to the face!

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Remember to enjoy every moment and celebrate your achievements along the way.

05/09/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Cash Flores.

What are your future plans?
-”I plan to attend Texas State University at San Antonio to study and get my degree in cyber security.”

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-Football (varsity)
-Powerlifting
-Dual Credit
-Baseball

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Honors band for 4 years
-TSSEC qualifier for 3 years

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Paint it Black

Favorite Marching Show:
-Under an Irish Sky (Wellerman)

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Six Flags

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Stay in school

05/07/2025

05/06/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Cesar Ayala.

What are your future plans?
-”I will be going to UTPB to get my bachelors degree and later my masters in Psychology and Counseling.”

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Tennis (6 years)
-Powerlifting (1 year)
-Band (7 years)

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Been to area 2 times for marching band
-Division 1 in Symphonic band
-Division 1 in Honors Band

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Thriller

Favorite Marching Show:
-Black Gold

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-Mr. Barrow was really into our music while conducting it. He dropped the stand in front of him because it was that good. Also, Mr. Sayger tripping himself in the bleachers during marching band practice was one of my favorite memories.

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Changing and leaving is an experience of learning who you really are.

05/04/2025

Today’s senior spotlight is Sarah Prather.

What are your future plans?
-”Go through the AIM program and do whatever happens next”

What activities were you involved in during high school?
-Band
-TAFE
-OAP
-Theatrical Design

What are some of your band accomplishments?
-Division 1 at State Solo and Ensemble contest my freshman year.
-Division 2 at State Solo and Ensemble contest my junior year.
-Colorguard for three years
-Honors band for three years

Favorite Stand Tune:
-Bread Man

Favorite Marching Show:
-Under an Irish Sky

Favorite Memory from your time in the Monahans Band Program:
-When people would play really pretty songs on the piano.

Any parting words of wisdom?
- Do not lay your flute on the bench without proper supervision, and also, make sure your plume is not on backwards.