Hector Gil (Vista Ridge HS)

Sketchbook with Daniel Montoya Jr.

Hector Gil is in his 18th year of teaching and joined the staff at Vista Ridge High School and Henry Middle School as the Director of Percussion in 2008. He attended Texas A&M University-Commerce where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2001, and he completed one year of graduate work at Texas Christian University. While at A&M – Commerce, and TCU, Mr. Gil performed in various ensembles including the Texas A&M University-Commerce Wind Ensemble, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Drumline, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Steel Band, the Texas Christian University Wind Symphony, the Texas Christian University Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Christian University Percussion Ensemble, and the North East Texas Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1998 and was also a member of the 2000 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition winning collegiate ensemble with the Texas A&M University-Commerce Percussion Ensemble under Dr. Brian West. After college, Gil began his teaching career at United High School in Laredo, TX. After 3 incredible years, he moved to Fort Worth to teach at Texas Christian University as the Drumline Instructor for the TCU “Horned Frog” Marching Band. After leaving TCU in 2007, he moved to Austin and is now in his 11th year as a music educator in Leander ISD. Hector’s students and ensembles have achieved numerous accolades that include being named The Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition Winners in 2014 and 2018, The TMEA Honor Band Winners in 2010, 2014, and 2018, The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic Performers in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, The Black Swamp Percussion Ensemble Showcase Winners in 2017, The Western International Band Clinic in 2008 and 2013, the Texas State Marching Band Championship in 2008, 2013, 2015, and 2016 and The Winter Guard International World Championships in 2006 and 2007. He has been extremely fortunate to study from some incredible teachers that include Mr. Carlos Gil, Dr. Brian West, Mr. Bobby Francis, Mr. Bill Bachman, Dr. Jim Yakas, and Mr. Matt Savage. Gil is an active composer/arranger for many Texas high school programs, adjudicates for many competitions, and has served as a clinician for numerous percussion programs throughout the state. His professional affiliations include The Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and is a proud Education Artist with Innovative Percussion Inc. He is happily married to his beautiful wife Brandy and they have two beautiful daughters, Makayla and Elena. Hector is extremely lucky to have been able to experience so many incredible moments in his career and he recognizes that those moments were not achieved alone. He feels the individuals that have impacted him the most in his life have been his mom and dad, Carlos and Grizelda Gil. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sketchbookpodcast/support