SAN BENITO — If there is one thing people can agree on, it’s that the school district has an amazing music department.
It is clearly shown through the numerous performances and awards.
However, while most of the music programs have prospered, Conjunto Estrella has remained in limbo, for lack of funding and lack of instruments.
Last week, representatives from the music program attended the curriculum committee meeting to present department updates to the school board.
Past and present students, along with their parents, made pleas to encourage more of an effort on behalf of the school board.
Parents who spoke talked about how the music program has curbed bad behavior and changed their children for the better, making them healthier and more productive students.
Almost every music program within the district has increased in numbers and just about every program has won awards.
Just recently, the Greyhound Band Percussion Ensemble competed in the Roma Gladiator Drumline Contest held at the Roma High School Gladiator Arena. The Percussion Ensemble performed their show, “Opposites,” and received first place in the 6A Division, second place overall, and “Most Outstanding Front Ensemble” and “Most Outstanding Cymbal Line” honors
Estudiantina, which was started in 2009 by Alberto Ortiz and has been going strong ever since, has been one of the district’s most prized musical endeavors. It has won UIL Division One since its start, including 2016.
It has also won “The Best Estudiantina of the Day” for the past seven years.
While most of the talk was about the programs’ highs, one program in particular had been experiencing some lows.
As of right now, there are more than 400 students district-wide who participate in the music programs in the district.
The Conjunto Estrella program comes from humble beginnings with just seven students in its after-school program 12 years ago, the same time Director Marcos Pesina started teaching.
“In two weeks, I had another seven,” Pesina said of the small but growing program.
A total of $5,000 per year has since been funded to the program. It’s not enough to accommodate the demand and the need for instruments.
The program is limited on how many students can join, even though there is a high demand to be in the program from parents.
“Now, it’s a demand in our schools,” Pesina said. What started out as one class in the high school is now in five campuses.
Pesina, who teaches about 110 kids in all five campuses, does it all. Within a 45-minute class, Pesina said he teaches bajo, accordion, drums, bass and singing.
Pesina, who remains faithful to the program, would like the opportunity to expand for all students who he said will benefit the most from it.
Raymond Valdez is a graduate of San Benito High School. He was an active member of the conjunto program.
When he graduated, he had to figure out a way to pay for school, so he tapped into his conjunto skills.
By using the skills he learned under Pesina, Raymond was able to generate a steady income by playing small gigs on the weekend.
“I was able to buy books, gas and other basic necessities that a college student needs,” he said. “For me, conjunto propelled me through college.”
Raymond has successfully completed two years of college, studying technology. He finished with honors in his program and is now a certified technologist. He currently works at Harlingen Medical Center while continuing his education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
“Without the conjunto program, I believe, it would have been very difficult for me to actually get through college,” Raymond said.
Addressing the concerns, school board member Angel Mendez said they, as a board, are always in a tough spot when it comes to dividing up funding.
“Funding is always an issue, but I think San Benito has showcased that our heart is with the arts,” Mendez said. “We are definitely 100 percent supportive of the arts within our district and we will continue to work on how we can get funding.”
For now, Pesina said all he can do is try and hope for the best.
