PCA Bands

The band program at PCA seeks to fulfill Psalm 150:3-6 (…Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!) and awaken a love and understanding of music in our students. We want this to lead to a better understanding of worship and how creating and performing music is part of being made in God’s image.

Band Course Offerings and Descriptions

At Pantego Christian Academy, we focus on different styles of music that allow multiple experiences and opportunities for students beyond their years at PCA. We teach jazz, worship band, and marching. Lessons about time management, personal responsibility and teamwork are taught daily.

Advanced Band - Our "top" performance ensemble, which includes Marching Band. Must have a minimum of two years playing experience, plus audition for and approval by the Director of Bands.

Intermediate Band - For students with 1-3 years of playing experience, but that are not quite ready for marching band.

Beginner Band - For students with no playing experience on any instrument, or the instrument they wish to play.

Pre-Band - Fifth grade elective; Students will learn about instruments offered at Pantego, how to read music, and what opportunities Pantego has to offer future musicians.

Pantego Panther Band Accomplishments

Concert Band:

2004 Region Sweepstakes
2005 Region Sweepstakes
2006 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental Runner Up TAPPS 4A
2007 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental 5th TAPPS 4A
2008 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental State Champion TAPPS 4A
2009 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental State Champion TAPPS 3A
TPSMEA Concert and Sight Reading Contest-Sweepstakes
2010 Region and State Sweepstakes-Instrumental 5th TAPPS 3A
TPSMEA Concert and Sight Reading Contest-Sweepstakes
2011 Region Sweepstakes Award, State Sight Reading Division 1
TAPPS Instrumental 3rd Place TAPPS 4A
2013 Region Sweepstakes Award, TAPPS State Sweepstakes-highest scoring band
TAPPS Instrumental 3rd Place TAPPS 4A
2014 Region Sweepstakes Award
2020 Sweepstakes First Division, TPSMEA

Marching Band:

2006 Rhapsody in Blue
2007 Music of Russia
2008 Big Band Show
2009 Across the Stars
2010 The Planets (Superior Rating, 3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2011 Carmen (Superior Rating, 3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2012 Earth, Wind & Fire (3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2013 Les Miserables (Superior Rating, 3rd place TPSMEA State Contest)
2014 Rhapsody in Blue
2015 Phantom of the Opera
2016 Beyond the Stars
2017 The Wild West
2018 Fan Favorites
2019 Music of Chicago
2020 Power! (Superior Rating, 3rd place TAPPS State Championships)
2021 Let’s Groove! with Earth, Wind & Fire (Sweepstakes First Division, TAPPS State Championships)

Jazz Band:

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Superior Ratings at TAPPS Region and State Competitions

TPSMEA All-State Band:

2009-2010 Daniel Norwood, Caleb Smutzer, Jacob Fitch (alternate)
2010 - 2011 Caleb Smutzer, Jacob Fitch, Josh Smith, Jonathan Hryekewicz, Zach Shutt (alternate)
2011 - 2012 Mackenzie Moore, Ben Connel, Caleb Smutzer, Daniel Norwood, Jonathan Hryekewicz, Grant Strickland
2012 - 2013 Caleb Smutzer, Daniel Norwood, Tyler Todd, Nick Frederick (alternate) Brennan Spear (alternate)
2013 - 2014 Darcy Todd, Nick Frederick

TPSMEA All-Region Band:

2019 Michael Onyango, Caitlyn Morris, Melvin Onyango, Matthew Roath
2020 19% of PCA Band qualified (25% high school, 15% middle school)
Michael Onyango, Caitlyn Morris, Caroline Smith, Saxton Garmon, Kirby Schwartz, Alex Warren

ATSSB All-Region Band:

2011 - 2012 Mackenzie Moore, Caleb Smutzer (area), Jonathan Hryekewicz
2012 - 2013 Darcy Todd, Nick Frederick, Brennan Spear
2013 - 2014 Tanner Marshall, Darcy Todd, Jonathan Passmore, Tyler Todd (area)

TMEA All-Region Band:

2012 - 2013 Caleb Smutzer

History of the Pantego Panther Band

Directors Joey Guess (2001 - 2003) and Don Hanna (2003 - 2004) began our band program. Mr. Ross Brown was Director of Bands 2004 - 2017. Mr. Brown grew the program to include our marching band (2006 - present) and jazz band (2007 - present). During this time the band advanced to the TAPPS State level numerous times and the bands performed at many community events and venues, including AT&T Cowboys Stadium, Barnes & Noble (Parks Mall), and The Levitt Pavilion. 2009 brought about the middle and high school concert bands becoming independent ensembles.

In 2011, Cody Schwartz was hired to start the beginner band at the Mansfield campus, and the following year he began directing the jazz band and assisting in woodwind instruction with the Arlington Elementary and middle school bands. In 2018, Mr. Schwartz was named Director of Bands for PCA.

Cody M. Schwartz
Director of Bands

Mr. Schwartz has been a professional musician and educator for over 30 years. He has taught private lessons and cliniced bands all over the state. With a Bachelor of Music with a major in saxophone and a minor in clarinet from Stephen F. Austin State University, Mr. Schwartz is a versatile musician with extensive experience in classical and jazz performance, arranging, conducting and teaching. He has performed with artists such as Eddie Daniels, Philips Craig and Dean, The Temptations, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and Chicago. Cody has held professional chairs in the Texas Wind Symphony (low reeds) and the Mansfield Wind Symphony (Principal Clarinet). Mr. Schwartz has been Orchestra Director at Southcliff Church in Fort Worth since 2011 and has run his own live entertainment and sound reinforcement company, Mood Swings Entertainment, since 2001.