~~ The One, the Only, LBJ Jaguar Band ~~

The LBJ High School Band, a treasure of central Texas and the Austin Independent School District, on one of many of its memorable days, performed for Lady Bird Johnson in 1981. The grand lady of Texas was delighted with the performance. A proud, diversely talented high school band, The One, The Only won its first UIL award the first year LBJ opened its doors in 1974. Catalyzed by that first year, the Band quickly became the primary source of purple-pride at LBJ. The dedication of its original students and band parents established the reputation of the Band as a premier band in Texas. From day one, the LBJ High School community truly loved and supported their band!

The first ten years saw the Band earn award after award as its popularity and reputation grew. The trophies and awards quickly filled the hallway trophy cases. In 1978, the Band flew to Phoenix, Arizona to compete in the first Fiesta Bowl Marching Band Festival. After winning FIRST place, the LBJ Band returned home to a jam-packed Austin airport filled with television cameras and other news media. As the 200-piece marching band carved out a reputation of musical excellence and excitement, the LBJ Band energized its parents, teachers and student body in the mid-70s, to establish LBJ High on the state map as a highly talented school in every sport, music and academic arena.

Following the lead of the early Band, The One, The Only tackled the 1980s with a commitment and vision from the students and directors that produced many excellent musicians and exciting performances. The Band’s halftime shows became the “talk of the town,” constantly thrilling a sold out Nelson Field at rival football games and judges and spectators at marching festivals. Throughout the 80s the band continued to fill the trophy cases, with the LBJ marching band, jazz band and concert bands consistently winning “Best in Class” in their competitive categories. In 1980, the Band took first place at the Daytona Beach Festival (Florida). In 1981, the Band followed its previous first place with top honors at the “World of Music Festival” (San Diego). To round out the 80s, the LBJ Band won first place honors at the Durango Music Festival (Colorado) and “Best in Class” at the Six Flags Band Festival (Dallas). The Band flew to Orlando, Florida several times and started a tradition of winning awards in a city known for its entertainment.

Don Haynes has led as the Director of Bands at LBJ since the early years of LBJ arriving in 1975, a year after this proud school opened its doors. Assistant directors during the 1970s and 80s were Rosendo Sanchez, Vince Paredes, Michael Moore, Jahane Cote, and Tony Christofano. The early 1990s heralded a new and exciting era when Travis Ancelet joined Don Haynes to form an “incredible duo.”

The LBJ Jazz Band directed by Travis Ancelet captured the highest accolades from audiences and judges everywhere they competed. Bringing home many first place trophies and “Outstanding Solo” awards, the Ancelet jazzers became known for their exhilarating performances. In the 1990s, Marcus Graf on trumpet and Jerome Smith on trombone received national recognition when they were named to the All-American Grammy’s All-Star High School Band. Marcus and Jerome went on to acquire graduate degrees in music studies, and perform in Texas and on the east coast. In 1996, when the Band had 272 members, the Band launched an overseas trip tradition. The LBJ Band proudly represented Texas at the New Year’s Day Parade in London, England. The weeklong stay included visits to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Five years later during Spring Break 2000, the LBJ band with 175 members again traveled to London, but also included a marvelous tour of Paris, France. Assistant directors during the decade of the glorious 1990s were Travis Ancelet, Damon Talley, and Corie Sanders.

The 21st century certainly introduced an even greater level of adventure and achievement for the Jaguar Band. While the coveted UIL music sweepstakes trophies continued to be an annual achievement for the LBJ Bands, it was the fall of 2003 that the Jaguar Marching Band took its classical sounds to the UIL AAAA - State Marching Band Contest in the Alamodome (San Antonio). The Band stepped on the field and became a part of LBJ and AISD history.

LBJ’s history making trend continued in 2007, when thanks to the 1996 and 2000 trips abroad, LBJ Band earned a permanent place on the international music scene. At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, the 33rd year of this great band program, the LBJ Band received an historic invitation from the “Chinese-American Cultural Exchange Committee” to perform in Beijing, China. The Committee selected LBJ to receive this special invitation because of its outstanding record and celebrated reputation abroad. The Band and its supporters embraced the invitation with open arms. The 153-traveling members and parents found a friendly, engaging people throughout their visit. The Chinese committee embraced the energy of the young Americans and their music. Among the many historical sites the band visited in Beijing, none compared to the LBJ Jazz Band’s performance on the Great Wall of China. An excerpt of their performance was recorded and published for posterity on www.YouTube.com. Not to be outdone, the LBJ concert band gave a magnificent 40-minute concert at a Chinese high school in Tinjin. Students from both countries enjoyed not only the music, but also exchanging gifts during an informal visit after the performance. The LBJ Band members proudly stood as United States ambassadors as they regaled the Chinese people with American music as only the LBJ Band can play it. Those band members and parents who flew over the North Pole, stopped in New Jersey and Tokyo and landed in China during Spring Break 2007, will never forget their trip-of-a-lifetime. The directors of the 2007 China trip, Don Haynes, Brian Burks, Ponder East, Art Jimenez, and Nathan Ward extend a heartfelt, “Thank you!” for the hard work of the trip organizers, Mrs. Cecile Ward and Mrs. Julia Menegay. The LBJ Principal, Mr. Patrick Patterson, the parent chaperones, and the Austin School officials provided The One, The Only, with another milestone not just for the Austin Independent School District, but all high school bands in the United States.

