Hi! This is Susan Womble, Kathleen Juarez’s grandmother. I’m excited to share some incredible news with you - our schools Modern Band group, WITHIN, has been invited to perform at the 2025 APME LIVE Student Festival In Memphis, Tennessee! Their winning submission was filmed at the SAISD Foundation’s Inspire Awards. WITHIN plays at school events, community events, and book their own gigs at local venues.
WITHIN’s band members are: Kathleen (lead guitar), Marissa (lead guitar and keyboards), Viviana (vocals and bass), and Evan (drums).
The Association for Popular Music Education (APME) holds an annual 3-day conference open to professional musicians, researchers, students, industry professionals, and music teacher educators. Students from middle and high schools are invited to audition to perform and can also participate in daily clinics and conference sessions. Memphis, the birthplace of rock and roll, has a legendary music scene. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these talented young musicians to showcase their hard work and passion for music on a big stage, and we need your help to make it happen!
WITHIN is a veteran band in the ALA-Fox Tech Modern Band Program, which was launched in 2022 by then Band Director, Stephen T. Cox, as a student-centered program. Under his innovative teaching philosophy, enrollment in band increased from 37 students to 315 students. Mr. Cox was also the winner of the 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award. The Modern Band Program continues to grow under Mr. Robert Packer, the current Band Director, who encouraged WITHIN to apply to the APME festival.
We are reaching out to our friends, family and community to raise funds to make this dream a reality. The funds will pay for airfare, ground transportation, hotel lodging, food, registration fees and miscellaneous expenses for the band members.
Every donation, big or small, will go directly to helping the band get to Memphis. Your support will allow these students to perform, learn from professionals, get critiques and advice and gain exposure and experience that will shape their futures in music.