Our Directors
Steven Dojahn
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Mr. Dojahn graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, presently known as Texas State University, in May of 2002. During his time at Texas State, he had the pleasure to perform under the baton of Mr. Jim Hudson. Mr. Dojahn studied privately with Professors of Trumpet at Texas State, Keith Winking and Jack Laumer. Mr. Dojahn was drum major of the Texas State University Bobcat Marching Band for 2 years as well as drum major of his High School Marching Band (Churchill HS in San Antonio) for 2 years. Mr. Dojahn went on to complete his Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in December of 2009. He is certified to teach Music Education in grades kindergarten through high school and has a Texas principal’s certificate. Mr. Dojahn has taught at Goddard JH in Midland, Texas 2002-2005, Midland Freshman HS in Midland 2005-2008, Texas and Odessa High School in Odessa, Texas 2008-2018. He joined the Band Directing staff at Legacy HS in 2018. Mr. Dojahn is an active adjudicator for the University Interscholastic League in both the marching band and concert and sight-reading divisions. He has also served as a member of the UIL State Music Advisory Committee. He is also an active adjudicator and chaperone for the Honors Performance Series which selects students from around the world to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Sydney Opera house in Australia, and the Royal Albert Hall in London. Mr. Dojahn is currently the Region 6 Band Chair of the Texas Music Educators Association. He is dedicated to TMEA through serving in many other capacities as well such as State Tabulation Chair, Area Audition Chair, Area Honor Band Chair, and Region Vice-President. Mr. Dojahn has authored the Program Notes for the TMEA All-State Band Concerts on two different occasions. His professional affiliations are Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmasters Fraternity, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternity, Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. When he is not teaching he enjoys traveling, working in the yard, fixing home appliances with the help of YouTube, and watching Sci-Fi and anime shows such as Star Trek, Dr. Who, Attack on Titan, Hunter Hunter, and My Hero Academia. |
Jonathan Avila
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Mr. Avila is a graduate of West Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree and studied Saxophone under Dr. James Barger. During his undergrad, Mr. Avila had the opportunity to hold the position of Drum Major of The Sound of West Texas Buffalo Marching Band for three years, under the direction of Dr. Russ Teweleit. Jonathan also had the opportunity to perform with the WTAMU Saxophone Choir at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. As well as perform in numerous ensembles and study conducting with Don Lefevre while at WTAMU.
Following college, Mr. Avila started his professional career as the Associate Director of Bands at Crockett M.S. in Odessa, Tx. During his time at Crockett, Mr. Avila served as the Director of the Symphonic Band, where his band earned first division ratings as well as earning “Overall Best Middle School Band” at the Greenwood Music Festival in 2022. As a Midland native, Mr. Avila had the honor and privilege to attend Robert E. Lee High School (Legacy). While at Lee, he led the Mighty Rebel Band as Drum Major for two years. In his senior year, he was honored to participate in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Mr. Avila was fortunate to be under the direction of the honorable Randy Storie, who became one of his mentors/heroes and the reason why he became a Band Director. Mr. Avila has taught drum major and marching band at the WTAMU Band Camp every summer since 2016. He has also served as a judge for the High Plains Marching Festival, All-Region Band Auditions, and numerous U.I.L.Solo and Ensemble contests. He is also a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Jonathan Avila is excited to be back home at his alma mater and serve the Midland ISD community. GO REBELS! #mightyrebelband |
Assistant Band Director
Cameron Connell
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Mr. Connell has 16 years of percussion experience. From 2007 to 2015, he worked with the Abernathy, Bushland, Memphis, Canyon, Joshua, and Western Hills High School percussion sections. Cameron received his Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Performance from West Texas A&M University where he studied percussion with Dr. Susan Martin Tariq. During graduate school he also served as a graduate assistant to the band and drumline.
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Morgan Marin
morgan.marin@midlandisd.net
Legacy Freshman Band Director
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Mrs. Marin graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas in May 2017. While at WT she had the pleasure of studying Flute with Helen Blackburn and performed with the WT Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra. During her time with the Band and Orchestra she performed as Principal Piccolo on several tours including a European tour and the 2016 performance at the TMEA Convention. Mrs. Marin also had the privilege of serving as the President of Tau Beta Sigma, the National Honorary Band Service Sorority, the Senior Class representative of The Sound of West Texas Marching Band, Drum Major for 2 marching seasons, and has been a 2 time recipient of the Ernest Howry Spirit Award.
Mrs. Marin has an active role in several camps across the state including the Leadership Camp at Texas A&M Commerce, located in Commerce, Texas, sponsored by System Blue Education, and the West Texas A&M Band Camp, located in Canyon, Texas. When Mrs. Marin is not teaching she enjoys spending time with family, traveling; especially to Disney with her husband (who is a Mighty Rebel Band Alum!) playing with her puppy Luna, and chasing her sweet baby boys, Oliver and Miles. |
