WFISD band parents, students invited to meet band directors for new high schools

Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·3 min read

In the first event of its kind for the new high schools, Wichita Falls ISD is inviting band parents and students to meet the incoming band directors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Career Education Center, Ashley Thomas, WFISD communications officer, told the School Board during a meeting.

The casual come-and-go reception is aimed at students attending Wichita Falls Memorial High School and Wichita Falls Legacy High School in the 2024-2025 academic year. But students who will be going to middle school in the upcoming school year can also come to the event, which is open to the community.

Rider band director Loy Studer leads his students onto the field before a football game at Memorial Stadium.
Rider band director Loy Studer leads his students onto the field before a football game at Memorial Stadium.

This meet-and-greet won't be the last of its kind.

"We'll continue to do things like that as positions are announced to allow for parents and students to get to know their new teachers," Thomas said at Tuesday's noon meeting.

The upbeat sounds of a marching band during halftime are an iconic part of life in Texas high schools.

"With your involvement, we have the opportunity to create some of the most dynamic and energetic bands in the state of Texas," WFISD officials said on Facebook.

The new band directors chosen have a depth and breadth of experience from years of teaching. In addition, they have worked together many years at Rider High School.

Associate band directors plucked from WFISD's teaching staff will assist them.

More: Looking forward: WFISD hiring staff for new high schools opening in 2024

Director of the Memorial Mavericks band program

The district named Michael Walta as the band director for Memorial. He has been serving as an assistant director for the Rider High School band for 14 years, teaching marching band and leading the symphonic band.

He has also assisted with varsity and non-varsity orchestra and co-taught the jazz band. Walta has done everything from teaching beginners to play an instrument to assisting with concert ensembles.

He has also assisted at Barwise and McNiel middle schools. Walta is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

"I'm excited to experience everything that the new facility has while creating new opportunities and traditions with the students," Walta said recently in a post on Memorial's Facebook page.

Michael Walta, left on second row, was named band director for Wichita Falls Memorial High School. He is shown here with his family, wife Janelle, son Aiden and daughter Kinsley.
Michael Walta, left on second row, was named band director for Wichita Falls Memorial High School. He is shown here with his family, wife Janelle, son Aiden and daughter Kinsley.

Associate band director for Memorial

Thomas Borgman, named associate director of bands and coordinator of percussion at Memorial, will also be in attendance Thursday, Walta said.

Borgman has been serving as percussion director and assistant band director at Rider, as well as teaching percussion at McNiel, , according to a WFISD Fine Arts Department announcement

In addition, he composes and teaches private lessons. Borgman is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

Director of the Legacy Leopards band program

Loy Studer will take the reins as band director at Legacy. Studer has been a fixture at Rider as director of bands and orchestra for 18 years.

With 27 years' experience in band and orchestra education, Studer has taught in many grade levels and educational environments. He has served in positions as a music educator in Lewisville, Hurst-Euless Bedford, Grapevine-Colleyville and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISDs.

More: Esports will have room to thrive at new high schools: 'It's not just about the games'

Deeply rooted in Wichita Falls, Studer attended Fain, Barwise and Rider as a student. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas College of Music.

"I am most excited to establish a new high school that is built on high standards, respect, and honor for all," Studer said in a recent post on Legacy's Facebook page. "I want 'The Hilltop' to be a place full of energy, spirit, and tradition."

Legacy's associate band director

Ben Cooper, associate director of bands at Legacy, will also be meeting parents and students Thursday evening.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University's Greenwood School of Music, Cooper has been a WFISD band director at the high school and middle school level. He has taught at McNiel and Rider.

Cooper can't wait to get to Legacy to get started, according to a WFISD Fine Arts Department announcement.

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: WFISD band parents, students invited to meet new band directors