By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 29, 2025 – Dr. Dustin Ferguson traveled nearly 4,000 miles from Hawai’i to the Rio Grande Valley to lead the Vaquero Marching Band in making history during UTRGV’s inaugural football season as the new Athletics Band director.

Eager to build a legacy through music, Ferguson believes this fall will be transformative for the Vaquero Marching Band, which launched in 2023. They are preparing to boost school spirit, energize fans and set the tone for game day.

“With the band still in its inaugural stages, the students are in a unique position to be part of a legacy from the very beginning,” he said. “They get to set the trajectory and help establish the culture for the first time.”

As marching band is a new addition to the university, Ferguson is ready to collaborate with every band member to cultivate a vibrant culture as the football season approaches.

“There’s something about college marching bands that has always been such a passion and a thrill for me,” he said. “I want to be able to share that with so many other people in so many different communities.”

FROM THE FIELD TO THE PODIUM

Growing up in Florida, Ferguson was drawn to music’s wide range of styles and ability to evoke different emotions with just a few notes. His résumé includes notable experiences from University of Florida to Ohio State, where he earned a doctorate in musical arts. Most recently, he served as the interim associate director of bands and marching band director at the University of Hawai’i.

“I’ve had the opportunity to grow everywhere I’ve gone and bring bits and pieces of each of those experiences to make something even more unique here,” he said. “It will be different, and it will be amazing with what we’re able to create with students, staff and the community here.”

He has experience with both competitive and noncompetitive marching bands, having directed the Park Vista High School band in Lake Worth, Florida, which competed at Grand Nationals. As the new Athletics Band director, he looks forward to discussing with band members what they envision for their culture and experience this season.

“Getting the band thinking about: What do we want the culture to be? What do we want the overall experience to be? That is what will set us up on the upward trajectory from now until forever,” he said. 

The Vaquero Marching Band began in 2023 after a student vote that supported new programs like women’s swimming and diving, football and the expansion of the spirit program. The marching band has already participated in various community parades and events around the Rio Grande Valley. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

FROM REHEARSAL TO REALITY

Marching band is a fast-paced, high-energy environment, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­especially in college. Ferguson finds it incredibly rewarding to see the crowd cheer after a six-minute halftime show, knowing the performance was learned in less than a week.

“You put it on the field, you deliver it and you feel really good about it – that is something else,” he said. “Another thing is being part of an organization that’s bigger than yourself. You’re just one small piece that helps make it successful.”

Ferguson looks forward to the band’s performance during UTRGV’s first-ever football game halftime show. The band will undergo two weeks of camp in August to prepare for the pre-game and halftime performances.

UTRGV Football is set to kick off its inaugural season on August 30 at the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg against Sul Ross State. The Vaquero Marching Band and UTRGV Spirit Team will play a key role in this historic moment.

“I’m excited. I moved 3,000 to 4,000 miles to be ready for this,” he said. “I was able to do a brief walkthrough of the stadium, and when you’re on the field touching the turf, seeing the stands and envisioning the thousands of people that will be there – I’m definitely ready.”

To learn more about the Vaquero Marching Band, visit https://link.utrgv.edu/marchingband/.