RAY SANCHEZ MUSIC
Teacher for Life
MUSIC EDUCATOR
Before being called to full-time ministry, I taught music in public schools for eleven years where I had great success growing band programs and earning top ratings at UIL contests and Music Festivals.  I have a passion for teaching music to all levels of musicians and continue honing my skills as an educator and musician.  I teach woodwinds and piano privately and frequently serve as a
clinician for bands and orchestras.
Doing God's Story
WORSHIP LEADER
Worship does God's story through acts of remembrance and anticipation (Weber). I am so blessed that God has pulled me into his great story of love and redemption. I am available to lead worship at camps, revivals, and worship rallies, but I most enjoy working with churches and individuals in developing worship leaders in God's kingdom.
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Music From the Heart
COMPOSER/ARRANGER
As a former educator, I am familiar with the abilities of middle school and high school aged students. As such, I take pride in writing and arranging music that is accessible to young players and singers. My original music has been written almost exclusively for the congregation in which I serve. I hope that my music can be used in churches all around the globe to make a joyful noise in celebrating God's story. But if not, I am happy to have had the opportunity to celebrate God's story through music with those in my community.
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A Melody For Life
PERFORMER
Earning a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Baylor University, I have a vast amount of performance experience in wind ensembles, concert bands, jazz bands, chamber ensembles, and as a soloist. Â I continue to perform in various settings on piano, flute, clarinet and sax. Â Please contact me for booking arrangements.
The Story Behind the Music
RAY SANCHEZ BIO
Raymond Sanchez has served as the Pastor of Music and Children's Discipleship at First Baptist Church Weslaco since June 23, 2013. Raymond has a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Baylor University and a Masters of Divinity from Logsdon Seminary. For Ray, leading worship is a joy that combines his passion for Jesus and creating beautiful music. He is "living the dream" as a disciple who gets to worship with the body of Christ each and every week! Ray has recently joined Stark College and Seminary as an adjunct professor to teach the Christian Worship Class and has ventured into video production to go along with his music.
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Raymond and his beautiful wife Ana, have four children: Antonio, Sophia, and Anabella and Alaina. Having grown up in church with his father serving as a bi-vocational music minister, Raymond has been involved in music ministry since he was 5 years old. The experiences that God continues to provide through family, friends, study, and fellowship constantly shape his views on worship. Mr. Sanchez believes that worshiping in community with Jesus followers from all walks of life is vital to the transformation of God’s people into the bride of Christ.
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Currently, Pastor Ray is working as a private lesson teacher and consultant for Central Middle School in Weslaco ISD teaching clarinet and Jazz. Previously, Pastor Ray worked as a band director at Lake Air Middle School (Waco, TX), Tuloso-Midway High School, and Baker Middle School while serving as a bi-vocational Music Minister at Stonegate Community Church in Waco, TX and Segunda Iglesia Bautista in Corpus Christi, TX. Mr. Sanchez' bands earned top ratings at UIL Contests, and Parades while his students earned top chairs at UIL and TMEA competitions.
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Some fun facts about Ray:
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Raymond was the drum major of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.
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Pastor Ray loves the Dallas Cowboys, the San Antonio Spurs and Baylor University!
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Pastor Ray enjoys writing music, playing jazz, volunteering at local band halls and teaching private lessons when his schedule permits.
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Raymond was an exchange student to Japan in high school, and has traveled to Taiwan, and to both coasts of the United States due in large part to his involvement in different performing groups.