BAND DIRECTORS
EVAN S. BERRY
Evan S. Berry is in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas. He is in charge of the Wind Ensemble, co-directs the Symphony Orchestra, assists with the Symphonic Band, and directs both the pit orchestra and the MacArthur Marching Band. In addition to MacArthur, Evan is a current member of the brass educational team with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle corps, and former staff member of both the Crossmen and Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Previously, Evan was an assistant band director at both James Madison High School, and Byron P. Steele II High School in the greater San Antonio area.
Originally from Washington D.C., Evan attended River Hill High School in Clarksville, Maryland before pursuing a degree in music. In the spring of 2013, Evan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a concentration in trumpet.
In performance, Evan was a member of the Duquesne Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Lab, and athletic bands. While a student at Duquesne, he studied with Charles Lirette, Co-Principal Trumpet of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and previously with Stuart Smith, former trumpet with the San Antonio Symphony. Additionally, Evan was a member of the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps from 2007-2009, and 10-Time World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2010-2012.
ALEXIA BEASLEY
Alexia Beasley is in her second year as an Assistant Band Director at MacArthur High School. Originally from Round Rock, TX, Alexia attended Cedar Ridge High School. She has a B.M. in Music Education and a certificate in Saxophone Performance from the University of Texas at San Antonio. While at UTSA, Alexia performed in the UTSA Wind Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, Saxophone Ensemble, and in the UTSA Spirit of San Antonio.
Alexia directs the Symphonic Band, and in the fall, assists in the direction of the marching band. Alexia also coordinates all woodwind activities across the program at MacArthur. In addition to concert and marching responsibilities, Alexia also directs the jazz band, which recently competed at the 2020 Hill Country Jazz Festival at Texas State University, where the ensemble was awarded the Outstanding Ensemble Award. The MacArthur Jazz Ensemble is also a recipient of the 2021 Texas Jazz Educators Association grant.
Outside of MacArthur, Alexia is an active music arranger for several collegiate and high school ensembles in the San Antonio area. In 2019, the UTSA Saxophone Ensemble premiered one of her chamber ensemble arrangements at the North American Saxophone Alliance convention in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As a performer, she has been a part of several community ensembles across San Antonio, including the County Line Community Band and the San Antonio Chamber Winds.
Ismael A. Garza
Ismael A Garza is currently in his 1st year at MacArthur High School as an Assistant Band Director/Percussion Director. Ismael coordinates all percussion activities at Mac including the marching percussion ensemble, private lessons, indoor percussion ensemble and concert percussion sections. Ismael also assists the middle school percussion programs at Garner, Driscoll and Bradley. Ismael holds a (BM) Bachelors in Music Education with an all level certification from the University of North Texas.
Originally from Beeville, TX, Ismael attended A.C. Jones High School. After graduating, Ismael was accepted and studied music at The University of North Texas majoring in Music Education with a concentration in Percussion . While at UNT, he was fortunate to have studied under Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, Jose Aponte, Henry Okstel, Ed Smith, Micheal Smith and Jake Thiede. Mr. Garza participated in many of the school's fine performing arts ensembles such as the Green Brigade Marching Band, Indoor Drumline, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Percussion Group, and Afro Cuban Ensemble.
Outside of MacArthur, Ismael enjoys spending time with his wife and son, fishing, traveling, woodworking, and composing music. Most recent compositional achievements include honorable mentions for the Percussive Arts Society composition competition with his work for Brass Quintet and Percussion Quartet entitled "Like Lead into the Sea" (2017), and the International Percussion Institutes Call for Scores (2018) with his marimba solo entitled “Sing in me, Muse".
REBEKAH GONZALES
Rebekah Gonzales is the Color Guard Director at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas. As the director of the Color Guard, her responsibilities include teaching dance, flag, and weapons. She also currently works with the Claudia Taylor Johnson High School Color Guard in San Antonio, Texas.
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Rebekah attended Claudia Taylor Johnson High School where she was a trombonist, member and captain of the color guard, and feature twirler. During her time in high school, she earned a UIL State marching band bronze medal, WGI Open Class silver medal, UIL state twirling Outstanding Performer, and was a WGI World Class finalist. She was a competitive baton twirler for 11 years, earning state, regional, and national titles. Rebekah attended the University of Houston where she was a member of the Beta Sigma chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity and feature twirler for The Spirit of Houston Marching Band.