Cypress Ridge Band Staff
Armando Robledo
Director of Bands: Director of the Marching Band, Director of the Wind Ensmble, Program Administration
Armando Robledo is a graduate of H.M. King High School in Kingsville, TX. He graduated with
a Bachelors of Music Education from Texas A & M University - Kingsville in 1999. He began his
teaching career in Donna ISD in the Fall of 1999. After five years of teaching as an Assistant Band Director, Mr. Robledo was promoted to Director of Bands for Donna High School. During his time as Director of Bands, he lead the band to the prestigious Texas UIL State Marching Band Contest. Mr. Robledo and his staff advanced 4 out of the 4 years he competed in the UIL State Marching Contest.
Mr. Robledo’s band also consistently achieved sweepstakes in UIL Concert and Sight-
Reading Contests. Aside from leading his bands to these great accomplishments, Mr. Robledo
was also very active in the TMEA Region 28 Association. He served as Mariachi Chairman, Vice
Chairman for the Band Division, and Region 28 Chairman throughout his time in the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2010, Mr. Robledo was promoted to Director of Fine Arts. Throughout his time as
Director of Fine Arts, Mr. Robledo helped Donna ISDs Fine Arts Program double in size. He was credited for bringing Elementary Music to the school district, as well as starting Theatre Arts, Mariachi, and Dance programs to the middle school levels. Mr. Robledo is also currently the first President of the Rio Grande Valley Fine Arts Administrators Association. With the help of his colleagues, Mr. Robledo was able to start this association to help promote Fine Arts in the Rio Grande Valley. Mr. Robledo is also affiliated with Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Texas Music Administrators Conference (TMAC), Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA), Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts (CEDFA), and the Rio Grande Valley Fine Arts Administrators Association (RGV-FAAA).
Mr. Robledo clearly has a strong passion for music and the arts. He hopes to continue to grow and learn as well as achieve great accomplishments at Cypress Ridge High School!
Gregory Anikienko
Associate Director of Bands: Director of All Percussion Activities, Director of the Concert Band, Instrument Inventory Coordinator, Private Lesson Coordinator
Mr. Anikienko conducts the Concert Band, teaches the percussion classes at both Cypress Ridge High School and Truitt Middle School, and assists with Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Cadet Band and the marching band. He has taught at Cypress Ridge High School since 2010.
Mr. Anikienko received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Messiah College in Grantham, PA in 2005. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from York College of Pennsylvania in York, PA in 2007 and he received his Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, OK in 2010. During his time at Oklahoma City University, Mr. Anikienko studied percussion with David Steffens and composition with Kris Maloy. Mr. Anikienko played in the Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and Brass Ensemble at Oklahoma City University. He also performed in several music theater and opera productions and was a frequent performer for the new music group Project 21, run by the composition department.
Prior to his teaching position at Cypress Ridge, Mr. Anikienko was active as a private instructor, percussion technician, and music arranger for several award-winning schools in both Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. He also taught elementary music in the Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg, PA in the spring of 2008. He was a member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 and 2005, where he marched in the cymbal line and was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Southern California Marimba Competition.
Mr. Anikienko's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Percussive Arts Society.
Edith Saucedo
Associate Director of Bands: Visual Director of the Marching Band, Director of the Symphonic Band, Co-Director of the Cadet Band, Transportation Coordinator.
Edith Saucedo is currently in her 4th year of teaching at Cypress Ridge High School. Currently, Ms. Saucedo serves as the Visual Director of the marching band, directs the Non-Varsity Band, and assists with the Wind Ensemble and Concert Bands.
Ms. Saucedo is a graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (Cum Laude). As an undergrad, Ms. Saucedo taught clarinet lessons privately and led masterclasses in Conroe, Willis, and Cy-Fair Independent School Districts. Ms. Saucedo was a member of the SHSU Wind Ensemble, SHSU Symphonic Band, and the SHSU Bearkat Marching Band, where she served as drum major for 2 seasons. While at Sam Houston, Ms. Saucedo was also a member of the SHSU’s Premier Clarinet Quartet, which was selected to perform at the 2016 TMEA Clinic and Convention.
During her time at Cypress Ridge High School, Ms. Saucedo has led the Non-Varsity group to sweepstakes at UIL her first year of teaching. She also began Cypress Ridge's very first Clarinet Choir, which was selected to perform at the International Clarinet Association's Clarinetfest 2021, in only it’s 3rd year of existence. In addition, she also serves as a director for the Cy-Fair ISD Honor Clarinet Choir, which has performed at Conventions such as TMEA and The Midwest Clinic. In 2019, Ms. Saucedo served as a tour assistant with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp of San Antonio,
Ms. Saucedo's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, International Clarinet Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women. Ms. Saucedo is incredibly excited to continue the successes of the Mighty Ram Band for the years ahead.
Mr. Sonny Saicharoen-
Color Guard Director
Sonny Saicharoen is going into his second year of teaching at Cypress Ridge High School and his fifth year teaching in the performing arts. He is a graduate of Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles, LA where he was an active member in the Band of Blue for all four years.
After graduating high school, Mr. Saicharoen went on to further his studies at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA where he continued pursuing his passion in the performing arts and working towards his bachelor’s degree in Biological science.
Since his time in college he has marched in a variety of Open class and World Class groups. He has been a DCI finalist for a consecutive of four years, one of which includes a season as a staff member. He began his Drum corps experience marching with Louisiana Stars 15’ and later marched for The Cavaliers 16’ 17’, Phantom Regiment 18’, and Phantom Regiment staff 19’.
After his second season with The Cavaliers in 2017 he decided to move to Houston, TX to further pursue his marching/teaching career. He then participated in three competitive seasons of WGI starting with Cypress Independent 18’ 19’ up until his most recent season with Black Gold World 20’.
While Marching with these world class organizations he began teaching at a variety of high schools including; Langham Creek HS 19’, Klein Oak HS 19’, Klein Cain HS 19’ 20’, Spring HS 19’, and most recently Cypress Ridge HS 19’ 20’.
During his time here at Cypress Ridge High School he hopes to grow and expand the program and influence students to pursue their passion for the performing arts by providing them educational opportunities both during high school and after.