Throughout the history of the prestigious LBJ Band, the concert hall has certainly been the showcase of many brilliant band performances. Under the baton of its present conductor, Don Haynes, the LBJ Wind Ensemble performed major works for band such as Hindemith’s Symphony in Bb, Respighi’s Pines of Rome, Strauss’ Till Eulenspigel, Ticheli’s Blue Shades, Doughtery’s Niagara Falls, and many Percy Grainger works. However, something was missing; The One, The Only, had no suitable place to perform such illustrious works unless they used other high school theaters. With the support of the voters and the enthusiastic drive of the LBJ community, the AISD passed a bond package with historic significance to the LBJ Band. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in April of 2007, the dedication ceremony for the new 500-seat Don T. Haynes Theater, located on the LBJ High School campus, paid tribute to the many marvelous band members of the LBJ Band from 1974 to today. In his speech at the ceremony, Don Haynes dedicated the theater named for him to the many all-state musicians and the tremendous band students of LBJ who carried this great band from its infancy to its place in history. The tradition of LBJ Band excellence exists because of the thousands of great young musicians who loved their band, loved one another and loved their school! The Jaguar Band traditions live deep in the hearts of tens of thousands of people who supported this outstanding band program with their sweat and tears. Because of the undying commitment of the tremendous young people who grew the LBJ Band program through its four incredible decades, the LBJ Band is recognized throughout Texas as a premier high school band program. The immeasurable support of LBJ band parents over the years drove the program to its lofty goals and supported it through its successes and disappointments. Without big dreams and a common vision from everyone who touched the LBJ Band program, London, Paris, Beijing, and the many UIL awards would never have occurred. The one common thread throughout the history of the LBJ Band program, the cornerstone of its mark of excellence, rests in its pride and tradition of excellence. For the past 35 years now, GREAT PEOPLE provide the reason the LBJ Band continues to thrive as THE ONE, THE ONLY.

