Directors
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Dr. David Wright - Director of Bands
Texas Education Agency (TEA) Recognized Teacher, 2022
National Board Certification in Music Education, 2013
D.M.A. Performance and Pedagogy, University of Southern Mississippi, 2005
M.M.E. Music Education, University of Southern Mississippi, 1994
B.M.E. Music Education, State University of New York at Fredonia, 1992
Dr. Wright has been a music educator for over 30 years. As a soloist and teacher, he has commissioned and premiered many new works for solo saxophone, quartet, large ensemble, and mixed ensembles. He is a co-founder of the Traverser Saxophone Symposium and the Appalachian Saxophone Orchestra. Formerly on the teaching faculties of West Virginia University, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Southeastern Louisiana University.
Past performances include concerts and masterclasses at the China International Saxophone Festival, National Conservatory in Lima, Peru, World Saxophone Congress XIII in Minneapolis, Minnesota, World Saxophone Congress XIV in Ljubljana, Slovenia, US Navy Saxophone Symposium, The Temptations, Mary Wilson, The O’Jays, The Four Tops, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Regis Philbin and Bobby Vinton.
Dr. Wright is an Artist/endorser for P. Mauriat Saxophones and regularly performs with the Dallas Saxophone Quartet, the Dallas Winds, the Plano Symphony Orchestra , Irving Symphony Orchestra and the Richardson Symphony Orchestra.
Contact Dr. Wright
EMAIL: [email protected]
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Texas Education Agency (TEA) Recognized Teacher, 2022
National Board Certification in Music Education, 2013
D.M.A. Performance and Pedagogy, University of Southern Mississippi, 2005
M.M.E. Music Education, University of Southern Mississippi, 1994
B.M.E. Music Education, State University of New York at Fredonia, 1992
Dr. Wright has been a music educator for over 30 years. As a soloist and teacher, he has commissioned and premiered many new works for solo saxophone, quartet, large ensemble, and mixed ensembles. He is a co-founder of the Traverser Saxophone Symposium and the Appalachian Saxophone Orchestra. Formerly on the teaching faculties of West Virginia University, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Southeastern Louisiana University.
Past performances include concerts and masterclasses at the China International Saxophone Festival, National Conservatory in Lima, Peru, World Saxophone Congress XIII in Minneapolis, Minnesota, World Saxophone Congress XIV in Ljubljana, Slovenia, US Navy Saxophone Symposium, The Temptations, Mary Wilson, The O’Jays, The Four Tops, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Regis Philbin and Bobby Vinton.
Dr. Wright is an Artist/endorser for P. Mauriat Saxophones and regularly performs with the Dallas Saxophone Quartet, the Dallas Winds, the Plano Symphony Orchestra , Irving Symphony Orchestra and the Richardson Symphony Orchestra.
Contact Dr. Wright
EMAIL: [email protected]
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Dr. Donny de la Rosa - Assistant Director of Bands
University of Illinois- D.M.A.- Performance and Literature 2020
Eastern Illinois University- M.M.- Music Performance 2013
Texas State University- B.A.- Music Education 2010
Dr. de la Rosa is entering his 3rd year as the Assistant Band Director at W. H. Gaston Middle School. He is the lead instructor for all the brass class, as well as co-teaches the concert ensembles and percussion classes. Before working at Gaston, Dr. de la Rosa taught within Tyler and Point Isabel ISD. Prior to his public-school teaching, he taught private trumpet lessons and masterclasses to Wylie High School’s That Wylie Band (along with their feeding pattern).
During his performance tenure, Dr. de la Rosa was fortunate to have been a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition and the Young Texas Artists Competitions. While at Eastern Illinois University, he won the university’s Concerto Competition performing the Tomasi Trumpet Concerto. Prior performance experiences also include playing trumpet for the Blue Suede Crew, University of Illinois Graduate Brass Quintet, and being principal trumpet for the Urbana Pops Orchestra.
Dr. de la Rosa is a native of Harlingen, Tx. He attended Harlingen High School- South, where he was guided to be awarded the Outstanding Soloist Award by Wiff Rudd (Baylor University). Dr. de la Rosa has one energetic son, Theo, a future drummer. His loving wife, Jenny, also played clarinet. The family is complete with 2 dogs, Chomper (the menacing Papillon) and May (the sweet, saved stray).
Contact Dr. de la Rosa
EMAIL: [email protected]
University of Illinois- D.M.A.- Performance and Literature 2020
Eastern Illinois University- M.M.- Music Performance 2013
Texas State University- B.A.- Music Education 2010
Dr. de la Rosa is entering his 3rd year as the Assistant Band Director at W. H. Gaston Middle School. He is the lead instructor for all the brass class, as well as co-teaches the concert ensembles and percussion classes. Before working at Gaston, Dr. de la Rosa taught within Tyler and Point Isabel ISD. Prior to his public-school teaching, he taught private trumpet lessons and masterclasses to Wylie High School’s That Wylie Band (along with their feeding pattern).
During his performance tenure, Dr. de la Rosa was fortunate to have been a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition and the Young Texas Artists Competitions. While at Eastern Illinois University, he won the university’s Concerto Competition performing the Tomasi Trumpet Concerto. Prior performance experiences also include playing trumpet for the Blue Suede Crew, University of Illinois Graduate Brass Quintet, and being principal trumpet for the Urbana Pops Orchestra.
Dr. de la Rosa is a native of Harlingen, Tx. He attended Harlingen High School- South, where he was guided to be awarded the Outstanding Soloist Award by Wiff Rudd (Baylor University). Dr. de la Rosa has one energetic son, Theo, a future drummer. His loving wife, Jenny, also played clarinet. The family is complete with 2 dogs, Chomper (the menacing Papillon) and May (the sweet, saved stray).
Contact Dr. de la Rosa
EMAIL: [email protected]