TWHS band wins national award

The Woodlands High School Band, under the direction of Joni Viertel Perez, was recently recognized as one of four nationwide recipients of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s 2018 Sudler Shield Award. 

Trophies are awarded each year in two divisions – the Small School Division and the Large School Division. The Woodlands won its award, along with the Carmel High School Band from Carmel, Indiana in the Large School Division.

This is the second Sudler Shield the band has received; the first was awarded in 2009 when the band was under the direction of Brett Johnson who hired Mrs. Perez after her graduation from The University of Houston in 2005. 

Prior to joining the staff of The Woodlands band organization, Joni marched mellophone with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 1998 and 1999 and was part of the original London and Broadway casts of “Blast!” from 1999-2003. 

She also served on the brass staff of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corp from 2003-2005, the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2008-2009, and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2010 and 2011. She became the head director of The Woodlands High School band program in 2010.

The band is a consistent finalist in the Texas UIL State Marching Band contests and in the Bands of America Regional Championships held in San Antonio each year. 

In 2013, The Woodlands High School band won the BOA Grand Nationals competition which is held each year in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Carmel High School, the recipient of the second 2018 Sudler Shield Award, is a regular competitor with The Woodlands High School in the BOA Grand Nationals event.

Joni Perez is the daughter of John and Ladonna Viertel of Moran and the granddaughter of Art and Betty Viertel and Bob and Juanelle Williams, all of Albany.