Edward Lopez, known to most as “Eddie,” is the owner of Perform America–TX, LLC, and founder of Global Initiative for Talented Students (GIFTS) and an owner of Ultimate Drill Book. Eddie brings a wealth of experience through all sides of travel from working for 10 years in the travel industry to traveling with his own ensemble, orchestras, choirs, dance teams, theatre groups and many more organizations both domestically and internationally.

Mr. Lopez is the former Associate Director of Bands at Hendrickson High School. His duties included overseeing the Hendrickson Hawk Marching Band, woodwind studios and directing the Symphonic Winds. The marching band earned the right to perform in the 4A, 5A and 6A UIL State Marching Contests and was a consistent BOA Finalist and Class Champion at many local festivals. The Symphonic Winds received continuous superior ratings at UIL and in 2015 the ensemble received the Citation of Excellence Award from the Foundation of Music. That same year Mr. Lopez and the Saxophone Ensemble at Hendrickson was invited to perform in the 69th Annual Midwest Clinic.

Mr. Lopez received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin. He continues to adjudicate, consult, coordinate programs and clinic marching and concert bands throughout the state. In 2013, he was President of the Longhorn Alumni Band during it’s 50th Annual Reunion and holds affiliations with Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tejas Club Foundation, Texas Cowboys Alumni Association and is a Life Member of the Texas Exes.

Dr. Jeff Laird brings to PAT a wealth of experience on all sides of travel. He has experienced travel through 20+ years as the director of a large, successful band program, over a decade as a fine arts administrator, as a band parent, a participant and now after several years in the travel industry. Jeff has had extensive experience planning for and hosting groups of all kinds and sizes. His own groups have performed at Carnegie Hall, the 52nd Presidential Inaugural Parade, and numerous other festivals nationwide. This wide variety of perspectives allows him to truly understand every angle of group travel.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance, and a Master of Music degree in Music Performance, all from Lamar University in Beaumont. In 1996, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education and Conducting from The University of Houston.

He has served the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) as President, Vice-President and State Band Chair. Other service to the profession include memberships of numerous UIL committees including the UIL Prescribed Music List Committee and the UIL Fine Arts Advisory Council. Jeff’s professional memberships include the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

After spending 31 years as a Texas music educator, Mr. Alvarado recently retired as Director of Bands & Fine Arts Coordinator at Lake Highlands High School in the Richardson ISD.  He also taught in the El Paso, Plano and Garland ISD, most notably creating an award-winning program at Rowlett High School. His marching bands and concert bands were consistent UIL Sweepstakes Award winners, finalists in Area competitions and made six appearances at the Texas UIL State Marching Contest. The Rowlett H.S. Wind Ensemble was also a two-time TMEA Honor Band finalist.  In addition, Mr. Alvarado’s jazz bands achieved acclaim on the local and national level including performances at the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic and the International Association of Jazz Education Conference. The Rowlett Brass Quintet was also an invited ensemble at the 2007 Midwest Clinic. In 2015, the Rowlett Band program received the “Exemplary Band Award” from the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Mr. Alvarado earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music Education degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  Professional affiliations include membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Wind Symphony from 2009-2011 and is currently serving as a committee member for the Lone Star Youth Winds. Mr. Alvarado remains active as a consultant, clinician and adjudicator.

Scott Coulson recently retired as Director of Bands at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas. He was the director since the school’s opening in 1986. Prior to his tenure at Poteet, Mr. Coulson was an assistant band director at North Mesquite High School. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music Education degree from East Texas State University, where he studied under James Keene.

Don Haynes served as the Director of Bands at LBJ High School in Austin, Texas for 40 years. During his tenure, the LBJ Band performed across the globe including ambassador trips to Beijing, China, London, England, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy. Mr. Haynes was awarded the prestigious – Texas UIL “Denius Award” in 1994, which is presented to Texas’ top UIL sponsors. While teaching at LBJ High School, his colleagues selected him “Teacher of the Year” four times. He was recognized as the Outstanding Community Leader (Austin) in 2015. He is frequently invited to conduct region bands in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida. Mr. Haynes is past president of the Board of Directors for the Texas Bandmasters Association. He has held offices in the Texas Music Educators Association, the TMEA Advisory Board, and the UIL State Sightreading Advisory Committee. He serves on the board of directors – “Longhorn Band Legacy Foundation” for the University of Texas Longhorn Band, and Panoramic Voices Choir of Austin, Texas.

