Mr. William "Guy" McKinney

Head Director / Music Supervisor / Low Brass

Mr. Guy McKinney, Director of Bands and Supervisor of Musical Studies at Mercedes IDS, graduated with his Bachelor's of Music Education degree at VanderCook College of Music, where he graduated as Salutatorian of his class, and his Master's degree from the American Band College of Southern Oregon University.  He has also taken courses at the University of Texas at Brownsville and the University of North Texas.

Mr. McKinney graduated from Gorham-Fayette High School, Fayette, Ohio, where he served as drum major for all four years.  He played the trombone in the High School Band, the Fayette Community Band, and the Wauseon Community Band.  He served as president of the band as well as president of the art club.  While in high school he also became the choir director of the Fayette Christian Church Choir.

As an undergrad student, he performed trombone with the VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band at the Internationally known Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL.  He was a member of the VanderCook Jazz Band which regularly took first place at the Wheaton College Jazz Festival.

As a band director at Mercedes for ten years, numerous low brass students have earned positions in both the Junior High and High School All Valley Honor Bands.  Three members of the Mighty Tiger Band have earned chairs in the TMEA All State Honor Band.  While Director of Bands at St. Joseph Academy in Brownsville, many students earned a chair in the Texas Private School All State Honor Band.

As director of the Mercedes High School Symphonic Winds, the band has had recent success in UIL concert/sight reading contests.  The band has been invited to the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington in the near future, based on their recent UIL Division I concert performances.  The Mighty Tiger Marching Band recently earned a UIL Division I for their performance at the 64th annual Pigskin Jubilee Marching Festival.

As supervisor of music at Mercedes, a choir, guitar, and general music program has been added to the district's curriculum, increasing the opportunities available for the students of the district.  The total music curriculum also includes an orchestra, a mariachi, a jazz band, marching band, and the concert bands.  In addition to his supervisory position, he assists with all bands and the teaching of classes at Kennedy Elementary.

Mr. McKinney has recently been invited to be the guest director of the All- County Honor Band of Fulton County, Ohio this coming February.  This is the same band that he was a member of during his high school years.

He is married and has two wonderful children.

Mr. Ben Keltner

Head Jr. High Director / Low Brass

Mr. Keltner was born in Norman, Oklahoma and merely months later moved to Santa Rosa, Texas when his father, James, was hired as Band Director of the Warrior Band.  The Band Halls at Santa Rosa, then Lyford and finally Harlingen were a second home to Mr. Keltner as he spent countless hours, Friday nights and weekends at work with his Father. 

As a 7^th grader Mr. Keltner chose to play the trombone at Memorial JHS in Harlingen and was also active in school athletics and church activities.  At Harlingen High School Mr. Keltner continued to learn additional instruments including Bass Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium and Guitarron.  Throughout high school he remained active in Marching, Concert, Jazz and Mariachi as well as football, basketball and track.  Mr. Keltner served as the Drum Major for the Cardinal Band for two years, earned chairs in the All-Valley and All-Area bands, and was inducted into the National Honor Society.

Upon Graduation, Mr. Keltner enlisted in the US Army National Guard and served for six years as a Reservist.  After graduating Basic Training in Ft. Benning, Georgia, Mr. Keltner moved to Austin, Texas where he auditioned for The University of Texas Longhorn Band.  Mr. Keltner went on to march in the Longhorn Band for five football seasons and was awarded the title of outstanding teacher/section leader.  As a music major at UT Mr. Keltner was involved in Symphony Band, Jazz Ensemble, Longhorn Band, Basketball Band, Volleyball Band, and Trombone Choir.  He had the opportunity to travel all over the U.S. from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles for Longhorn football road games and bowl games, NCAA Basketball Tournaments including the Final Four, and the George W. Bush 2001 Presidential Inaugural Parade.  While in Austin Mr. Keltner taught and consulted with several Austin area schools including Kealing and Bailey Middle Schools and Anderson, Bowie and LBJ High Schools. 

During his career, Mr. Keltner has previously taught in the San Benito and La Feria school districts.  In October 2005, Mr. Keltner was activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom where he ran convoy operations throughout Iraq.  Sgt. Keltner returned from active duty in November, 2006 and was awarded several service medals and ribbons including the Army Commendation Medal.

In his time away from work Mr. Keltner is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education from UT Brownsville and is an active member of the music team at Christian Fellowship Church in Harlingen.  During breaks from school Mr. Keltner has traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.  His foreign travels include: Mexico, Canada, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar.  He is looking forward for the opportunity to travel much more in the future!  Mr. Keltner’s Hobbies include working out, weight training, sports, hunting, fishing, water sports, snow skiing, camping and hiking.

