Band Director and Staff

Ricky Vilardell (Mr. V)

Ricky Vilardell is the band director at El Paso High School where he directs the Tiger Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensembles. He previously worked as an assistant band director at Bel Air High School, Ysleta High School, and Ysleta Middle School. 

Mr. Vilardell is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), where he serves on the All-State Band Audition Panel and has been featured as a presenter and performer at the annual TMEA Convention. He also serves as Vice President of the Paso Del Norte Chapter of The American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), which provides professional development opportunities for music teachers across far west Texas and southern New Mexico.

Mr. Vilardell is an El Paso, Texas native. He graduated from Riverside High School where he was a TMEA All-State alto saxophonist and served as a drum major. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Master of Music degree from New Mexico State University, a Specialist Certificate in Medieval Music Research and Performance from the University of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain), and Orff-Schulwerk Certification from the Los Angeles County Orff Course at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Vilardell has performed with The El Paso Wind Symphony and with various jazz groups around El Paso. Currently, he plays bagpipes, recorders/flutes, tabor pipes, and double reeds in The Saffron Conspiracy, a group which specializes in music from the Middle Ages and early renaissance that has performed in both Europe and United States.

Isela Granados (Ms. G)

Ms. Granados’ musical journey began at the age of 8 when she started playing the clarinet. She was a clarinet player for eight years, concluding at Canutillo High School where she took part in the Marching Band and Jazz Band.

Currently, Ms. G serves as the director for the EPHS Tigerettes, Tecuani Folklorico, and Prestige Colorguard. Her dance experience spans various styles, including Folklorico, Flamenco, ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, ballroom, martial arts, and colorguard. 

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance education from New Mexico State University and a Master of Education degree in administration from Grand Canyon University. 

Andrea Aguirre (Ms. Aguirre)

Ms. Aguirre teaches music at Aoy and Douglass Elementary Schools in the south side of El Paso. There she focuses on providing quality music instruction to students in grades PK through 5, many of whom cross the US-Mexico border daily to receive an education. 

Ms. Aguirre is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), where she serves as Elementary Music Division Chair for Region 22 (El Paso/far west Texas) and has been a research presenter at the annual TMEA Convention. She also serves as Secretary of the Paso del Norte Chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA), which provides professional development opportunities to music teachers in far west Texas and southern New Mexico. 

Ms. Aguirre earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Master of Music Education degree from Texas Tech University, and Orff-Schulwerk Certification from the Los Angeles County Orff Course at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. During her schooling, Ms. Aguirre performed on both clarinet and bass clarinet and served as a section leader and drum major. She currently plays drums, bagpipes and recorders with The Saffron Conspiracy, a group which specializes in music from the Middle Ages and early renaissance that has performed in both Europe and United States.

Jose-Angel Rivas (Mr. R)

Jose-Angel Rivas is an El Paso, Texas native musician. Having graduated from Americas High School, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Texas at El Paso. Mr. Rivas plays with the UTEP Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble, Jazz Bands, and is also serving as percussion section leader for the UTEP Marching Miners. 

His experience in the marching arts also consists of being a member of Sun City Independent, Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps, and Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps.

Mickey Valdez (Ms. Valdez)

Ms. Valdez most recently taught music at Moreno Elementary School, not too far from El Paso High.  

She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, and while at UTEP performed with the Percussion Ensemble, Steel Pan Ensemble, and Marching Miners. 

Ms. Valdez continues to perform in a local punk band and teach private percussion/drum set lessons to students around El Paso.