Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright announced Monday, 02-26-24, following approval from the Board of Trustees, the hiring of Joni Perez to become the director of bands at Johnson High School. She will replace longtime band director Joey Lucita who led band programs at both Lehman and Johnson High Schools during his service to the students of Hays CISD. Lucita is retiring this year. Perez brings to the district more than 20 years of experience in music education, including extensive and award-winning performance experience with her students.

Perez currently serves as a music education clinician and consultant, program coordinator, and leadership workshop facilitator for dozens of band programs across Texas.  She also works with the Bluecoats Drum Corps, as well as the Cavaliers Drum Corps, serving as a brass consultant and ensemble specialist. From 2003 to 2022, Perez held various roles and leadership positions with The Woodlands High School (TWHS) Band, including Director of Bands from 2010 to 2022.

“Under her leadership, the concert and marching ensembles received exclusively superior ratings from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) each and every year. TWHS Wind Ensemble was a featured ensemble at the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic held in Chicago and has also been recognized as a National Wind Band Honors Mark of Excellence winner. TWHS marching ensembles earned six consecutive appearances at either the 5A or 6A Texas State UIL Marching Band Championships and competed as a finalist on every occasion. TWHS Marching Band was a regular participant, finalist, and champion at the Bands of America regional, super-regional, and grand national championships. The band was a grand national finalist all six times they attended under her direction. And in 2013, TWHS Band was recognized as the Bands of America Grand National Champion,” according to Perez’s biography on the Superior Performances website.

(Read her full biography at: https://www.superiorperformances.com/band/#perez)

Perez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Houston, graduating summa cum laude, and is an active concert band and marching band adjudicator across the state and country. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the National Band Association.