Mr. Keltner loves his job at Mercedes and says that his students are very wonderful to work with and amazing people!

Mr. Arturo Hinojosa

Assistant Director / Woodwinds

Mr. Hinojosa is in his 11th year of teaching band in Texas.  He holds a bachelor of Music Education from the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, Texas.  He was born and raised in McAllen, Texas, where he graduated from James "Nikki" Rowe High School.

Mr. Hinojosa began his career at Memorial Middle School in the PSJA isd school district.  From 1999 to 2001 he was director for the Concert Band, responsible for All Valley and Solo & Ensemble lessons, helping to recruit and maintain the program.

In Fall of 2001, Mr. Hinojosa moved to Mercedes ISD.  At Mercedes he is the Jr. High Director of the Concert Band and Associate Director of Woodwinds at MISD.  Mr. Hinojosa assists with the Mercedes High School "Mighty Tiger Band", teaches beginning clarinets and saxophones at Kennedy Elementary, and works throughout the Mercedes District to improve the music programs.

Mr. Hinojosa's bands have received Division 1 ratings at UIL Contest, the most recent being in the Spring of 2009.  Many of his woodwind students have participated in the All Valley Band, advanced to Area competition level, received Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble, and have competed at the State Solo & Ensemble.

Mrs. Rachel Lovestrand

Assistant Director / High Brass

Mrs. Lovestrand began her musical training in 1978 with Mrs. Virginia Shotwell, of Mercedes, studying classical piano until 1981.  From 1982-1984 she studied piano with Diana Dominguez, of Mercedes.  From 1985-1988 she studied piano with Mrs. Laura Penn of Weslaco, performing in several private studio recitals, and for the Mercedes Music Club, both classical and her own original compositions.  In 1988 she performed several piano solos for a local competition and received superior ratings. Enjoying the art of drawing, she contributed a cartoon strip, “Four Corners” to the Mercedes Enterprise during her junior and senior years of high school.

Rachel Lovestrand graduated in 1989 from Mercedes High School where she placed academically in the top ten percent of her class.  She received the Business Department award, History Department award for American History, and the Daughters of the American Revolution award.  She received honor role recognition as well.  Musically speaking, Rachel excelled in band.  She auditioned for and was selected into the Ninth grade band (85-86), 4A All Valley Band (86-87, 87-88, 88-89), and the All Valley Orchestra (87-88, 88-89).  Every UIL solo that she performed received a first division.  She was a junior in1988 when the Mercedes marching band placed eighth in state UIL competition.  She also served as band chaplain in the band, council.  In 1986, she was named into the Who’s Who of American High School Students.  She auditioned and received a music scholarship to go to the University of Texas at San Antonio.

            Receiving her bachelor of Music Education from UTSA in 1994, Rachel played French horn in the UTSA Wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Rustawitz, and in the UTSA Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Donald Hodges and Mr. David Mairs, from 1989 to 1994.  She studied horn with Michael Gast (a proud member of the Philip Farkus horn family tree), Beth Mairs, and Bruce Gifford.  She also studied Bassoon with Kristen Marks and Oboe with David Hubert, both of the San Antonio Symphony. Rachel played double reeds in the UTSA Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Rustawitz and Dr. Brian Harris.  She also served as librarian to the UTSA orchestra and bands, was the brass representative for the UTSA music club, and received recognition for her involvement and service to the UTSA Symphonic band.  She also contributed creatively to the music department’s newsletter, contributing articles and cartoon strips, edited by Dr. David Sebald.  She also contributed a cartoon strip, Caustic Comics to the UTSA paper, the Paisano.  She received recognition for being on the Deans List and became a member of the National Keys Honors Society.

            Mrs. Lovestrand taught in Sharyland Texas from 1995-1998 where she directed the color guard and taught French Horn.  In 1997 she took her winter guard to compete in San Antonio and received a first division.  In 1998 she was named into Who’s Who among American Teachers.  She moved north to Bloomington, Minnesota in 1998 where she taught in-store brass lessons for Groth Music until 2000.  During this time, the in-store lesson supervisor reported that the local band directors were calling the store to report that the progress of their students taking lessons at Groth was outstanding.  She also played Horn with the St. Louis Park Community Band and in Community Theater during this time.  After the birth of her first child, in 2000, she began teaching private brass lessons independently in Richfield, MN.  Returning to the Valley in 2003 after the birth of her second child, she became a private consultant for the Mercedes ISD teaching French Horn and assisting with marching band.  Then in 2005, she accepted an elementary music position teaching first through fourth grades at Taylor elementary in Mercedes, while continuing to assist with marching band and horn lessons.  In 2005, her horn student of three years, Dianeth auditioned for and was selected into the Texas All-State band.

