Maximo Sierra
Director of Bands & Fine Arts Department Chair
Maximo Sierra, Director of Bands at Pebble Hills High School, is in his 18th year as a Texas Music Educator. Mr. Sierra manages and teaches the Marching Band and conducts the Symphonic Winds and Jazz Band I. Mr. Sierra also assists the Concert Bands and Jazz Band II, as well as serve as the Pebble Hills Department Chair for Fine Arts. Pebble Hills High School Jazz Ensemble recently performed at the 76th Annual Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Pebble Hills High School is the newest comprehensive high school for the Socorro Independent School District and has been in existence since the Spring of 2016.
As an Educator, Maximo Sierra strives to inspire his own students to achieve excellence. Mr. Sierra is also an active adjudicator and clinician throughout the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. For the past eighteen years, his marching bands, concert bands, and jazz bands have consistently rated “Superior Sweepstakes” and have received “Best in Class” awards at festivals in California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. Mr. Sierra has had the esteemed pleasure of having three different 5A and 6A bands compete at the Texas UIL State Marching Contest under his direction. Most recently, Pebble Hills High School was named the 2018 UIL Area A 6A Champion in its very first qualifying year. Mr. Sierra was also chosen as the 2018-2019 Pebble Hills High School Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Sierra earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting degree from New Mexico State University, where he was also a Teaching/Directing Assistant for the NMSU Pride Marching Band, Jazz II, and Concert Bands. Mr. Sierra is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the International Association for Jazz Education.
Maximo Sierra currently resides in El Paso, TX, with his beautiful wife Kamrin and their three children, Jaiden, Sophia, and Olivia.
cecil crabtree-spring, Ed.D
Assistant Director, Sub Non-Varsity Concert Band & Color Guard Program
Dr. Cecil Crabtree-Spring is the Assistant Band/Color Guard Director at Pebble Hills High School in El Paso, Texas. Dr. Crabtree-Spring’s fine arts background began as a high school band student in Oklahoma. He was a student leader, drum major, private lessons teacher, and a member of the Oklahoma All-State Band. Dr. Crabtree-Spring began his teaching career as a graduate/teaching assistant for West Texas A&M University from 2001-2003, as assistant band director at Harold Wiggs Middle School from 2003-2004, and at Americas High School from 2004-2012 where he served as an assistant band director, color guard director, and as the high school’s student activities director. Dr. Crabtree-Spring studied conducting under Dr. Gary Garner and Mr. Don Lefevre, who also had the pleasure of studying saxophone.
Dr. Crabtree-Spring has significantly contributed to the band and color guard activities, creating successful outdoor programs and winter guard shows since 2004. Dr. Crabtree-Spring has also worked with the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corp and the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corp. Dr. Crabtree-Spring’s programs have consistently medaled or won at every Winter Guard International Regional competition they have attended, won several fall marching show auxiliary championships, and state winter guard championships during his time at Americas High School and Pebble Hills High School. Dr. Crabtree-Spring is the second color guard director to place a Texas high school winter guard in Scholastic World Class Finals at the WGI World Championships.
Dr. Crabtree-Spring’s concert bands have received numerous UIL Sweepstakes in Concert & Sight-reading contests and district competitions. As the woodwinds specialist for Pebble Hills High School, Dr. Crabtree-Spring oversees the development of the woodwind program and master classes. Dr. Crabtree-Spring has seen many of his students go on to make the TMEA All-Region, Area, and State-level band programs. Dr. Crabtree-Spring prides himself on helping his students succeed in music in all facets. Most recently, the Pebble Hills High School Flute Choir was selected as a performing ensemble at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the National Flute Association Convention.
Dr. Crabtree-Spring has been a clinician, adjudicator, and design consultant for multiple competitive groups all over the state of Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, New Jersey, and many more. Dr. Crabtree-Spring has had the pleasure of working with fine programs such as Haltom High School, The Woodlands High School, Harlingen High School, Coronado High School, Mansfield High School, Organ Mountain High School, Permian High School, Ars Nova World Guard, Americas Independent, Glory Independent, and many more other exemplary programs.
Dr. Crabtree-Spring received his B.M. in Music Education and Master of Arts with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Dr. Crabtree-Spring recently completed his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Arizona in 2023. Dr. Crabtree-Spring’s professional organizations include Texas Music Administrators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Kappa Delta Pi, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma.
Dr. Crabtree-Spring has a fantastic spouse and two adorable dogs.
maria carbajal
Assistant Director, Non-Varsity Concert Band and Jazz Band II
Maria Carbajal is entering her third year as Assistant Director of Bands at Pebble Hills High School. Her responsibilities include marching band, Symphonic band, Jazz band II, and brass master classes. During her time at Pebble Hills High School, Ms. Carbajal’s ensembles have been awarded sweeptakes at UIL, and placing in their local jazz festivals. In 2022, the Pebble Hills High School Jazz Band performed in the Midwest Clinic in Chicago,IL. In February 2024, Ms. Carbajal’s Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble will perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio, TX.
Ms. Carbajal attended the University of Texas at El Paso, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor's in Music Education. While attending UTEP, she performed in various groups such as the UTEP Marching Miners, the Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, Trombone Choir and the Tuba Euphonium Quartet. Studying under the direction of Dr. Bradley Genevro and Dr. Andrew Hunter. Ms. Carbajal was awarded the Top Senior in Music Education before graduation.
Ms. Carbajal was a member of the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps in 2018 and 2019. During those two seasons, the brass section was awarded the Jim Ott Award for highest brass achievement. Ms. Carbajal continued to contribute to the activity by serving on the Carolina Crown Visual Staff from 2020-2022.
Ms. Carbajal’s professional affiliations are with the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association.