Michael Garza is currently in his ninth year of teaching public school and seventh year as an Assistant Director and Director of Percussion at Lopez Early College High School. While at Lopez, Mr. Garza’s contributions have helped add to the success of the Lopez band program. In 2014, 2017 and 2019 the Lopez Lobo Marching Band has advanced to the Texas State Marching Band Contest. The Lopez Symphonic Band was named as the 5A Texas State Honor Band Finalist in 2014, named as the 2016 6A Texas State Honor Band and recently named 2019 5A Texas State Honor Band. Under his direction, the Lopez Indoor Percussion Ensemble has competed in the Texas Color Guard Circuit and Texas Educational Colorguard Association. Mr. Garza also attended Lopez High School under the direction of Mr. George Trevino and was a member of the 4A Texas State Honor Band in 2003 and TMEA All-State Percussionist in 2005.

Mr. Garza graduated from Texas A&M University at Kingsville having earned a Bachelors Degree in Music Education, while studying under Mr. Randy Fluman. His performance experience while at TAMUK includes the Wind Symphony, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, the Javelina Marching Band, and the TAMUK Percussion Ensemble. He has had the honor of performing at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference twice. He performed as a member of the TAMUK Percussion Ensemble and TAMUK Wind Symphony in 2008 and 2010 respectively. He has been involved in the pageantry arts as a member of Revolution Drum & Bugle Corps and Mystikal Drum & Bugle Corps. He also had the opportunity to tech tenors with the Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps. Other performance opportunities include performing with the Valley Winds at the 2019 Texas Bandmasters Association.

His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha. He enjoys spending time with friends and family.