            In the fall of 2006, Mrs. Lovestrand accepted an assistant band director job in Mercedes where she specializes in high brass and directs the high school second/concert band.  It is wonderful working with such great students and staff.

Mr. Dale LeMarr

1st Assistant Director / Percussion

Mr. LeMarr was born and raised in Oklahoma.  In 1985 he graduated from Guthrie High School in Guthrie, Oklahoma a small town 20 miles north of Oklahoma City.  While in high school he was active in Band and Art Club.  He was elected to the band offices of freshman rep, treasurer, vice-president, and president.  He received the awards of Outstanding Band Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior.  He attended Bands of America camp in 1984 and 1985 where he was recognized as an Outstanding Percussionist.  Mr. LeMarr graduated with honors in the top 10 percent of his class and was ranked 27th out of 197.

After graduation he attended Oklahoma State University as a music major with an emphasis on Percussion and Music Education.  He received many scholarships including Daughters of the American Revolution, OSU Department of Music, and OSU Top Ten Scholarship.  While at OSU he participated in the Cowboy Marching Band for 4 years marching bass drum and front ensemble.  He was squad leader and section leader during that time and was an Assistant Student Director of Percussion for 2 years after that.  Mr. LeMarr also performed in the various other ensembles at OSU including the elite Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and the Symphonic Orchestra.  While at OSU he had the opportunity to travel to many destinations like the Gator Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Sun Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl, and all of the Big 8 schools.  He also traveled to Canada on a tour with the OSU Wind Ensemble.  It was at Oklahoma State that Mr. LeMarr met his wife, Laura, where they were married in 1989.  He graduated from OSU in December of 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education with a minor in Music Theory and Music History. 

In July of 1993 Mr. LeMarr accepted a position at Harlingen High School as the Director of Percussion under the leadership of James Keltner.  During his 4 years at Harlingen High his percussion students consistently received Division 1's at Solo and Ensemble and advanced to State.  He placed several percussion students into the All Valley Band and advanced them to the Area level.  He started a Winter Drumline (now known as Indoor Drumline) there that continues to be strong and earn top ratings.  In 1995 Mr. LeMarr advanced the Winter Drumline to the State level where they received a Division 1 in the final year the State recognized Medium Ensembles.  That year Mr. LeMarr's students brought home 38 Division 1 medals from State, a record that still stands to this day.

In 1997 Mr. LeMarr accepted a position at PSJA isd under the direction of Eddie Fuentes and Jon Taylor.  There he was the Percussion Director for both PSJA High School and PSJA North High School.  As in Harlingen he began the Indoor Drumline programs where both schools had success at Solo and Ensemble and made tours of the local elementary schools from time to time.  In 1999 he accepted the position of Director of Percussion and marching assistant only at PSJA High School where he continued to increase the percussion numbers and really work on the latest in percussion studies.  Again, many students made the All Valley Band with some being runner up to State three times.  Many of his students received Division 1's at the State level and several went on to college in Kingsville, Austin, and North Texas to study music.  In 2000, Mr. LeMarr became the full time director of the PSJA Marching Band having full control of drill, music, and shows.  While at PSJA Mr. LeMarr's marching bands received Division 1's 5 out of 6 years and advanced to the Area marching level 3 times.  In 2001, Mr. LeMarr became the Head Director and Music Supervisor of PSJA High School.  In 2003 he stepped back down to 1st Assistant and Director of Percussion and continued to make strides in the percussion arena.  His indoor drumlines placed regularly in the top 3 in the advanced category division and was always on the cutting edge of competition.  When he left PSJA High School in 2005 his percussion studio was a strong 43 members with many medals, trophies, and performances to show for it.

Mr. LeMarr joined the Mercedes Staff in 2005 under the direction of Guy McKinney.  Since joining the staff he has worked to develop the percussion into a strong unit and made strides in recruiting and public performances.  He started the Indoor Drumline where in 2006 they attended their first Indoor Drumline Festival ever in Hidalgo where they place second.  In April of 2006 the Mighty Tiger Drumline placed first at the McAllen Memorial Competition performing a show titled "Machine".  In April of 2007, the Indoor Drumline repeated as First Place Champs for their show titled "Masque".  Many of his students at Mercedes consistently receive Division 1 ratings at Solo & Ensemble contests and advance to State.

Currently Mr. LeMarr is working with the Tiger Marching Band and the Tiger Percussion.  The LeMarrs live in Harlingen where they are active in church, soccer, and community events. They have two daughters, Megan 11, and Kara 7 who attend Calvary Christian School and where his wife, Laura, teaches 2nd grade at Bowie Elementary.   So far he says he is happy at Mercedes and plans to be there for a while.  "Go Tigers" 

Mrs. Vanessa Ramirez

Assistant Director / Color Guard