Arcadio “Art” Guajardo

Arcadio “Art” Guajardo dedicated his entire life to music education. While he felt most at home on the podium, he was also a highly respected clinician and adjudicator. Mr. Guajardo was known as a teacher’s teacher, a master teacher that mentored and guided countless young and seasoned music educators throughout his entire career. Upon graduating from PSJA High School in 1954, Arcadio’s love of music lead him to Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois where one of his teachers, H.E. Nutt, nicknamed him “Art.” Although he stayed in contact with his family back home, Mr. Guajardo did not return or see his family until he graduated in 1958 when Robert Vezzetti hired him as a junior high band director in Brownsville, Texas. Except for a brief time in Edinburg, Brownsville was to become Art’s home. In 1974 Art was named as head director for the Hanna High School Golden Eagle Band where he would remain until his retirement in 1998. In 1976, Art married his love, Mary who would become his most ardent fan and companion for the next 42 years.

During this time, Art’s baton would direct one of the most respected band programs in the entire country, “The Internationally Known Hanna Golden Eagle Band.” The Hanna Band would go on to perform throughout Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Chicago and Florida under Mr. Guajardo’s direction. Art’s performances were known for the artistry and tapestry of orchestral textures and colors that he would produce. His reputation garnered him numerous awards and accolades including membership into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the Rio Grande Valley Bandmaster Hall of Fame. Mr. Guajardo did not view himself as a strict disciplinarian but rather someone with high expectations of himself and his students and taught them never to settle for mediocracy. Although best known for his musical band performances and his in-depth knowledge of music interpretation, he will also be remembered for his generosity with the time he took to help others. Just a few weeks before his passing, Art was still organizing a list of band programs that had contacted him for help. After his retirement, Art continued to work with various band programs and co-directed Brownsville Wind Symphony with Albert Lo. A very private person, he was fiercely proud of his students, many of whom followed in his footsteps as band directors while others became community leaders, doctors and successful professionals.