For Hays CISD band director Joey Lucita, music is his favorite thing, both listening to it and taking part in creating it. Nothing brings him more happiness than watching his band students perform. From the daily grind practices to state competitions, this is his passion.

Lucita has directed at all three Hays CISD high schools, with great success at each, bringing his students to state and national competitions. He currently directs at Johnson High School.

“I started at Hays High School in 1994. I was there as the assistant band director for ten years until they opened Lehman in 2004 and I went there as the head director. I was there until 2019 when we opened Johnson High School and I came as head director here. So, I have been a band director at all three of our high schools,” Lucita said.

Lucita’s favorite part of his job is the way he and the band can make music together. The sense of the community, camaraderie and how students connect with the music inspires him.

“So many times, our students are listening to different genres of music and they get wrapped up in their own world with their headphones on and their [ear buds] in and they just kind of get isolated. But this is an opportunity for them to make music with other people. And it takes the group to do it, to make it successful,” he said. “I think that’s really awesome that it puts the students in a completely different light when it comes to making music.”

In his nearly 30 years of directing, Lucita has had a few experiences in band that particularly stood out to him.

“One of my favorites was taking the Johnson band to the Bands of America grand national championships in Indianapolis and seeing the students when we walked into the dome up there,” he said. “Just seeing them in their band uniforms as we’re walking from warm up over to the stadium in the snow, it was really just a cool experience.”

Lucita has taught at Hays, Lehman and Johnson high schools and loved each, as they all brought him unique experiences. Although he doesn’t have a favorite, there were different outstanding qualities for each group he directed.

“I don’t really have a favorite school because the kids at each school were all different and all awesome in their own way. I’ve had different experiences as far as our success level and things like that, but not really a favorite school because they were all three special in their own way,” he said.

When he directs, Lucita’s emotions are on par with the music. He feels in sync with what his band will try to portray through its song and it’s a powerful emotion for him.

“I tend to feel whatever the music is, just that mood,” he said. “And then when we’re done, it’s just happiness, especially when we play for an audience and they enjoy the performance.”

He has high hopes for where he will take the band next and where it will take him. He hopes to bring Johnson to the state marching contest, which is the highest contest in the state.

“I think we’ll get there in the future, but it will just take some time. It doesn’t just happen overnight,” he said. “I don’t have anything else to add, other than that I think I have the best job in the world.”