--Don Haynes



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From day one, the LBJ High School community truly loved and supported their band! The first ten years saw the Band earn award after award as its popularity and reputation grew. The trophies and awards quickly filled the hallway trophy cases. In 1978, the Band flew to Phoenix, Arizona to compete in the first Fiesta Bowl Marching Band Festival. After winning FIRST place, the LBJ Band returned home to a jam-packed Austin airport filled with television cameras and other news media. As the 200-piece marching band carved out a reputation of musical excellence and excitement, the LBJ Band energized its parents, teachers and student body in the mid-70s, to establish LBJ High on the state map as a highly talented school in every sport, music and academic arena. Following the lead of the early Band, The One, The Only tackled the 1980s with a commitment and vision from the students and directors that produced many excellent musicians and exciting performances. The Band’s halftime shows became the “talk of the town,” constantly thrilling a sold out Nelson Field at rival football games and judges and spectators at marching festivals. Throughout the 80s the band continued to fill the trophy cases, with the LBJ marching band, jazz band and concert bands consistently winning “Best in Class” in their competitive categories. In 1980, the Band took first place at the Daytona Beach Festival (Florida). In 1981, the Band followed its previous first place with top honors at the “World of Music Festival” (San Diego). To round out the 80s, the LBJ Band won first place honors at the Durango Music Festival (Colorado) and “Best in Class” at the Six Flags Band Festival (Dallas). The Band flew to Orlando, Florida several times and started a tradition of winning awards in a city known for its entertainment. Don Haynes has led as the Director of Bands at LBJ since the early years of LBJ arriving in 1975, a year after this proud school opened its doors. Assistant directors during the 1970s and 80s were Rosendo Sanchez, Vince Paredes, Michael Moore, Jahane Cote, and Tony Christofano. The early 1990s heralded a new and exciting era when Travis Ancelet joined Don Haynes to form an “incredible duo.” The LBJ Jazz Band directed by Travis Ancelet captured the highest accolades from audiences and judges everywhere they competed. Bringing home many first place trophies and “Outstanding Solo” awards, the Ancelet jazzers became known for their exhilarating performances. In the 1990s, Marcus Graf on trumpet and Jerome Smith on trombone received national recognition when they were named to the All-American Grammy’s All-Star High School Band. Marcus and Jerome went on to acquire graduate degrees in music studies, and perform in Texas and on the east coast. In 1996, when the Band had 272 members, the Band launched an overseas trip tradition. The LBJ Band proudly represented Texas at the New Year’s Day Parade in London, England. The weeklong stay included visits to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Five years later during Spring Break 2000, the LBJ band with 175 members again traveled to London, but also included a marvelous tour of Paris, France. Assistant directors during the decade of the glorious 1990s were Travis Ancelet, Damon Talley, and Corie Sanders. The 21st century certainly introduced an even greater level of adventure and achievement for the Jaguar Band. While the coveted UIL music sweepstakes trophies continued to be an annual achievement for the LBJ Bands, it was the fall of 2003 that the Jaguar Marching Band took its classical sounds to the UIL AAAA - State Marching Band Contest in the Alamodome (San Antonio). The Band stepped on the field and became a part of LBJ and AISD history. LBJ’s history making trend continued in 2007, when thanks to the 1996 and 2000 trips abroad, LBJ Band earned a permanent place on the international music scene. At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, the 33rd year of this great band program, the LBJ Band received an historic invitation from the “Chinese-American Cultural Exchange Committee” to perform in Beijing, China. The Committee selected LBJ to receive this special invitation because of its outstanding record and celebrated reputation abroad. The Band and its supporters embraced the invitation with open arms. The 153-traveling members and parents found a friendly, engaging people throughout their visit. The Chinese committee embraced the energy of the young Americans and their music. Among the many historical sites the band visited in Beijing, none compared to the LBJ Jazz Band’s performance on the Great Wall of China. An excerpt of their performance was recorded and published for posterity on www.YouTube.com. Not to be outdone, the LBJ concert band gave a magnificent 40-minute concert at a Chinese high school in Tinjin. Students from both countries enjoyed not only the music, but also exchanging gifts during an informal visit after the performance. The LBJ Band members proudly stood as United States ambassadors as they regaled the Chinese people with American music as only the LBJ Band can play it. Those band members and parents who flew over the North Pole, stopped in New Jersey and Tokyo and landed in China during Spring Break 2007, will never forget their trip-of-a-lifetime. The directors of the 2007 China trip, Don Haynes, Brian Burks, Ponder East, Art Jimenez, and Nathan Ward extend a heartfelt, “Thank you!” for the hard work of the trip organizers, Mrs. Cecile Ward and Mrs. Julia Menegay. The LBJ Principal, Mr. Patrick Patterson, the parent chaperones, and the Austin School officials provided The One, The Only, with another milestone not just for the Austin Independent School District, but all high school bands in the United States. Throughout the history of the prestigious LBJ Band, the concert hall has certainly been the showcase of many brilliant band performances. Under the baton of its present conductor, Don Haynes, the LBJ Wind Ensemble performed major works for band such as Hindemith’s Symphony in Bb, Respighi’s Pines of Rome, Strauss’ Till Eulenspigel, Ticheli’s Blue Shades, Doughtery’s Niagara Falls, and many Percy Grainger works. However, something was missing; The One, The Only, had no suitable place to perform such illustrious works unless they used other high school theaters. With the support of the voters and the enthusiastic drive of the LBJ community, the AISD passed a bond package with historic significance to the LBJ Band. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in April of 2007, the dedication ceremony for the new 500-seat Don T. Haynes Theater, located on the LBJ High School campus, paid tribute to the many marvelous band members of the LBJ Band from 1974 to today. In his speech at the ceremony, Don Haynes dedicated the theater named for him to the many all-state musicians and the tremendous band students of LBJ who carried this great band from its infancy to its place in history. The tradition of LBJ Band excellence exists because of the thousands of great young musicians who loved their band, loved one another and loved their school! The Jaguar Band traditions live deep in the hearts of tens of thousands of people who supported this outstanding band program with their sweat and tears. Because of the undying commitment of the tremendous young people who grew the LBJ Band program through its four incredible decades, the LBJ Band is recognized throughout Texas as a premier high school band program. The immeasurable support of LBJ band parents over the years drove the program to its lofty goals and supported it through its successes and disappointments. Without big dreams and a common vision from everyone who touched the LBJ Band program, London, Paris, Beijing, and the many UIL awards would never have occurred. The one common thread throughout the history of the LBJ Band program, the cornerstone of its mark of excellence, rests in its pride and tradition of excellence. For the past 35 years now, GREAT PEOPLE provide the reason the LBJ Band continues to thrive as THE ONE, THE ONLY. --Don Haynes