Middle School Band Directors
Antonio De La Rosa
Head Middle School Band Director
Tony De La Rosa is a native of Beeville, Texas where he graduated from A.C Jones High School. Mr. De La Rosa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. While there, he performed with The Pride of South Texas Javelina Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Trumpet Studio Ensembles, Jazz Band, and the Mariachi Band. During this time, he received several accolades including co-winner of the first Conducting Competition directing the Texas A&M University Concert Band in the performance of Chorale and Alleluia by Howard Hanson. He was also given the opportunity to work with the Marching Band Director as a Technical Music Advisor to the Pride of South Texas and privileged to work and direct one of the trumpet music ensembles. In addition to being a music advisor, Mr. De La Rosa also assisted the mariachi instructor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in the arranging and transcribing of mariachi music as well as advising on stylistic performance of the genre. He also had the chance to travel to Indiana University to give a masterclass on the styles, articulations, and understanding of traditional to contemporary mariachi music to a new program being adopted.
Mr. De La Rosa performs around the South Texas area as a professional musician with several mariachi ensembles. In addition, he has arranged and recorded mariachi tracks with Grammy nominated Elida Reyna and Jimmy Gonzalez of Grupo Mazz. More recently, he has recorded with new Tejano star “Lucky Joe” on his most recent album. Mr. De La Rosa lives in the Annaville area with his wife, Maricela De La Rosa, Corpus Christi ISD Paraeducator, daughter, Maricarmen, a member of the 2021-2022 Texas All State Band and their cat, Sam.
Mr. De La Rosa’s has taught at Tuloso Midway Middle School as Assistant Band director for 4 years and this is his 2nd year as Head Band Director.
Ralph Morales, director of bands
TM High School & Middle School
rmorales@tmisd.us 361-903-6750
Ralph Morales began his teaching career in the Fall of 2000 and has been the Director of Instrumental Music for Tuloso Midway ISD as well as Head Band Director for Tuloso Midway High School since 2019. Prior to joining Tuloso Midway ISD in 2016, he held band director positions in Brownsville ISD (Oliveira Middle School), Laredo ISD (J.W. Nixon High School), United ISD (LBJ & United South High School) and Alice ISD (Alice High School).
Bands under Mr. Morales’ leadership have earned consistent Superior Ratings at UIL Marching, Concert and Sight Reading Contests as well as Best-In-Class awards at festivals in Texas. Additionally, bands under his direction have earned performances at UIL Area and State Marching Contests as well as TMEA Area and State Honor Band Contests.
Mr. Morales holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. He served as the Drum Major for the Pride of South Texas Javelina Marching Band for two consecutive seasons. He also earned a Master of Music in Music Education with an emphasis in Conducting from Texas State University-San Marcos. He holds professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. Mr. Morales and his wife Magda one son, their pride and joy, Ralphie.
Sabrina Vanderburg
TMHS Assistant Band Director
Sabrina Vanderburg is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas having graduated from Mary Carroll High School in 2010. She obtained her Bachelors in Music from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi in December 2014. Her primary instrument is Saxophone but also specializes on Clarinet.
She has had the pleasure of working with the best band program in the Corpus Christi area, Tuloso-Midway ISD, since July 2015 as the high school Assistant Band Director. Ms. Vanderburg primarily works with the high school marching band, jazz band, and symphonic band however; she also assists with teaching the 6th grade beginner saxophones and clarinets as well as assisting other concert bands at the middle school campus.
In addition to her teaching, she has participated in the Corpus Christi Wind Symphony and Corpus Christi Municipal Band for several years.
Laura Garcia-Lara
Assistant Band Director
lgarcia@tmisd.us
Laura Garcia-Lara is in her fourth year teaching as an Assistant Band Director at Tuloso-Midway Middle School. Mrs. Lara is the director of the middle school Symphonic band and teaches all beginner flutes. She also assists with the Honors and Concert Bands at TM Middle School as well as the Marching Band and all concert bands at TM High School.
Mrs. Garcia-Lara is from Corpus Christi, TX where she attended Tuloso-Midway ISD and graduated Sum Cum Laude. She went on her earn her degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she studied flute under Dr. Elizabeth Janzen. In college, she went on to perform with the Texas A&M-Kingsville Wind Symphony, and performed at the National Flute Association Convention with the Texas A&M-Kingsville Flute Choir. She also was the drum major for the TAMUK Marching band for 2 years, chapter president of Kappa Kappa Psi: International Band Fraternity, presented research at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, a member of Sigma Alpha Iota: International Music Fraternity, and did an internship with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Garcia-Lara is also a member of the Texas Music Educators Association.
Mrs. Garcia-Lara is married to Oscar Lara with 2 kids, Ricardo and Israel Lara. She enjoys teaching her students, and is excited to be teaching at her alma mater.
Camilo Salinas
Assistant Band Director
casalinas@tmisd.us
Camilo Salinas is an Assistant Band Director and Mariachi Director at Tuloso-Midway Middle School. Mr. Salinas obtained his education from Del Mar College and Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi in Music Education. He specializes in Low Brass and directs the Concert band at TM High School. While obtaining his education, he became a member of Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity where he served as an officer of the chapter for two years. He also participated in the following brass ensembles: Tuba-Euphonium quartet, Trombone quartet, Trombone choir and the University Symphonic Winds ensemble. As a member of the Islander Trombone quartet, he participated and performed in the American Trombone Workshop festival in Washington D.C as one of the invited ensembles.
Additionally, Mr. Salinas is a founding member of Mariachi de la Isla, Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi’s first mariachi ensemble. He collaborated musically with the Professor in the commencement of the ensemble. He assisted the professor in the musical direction of the group and lead the ensemble as a student director where he went on to perform with the ensemble for two years.
With devotion and dedication, he seeks to continue the advancement and growth of mariachi education. Mr. Salinas is starting his second year at TMISD and is extremely proud to be a part of such a great and successful music program.
Eduardo Chavez
Assistant Band Director
echavez@tmisd.us
Mr. Eduardo Chavez serves as an assistant band director with an emphasis on percussion at Tuloso Midway where he teaches Beginner Percussion, Applied lessons, percussion ensemble, and directs the TM Middle School Concert band. His duties at the high school pertain to teaching Drumline, front ensemble, concert percussion, applied lessons, percussion ensembles, as well as assisting with the TM High School Jazz Band.
As a performer, Mr. Chavez is dedicated to the creation, innovation and continuation of the American art form known as Jazz. Performing at TMEA in 2020 with the TAMUK Jazz Band 1, Mr. Chavez received a downbeat award under the large jazz ensemble – graduate college division.
Mr. Chavez holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas A&M University Kingsville. He is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, and an alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha sinfonia, Eduardo resides in Corpus Christi, TX where he likes to work on various pieces of music on his free time.