WELCOME: Poly High School hires a new band director.
By Roman McCree, Staff Writer
Prior to Mr. Oscar Mooring’s retirement following the 2017/2018 school year, Mrs. Arwen Hernandez was already a potential candidate to take over his position. Before Mooring retired he was in contact with Hernandez and her husband throughout the year, telling her constantly to apply and come visit the program. Mooring handed the band to someone he felt would be able to help grow and develop the band.
Hernandez fits the bill perfectly. She has a large amount of experience in both performing and conducting. She attended Yucaipa High School where she played mellophone in their band. She then went to college as a french horn major but later changed to voice. She received her degrees in choral education and choral conducting, also participating in drum and bugle corps throughout college. She even marched in the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. After performing at a stage show in London, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in choral education.
Throughout all of her experiences, Hernandez never truly felt content without band. “But all the time I felt the pull of band,” Hernandez said. Before beginning to apply for a doctoral program, she decided to teach at Citylife Downtown Charter school in Downtown Los Angeles for a couple years. At Citylife, she taught choir and music appreciation for sixth to eighth grade students. At this point, she realized she didn’t want to become a college professor, and began to get back into instructing band again. She went back to college and got her credential in instrumental education. Prior to coming to the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD), Hernandez taught and instructed at two different schools in Los Angeles. She taught at Palisades Charter High School in West Los Angeles for eight years, then at Edison High School for one year. Hernandez had planned to stay at Edison for five years, but decided to leave Edison after one year, as she felt that the move to Poly would be the best for her family.
Although the transition was not the easiest, Hernandez is very thankful for the help from the district and band itself in making the process go as smoothly as possible. “Overall, [the band has] been very welcoming and supportive,” Hernandez stated. Although all programs face hardships when a new instructor is introduced, the band has been able to still meet high standards. “There is a lot of talent in this group, and it’s really exciting to be in front of them,” Hernandez explained. Even though they are facing the hardest part of the year, marching season, completely unaware of how things will turn out, cooperation between the students and Hernandez is proving to be vital for success.
The band program, although devoted to their old director, welcomed Hernandez with Poly spirit. Drum major Jazmyne Patlan (11) explained how Hernandez is more than just another director. “She is one of the most understanding people that I have ever met. She tries to understand us individually rather than just members of the band,” Patlan expressed. Although at first, the change was hard, the band has made Hernandez part of the Poly family.
Hernandez is proud to be part of the Poly community and feels honored that she is able to carry on the band after Mooring. Although she has no competitive goals for the year, Hernandez still feels obligated to hold certain standards. “What I want to do most, is to make Mr. Mooring proud, because it’s a very important thing when a band director chooses another band director to take over his program and his kids and I wanna make sure that he feels like he made a good choice,” Hernandez said. Hernandez has a burning passion for her job and will represent Poly proudly. Under her instruction, the Poly Proud Heritage Band will flourish throughout the years.