Under his leadership, the Jaguar Band’s awards and accomplishments are numerous – The LBJ Bands have won first place honors in statewide and nationwide music festivals, including the first Fiesta Bowl Music Festival held in Phoenix, Arizona. The band consistently won sweepstakes honors at UIL marching and concert performances. Mr. Haynes is often invited to adjudicate regional and area marching and concert competitions in Texas. He has on several occasions given clinics and speeches at music conventions designed to assist young teachers in the profession. Mr. Haynes shares that his greatest accomplishment is influencing thousands of young people through his love for music, his dedication to excellence, and his commitment to creating a “band family” for 40 years at LBJ High School – known across central Texas as The One, The Only, LBJ Jaguar Band.

Following an illustrious 42 years (total) of teaching high school band, Don has become a certified Life Coach. Assisting hundreds of students, band parents and colleagues in the band profession over the past four decades, he has become a special confidant for professionals, as well as young students who are in hopes of crafting their future. He specializes in group and individual conflict resolution, and serves as a motivational speaker across the state of Texas.

During the spring of 2017 – Don served as the Interim Fine Arts Director for Austin Public Schools. As interim leader, Don assisted the department in continuing the affairs of band, orchestra, guitar, and visual arts programs for Austin ISD. School year 2017 – 2018 Don is serving the Austin ISD Fine Arts department as the Instrumental Music Coordinator.

David Jennison is the former the Assistant Director of Fine Arts for the Round Rock Independent School District where he supervised and supported the instrumental music programs. Prior, he was the Associate Director of Bands at Westwood High School from 2002 to 2015 where he conducted the Wind Symphony, Concert Band and was Associate Conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra. During his tenure at Westwood these ensembles were consistent sweepstakes winners and the Warrior Marching Band qualified for the 2014 Texas State Marching Band Contest for the first time in school history. Additionally, Mr. Jennison assisted at Grisham Middle School with their Honor Band.

Throughout his time at Westwood, ensembles from Westwood High School and Grisham Middle School performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and as TMEA honor ensembles. Mr. Jennison has had the great honor of guest conducting these fantastic musicians for many prestigious performances. In 2015 Jennison became the Associate Music Director and Conductor of the Vivace Youth Orchestra which serves the greater Round Rock, Georgetown and central Texas area. A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mr. Jennison attended New Mexico State University and the University of Northern Colorado. Mr. Jennison is a member of the Texas Music Administrators Conference, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and is an active member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association.

Tony Ruiz taught for 11 years at Winston Churchill High School in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio. As Director of Bands at Churchill, he led the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble while assisting with the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and the Symphony Orchestra.  Previously, Mr. Ruiz held the position of Assistant Director of Bands in charge of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and assisted with the Philharmonic Orchestra.  During his tenure, the program was a consistent sweepstakes awards winner in marching and concert performance as well as a consistent finalist at Bands of America Regional Championships throughout the country.  Tony also led the Jazz program to multiple best in class awards at competitions throughout Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas.  During his time he had the pleasure of traveling with the group to Hawaii, Colorado, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Florida, and New York City for the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Mr. Ruiz is a graduate of Texas State University where he earned his degree in Music Education. He also performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps and served as a member of the brass staff for The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 2011-2013.  His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association.

Manuel C. San Luis retired from public education in 2017, and was with Leander ISD for 22 years, and with the Cedar Park Middle School band program since the school was built in 1995, and has been the head band director since 1997. Manuel San Luis graduated with high honors from Southwest Texas State University in 1983, and was in the University Honors Program. He continued post graduate work at the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.

