I began playing percussion in the 7th grade at South Park Jr. High School, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Although Mr. Galindo did his best as a clarinet player, he knew enough to know that he could not do it by himself. He used to have Mr. Roland Chavez, Sr. (RIP) come and work with us when he could as Mr. Chávez was a band director at another school! I owe so much to Mr. Chávez as my first real percussion teacher. He was one of the few percussion teacher/directors in the Corpus Christi area and he was amazing!
I attended Foy H. Moody High School for a year and a half then transferred to Mary Carroll High School for the remainder of my high school years where I met some of the best people in my musical life, including Mrs. Mary (Mathis) Sadler. She was the choir director, but was also my music theory teacher and applied music teacher. She had some of the very best ears I have ever come across! She taught me so much about music and a thing or two about life!
I am currently Senior Lecturer at Texas State University where my duties include teaching applied percussion (lessons), percussion ensemble, percussion methods/techniques and I am responsible for all percussion maintenance and inventory for the School of Music.
As an active educator, clinician, performer and adjudicator throughout the United States I enjoy all facets of percussion education! I received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Texas State University. Some of my teachers include Dr. Norman Weinberg, Dr. Paul Bissell, Genaro Gonzalez, Jim Casella, Murray Gusseck, Dave Sankus, Jeff Lee and Scott Johnson.
I have had the pleasure of having worked with several wonderful percussion programs in the state including Georgetown ISD(TX), Cedar Park High School, Lockhart ISD and Calallen ISD. In some of the early days of the indoor activity, I had the opportunity to work with the Revolution Indoor drumline, and the Texas State University drumline in preparation for their PASIC competitive program (before I joined the percussion faculty).
Presently I am the Front Ensemble Coordinator for Rhythmic Force Percussion, an independent percussion ensemble competing in the Independent Open Class category of WGI. Last year Rhythmic Force Percussion placed in the top 10 of WGI finals.
I also maintain a private percussion studio focusing on the development of young percussionists. My private students have earned chairs in the Texas All-State bands, earned Outstanding Soloist at the Texas UIL Solo & Ensemble competition, earned chairs in the middle school region bands in the central Texas area, and have participated in music festivals such as the Interlochen Summer Music Festival.
Aside from my duties at Texas State University, I perform as a regular extra in the Austin Symphony Orchestra. I have also performed with the Mid-Texas Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, Austin Lyric Opera and Ballet Austin. I am currently published by Tapspace Publications and proudly endorse Innovative Percussion, Inc. (mallets and drumsticks) SABIAN Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, Inc., and Marimba One marimbas and vibraphones.