PULSE – UTRGV Marching Band

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s new football team has brought different aspects of the university together. One of them is the UTRGV Marching Band.

As part of this new atmosphere, band students have taken the call to perform as a marching band during football games. What originally was a group of 40 students quickly grew to over 150 students, who will perform at every football game.

One of these marchers on the field is Saul Afaiza, a music education sophomore, who was especially thrilled to be part of a new chapter in UTRGV’s history.

Afaiza has a lot of experience with music. He played the saxophone in the 6th grade, and was a drum major in high school. Now, he has joined the marching band in college.

The Vaquero Marching Band performs during the UIL’s 2024 intermission performance. File photo/Pulse

He said he joined the band because he missed the marching band experience in high school.

The work that goes into performing can be intensive, with choreography specifically directed to look in sync, which results with each band member needing to be constantly aware of not only their own routine, but the others around them.

In addition, the signature Texas heat often reaches 100 degrees, coupled with practicing for three hours on end. But Afaiza said even with the rigorous process, it feels more rewarding at the end because of it.

“When you see and feel that progress, it’s amazing,” Afaiza said.

Paul Farris, a health science junior and head drum major, was reminiscing while sharing the new experiences the marching band has had so far this football season.

Farris compared the start of the marching band to climbing a ladder, not knowing how far they were going. “The biggest thing that we’ve been battling is trying to learn a show in two weeks,” Farris said. “Three weeks ago, we said hello to each other for the first time.”

Paul Ferris, Vaquero Marching Band drum major, leads the band performance during the 2024 University Interscholastic League 2024 intermission. File photo/Pulse

After two weeks of being together, he said he feels more confident about the upcoming season, and the team feels like a family.

Afaiza said that while performing both in practice and at the first performance, that the team did their absolute best in showing pride for their campus. When talking about being on the field, he is reminded of why they are there.

“It was a bunch of don’t mess up but also I’m here representing my school,” Afaiza said. “ I want to give the best performance I can.

The Vaqueoro Marching Band’s first show was called “Viva la Fiesta.” The performance featured Mexican music such as “Corazon de Mexico.” The band also formed into the shape of Texas, which Farris said was hard to get right because of the state’s unique shape.

The UTRGV Vaquero Marching Band takes the field for the first time Aug.30 at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg. Logan Huizar/Pulse

Madison Colunga, kinesiology junior, enjoys bringing color and visuals as part of the performances as part of her position as UTRGV’s Color Guard captain.

“We create the color, the story, the dance, the choreography to the music, the show’s meaning,” Colunga.

Being part of football games is important for Colunga, whose brothers were part of football growing up. She said she often cheered for them in the stands while they played. The new UTRGV football team, in her eyes, will be a great, new aspect of a constantly growing campus.

“We are screaming chants that students will be screaming 10 to 20 years from now,” she said.

Students can catch the new marching band during the football season. UTRGV Vaqueros Football’s next game will be against the Langston University Lions at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.13, at the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, Texas.