Kerry Taylor currently serves as Director of Bands for Westlake High School and Fine Arts Director for Eanes ISD. Mr. Taylor is in his 35th year as a band director in the Texas public schools; five years in Katy ISD and 30 in Eanes ISD, a small community just five miles from downtown Austin. He is currently the Music Director and Conductor of the Waterloo Wind Band, a community band in Austin comprised of musicians aged 16-80. He is a graduate (BM in 1981 and MM in 1982) of the University of Texas at Austin.

During his tenure at Westlake HS, the band has travelled extensively and performed in 6 different states and 8 different countries. On January 2, 2017 the Westlake Chaparral Band performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. This was their second appearance (2003) in this parade. The Westlake Wind Ensemble has performed in Carnegie Hall, the 2002 and 2013 Midwest Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. In addition, the Westlake Band has made concert tours to the Pacific Northwest, Canada, western Europe, and the British Isles.

In 1997 the John Philip Sousa Foundation presented the Westlake Band with the Sudler Flag of Honor and, in 2010, the Sudler Shield. The band was recently named one of two programs to be awarded the inaugural Phi Beta Mu-Earl D. Irons “Program of Distinction”.

Mr. Taylor is active as a clinician and adjudicator in Texas and states throughout the South. He has served the Texas Music Educators Association in many positions including President 2005-2006) of the 10,000+ member organization. His other professional memberships include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association and the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). He is currently co-chair of the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Award Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for the ABA.  He has received the Bandworld’s “Legion of Honor” (2013), the University Interscholastic League’s “Sponsor of Excellence Award” (2014) and the Texas Bandmasters Association’s “Meritorious Achievement Award” (2016).

Susan Williams taught orchestra in the Texas public schools for 38 years. Her first teaching job was in her home town of Corpus Christi, Texas. She then moved to the Austin area and taught at LBJ High School in AISD for 19 years. Her most recent teaching home was at Westwood High School in the Round Rock Independent School District for 16 years.

Orchestras under her direction consistently received top scores at Texas UIL Concert and Sightreading competitions.

Notable honors were four TMEA Honor Orchestras and a performance at the Midwest International Music Convention in Chicago:

• 1995-1996 Full Honor Orchestra LBJ High School
• 2005-2006 Full Honor Orchestra Westwood High School
• 2009-2010 Full Honor Orchestra Westwood High School
• 2012-2013 String Honor Orchestra Westwood High School
• 2013-2014 Full Orchestra Performance at Midwest

Recently retired, Susan is enjoying teaching and conducting in a variety of venues. When not on the podium or in the classroom, she and her husband Frank are on the road in their RV, seeing as much of the United States as they can.

Robert Stovall has devoted thirty-three years to the Texas Public School System as well as four years in the Private Education arena. A Past President of the Texas Music Educators Association, Mr. Stovall is currently the Director of Music and Worship Arts at First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth. While in the education field, Robert’s choirs were awarded UIL sweepstakes, festival grand champions, and Convention Performance invitations throughout his career. Most recently, Mr. Stovall was recognized by his peers of the Texas Choral Directors Association by receiving the TCDA Choral Excellence Award in 2015.

Mr. Stovall has served the state in several different capacities. His involvement in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and most recently, The Texas Music Administrators Conference, have allowed Mr. Stovall the opportunity to promote fine arts throughout the state. He continues to serve as Site-Chair for both regional and national ACDA conventions.

Mr. Stovall is an active adjudicator, speaker, clinician, and conductor both on the state and national level.

In his current position, Mr. Stovall conducts Choral Union four of the many performing ensembles recognized at FUMCFW, including the parent ensemble, Choral Union. He is responsible for staff and all fine art activities in the fine arts of the church. A native of West Texas, Mr. Stovall graduated with both a Bachelors of Music Education and Masters of Music Education from Angelo State University. Mr. Stovall’s choirs have been honored with five invitations to perform at the TMEA convention. He is married to wife, Cindy. They have two sons, Parker, of Midland, Texas, and Austin, of Stephenville, Texas. Robert and Cindy also are proud grandparents to Ryder and Jaxon, sons of Parker and Bonnie Stovall.