About the Lamar Band
The Pride of Lamar
Experience the magic of the Lamar Music high school band, a dynamic group known for its exceptional performances and commitment to musical excellence. Get to know our talented musicians, dedicated instructors, and explore the heart and soul behind the music.
DIRECTORS
Alan Lang
Band Director
Kolby Kelly
Band Assistant
Brenda Reynoso
Band Assistant
Alan Lang is currently celebrating his twentieth year at Lamar High School, where he has served on the fine arts faculty since 2005. Prior to joining Lamar, he taught for four years at Lindsay High School in Oklahoma. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in instrumental music education, Mr. Lang was an active performer during his collegiate years, contributing to the jazz band, symphonic bands, marching band, and choir. In 1998 he played trumpet with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps.
Beyond the high school classroom, Mr. Lang has an extensive background in the world of Drum Corps International, serving as a visual caption head with the Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps (2003–2006) and Revolution Drum & Bugle Corps (2008–2011). His leadership in this performance arena have greatly influenced his work with student musicians across all settings.
Since 2012, Mr. Lang has served as Lamar’s Director of Bands, overseeing the Wind Ensemble, the Pride of Lamar Marching Band, and co-conducting the Full Orchestra. Over his tenure, he has taught a wide range of courses, including International Baccalaureate Music, jazz band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, concert band, and instrumental technique classes. From 2012 to 2014, he held the position of TMEA Region 5 Band Chair, coordinating the region’s prominent All-Region auditions, clinics, and concerts.
Mr. Lang’s ensembles have achieved a consistent record of excellence. Under his direction, the Lamar Jazz Band participated in the prestigious Essentially Ellington program from 2005 to 2015. The Pride of Lamar Marching Band has earned consistent Division I ratings at UIL contests and advanced to the UIL Area Marching Contest on multiple occasions. Most recently, in 2024, the Lamar Wind Ensemble received national recognition with an invitation to perform at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In addition to competitive success, Mr. Lang has expanded his students’ horizons with performance tours across the country, including trips to Crested Butte, Memphis, Orlando, Corpus Christi, Winter Park, South Padre, San Antonio, New York City, and Nashville.
Mr. Lang and his wife, Shaneen, make their home in Dallas, Texas.
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Kolby Kelly is the Percussion Director at Lamar High School in Arlington ISD where he coordinates all percussion activities in the Lamar Cluster. His responsibilities include instructing the drumline, teaching middle school percussion classes, conducting percussion ensembles, and coordinating full cluster percussion concerts. Under his leadership, Viking Percussion has received many accolades including being a selected ensemble at the Music For All National Festival in 2024, awarded 2nd place in 2023, and 4th and 6th place in 2024 at the TCU Percussion Ensemble festival, along with winning Best Percussion at many marching band contests over the years.
Mr. Kelly graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2014. While enrolled in school, Mr. Kelly had the pleasure of performing in many ensembles including the Pride of Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma Basketball Band, the Wind Symphony, the Percussion Orchestra, the OU Steel Band, as well as many other ensembles.
Mr. Kelly has also had many wonderful performance opportunities during his career including performing with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, the Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps, the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, Surround Sound Indoor Percussion, and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion. He has also performed percussion ensembles in many different countries with the Network Percussion Ensemble including England, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Australia and Spain.
Mr. Kelly has taught with many independent percussion organizations including the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion.
In 2024, Mr. Kelly and his wife welcomed their son, Parker, into the world. He loves spending time with his family and taking his dog, Lola, to the dog park.
Born and raised in Waco, Tx, Brenda Reynoso is starting her first year teaching as the Assistant Band Director at Lamar High School. She is a first generation college graduate, graduating magna cum laude, in December 2024 from The University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Music (concentration in Music Education) and Minor in Jazz Studies. Brenda enjoys performing and gave 3 recitals throughout her bachelor’s, receiving a Distinction in Performance certificate.
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Willing to take on challenges, she has performed with groups that encompass both woodwind and brass in large and chamber ensemble settings. She marched mellophone for Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps. & the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band, and was a trumpet/section leader for UTSA’s Spirit of San Antonio. Brenda was alto/soprano saxophonist for the UTSA Jazz Ensemble and UTSA Jazz Combo, consistent member of the UTSA Wind Symphony, subbed/member of the Waco Community Band, Bluebonnet Philharmonic Orchestra, Zion Church & Boerne Champion High School (both for musicals), throughout the Waco, Austin, & San Antonio areas.
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Influential instructors include Dr. Nicholas Councilor (clarinet), Dr. Katie Rice (clarinet), Prof. Jun Qian (clarinet), Robert Page (saxophone/jazz saxophone), Jerry Espinoza (jazz saxophone), Prof. Mark Schubert (trumpet), Audrey Pratt (organ), Dr. John Zarco (conducting), Virginia Calderon (mentor), Robert Soto (mentor), and Gregory Mills (mentor).
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Brenda loves to read and watch anything concerning adolescent psychology, The Beatles, and visits her husband Quinn & their dog Laika in San Antonio.
BAND LEADERSHIP
Meet Our Musicians
We are proud of our amazing Lamar Band Students who have stepped up to the challenge of leadership