Alumni Spotlights

Jones (A.D., Woodwinds, 2020) will begin teaching this coming fall while finishing his D.M.A at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Additionally, he will also be serving as Grant Writing Associate for Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony for their 2022-23 season. 

Faulconer (B.M., Composition, 1972/M.M., 1974/D.M.A., 1978) is based in Dallas, Faulconer Productions Music, and writes music for film and television, and classical music groups.

Hale's (B.M., Composition, 2019) qualifying performance was of Joel Puckett's flute concerto "The Shadow of Sirius" in collaboration with the Texas Christian University Wind Symphony and Dr. Shauna Thompson, professor of flute. Hale currently serves as Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas. 

Villarreal (B.M., Music and Human Learning, 2016; M.M., Music Education, 2018), Orchestra Director at Berkner High School in Richardson, TX, started planning the program in the fall of 2021 and began the program in Spring 2022. During this first semester, Mariachi Orgullo received a first division rating at the Grand Prairie Mariachi Festival and has performed at various events in the community. The incredible interest from students and the success of Mariachi Orgullo has led mariachi to be offered as a class for the 2022-2023 school year.

Rodriguez (B.M., Voice and Opera, 2010) is also the Music Director for Arapaho United Methodist Church in Richardson, TX.

The recording will be released on the Tonsehen label in both audio and video formats. "Mosaic for Earth" weaves together music, literature, visual arts, and science into a celebration of nature and exploration of humanity's impact on it.