Music Faculty

Music Faculty

Dr. Michael Jacko

Music Conservatory / Orchestra / Music Theory

Michael Jacko grew up in the Metroplex and returned to Dallas in 2015 from the Washington, DC area. Since then, he has served as Head of Orchestral Studies at Booker T., and he has led the Music Conservatory since 2019. He has treasured each day, week, month, and year at Booker T. because of the astonishing growth that this school inspires in both its students and faculty.

Immediately prior to teaching at Booker T., while living in the nation's capital, Dr. Jacko served as Music Director of the Maryland Sinfonietta and the University of Maryland Repertoire Orchestra; as well as staff conductor for the Capital City Symphony, the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and the Youth Orchestras of Prince William. In Washington, Jacko also worked in the Music Department at the National Gallery of Art, where he served as Cover Conductor for the National Gallery of Art Orchestra. He conducted the Maryland Sinfonietta in the opening program of the National Gallery's 65th American Music Festival, which featured a selection of works by Cage, Copland, and Ives that the Washington Post called "fascinating," "illuminating," and "a rich study in American mythmaking." A devotee of American symphonic music, Jacko completed his doctoral thesis at the University of Maryland, in which he discussed the new editions of Charles Ives's Fourth Symphony.

Jacko began his conducting study while pursuing a degree from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at Georgetown University. While at Georgetown, he conducted the University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Jacko completed further studies at Bard College, the University of Denver, and the University of Maryland, where he served as Assistant Conductor to various instrumental, choral, and operatic ensembles. While at Bard, he coordinated and conducted a string ensemble for Noemie LaFrance’s site-­‐specific ballet, Rapture, staged atop the magnificent Frank Gehry-­‐designed Richard B. Fisher Center, and he also led the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra as a guest conductor.

mjacko@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1234 | Room 269

Dr. William George-Twyman

Assistant Director of Music Conservatory / Choir / Music Theory / Portfolio / Integration of Abilities 

William George-Twyman is pleased to serve Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as the Head of Choral Studies and in a new role as Assistant Director of the Music Conservatory for Curriculum/Instruction. William comes with many years of choral conducting experience at the middle and high school levels, as well as in the collegiate, semi-professional, and liturgical arenas. He has studied with great conductors such as Dr. Richard Zielinski (University of Oklahoma), Dr. Carmen-Helena Tellez (University of Notre Dame), Dr. Eric Stark (Butler University), and Dr. Gary Anderson (Transylvania University). His masterclass experience includes workshops with Dr. Tim Sharp (American Choral Directors Association), Dr. Craig Hella-Johnson (Conspirare), Simon Carrington (The King's Singers), and Dale Warland (Dale Warland Singers).

Striving to find connections between Classical-era repertoire and modern music, William is known for innovative programming ideas and multimedia collaborations. He has served as pit conductor for several musical theatre productions, conducting a performance of the Tony award-winning "Coram Boy" in partnership with the University of Oklahoma School of Musical Theatre in 2013. William has also prepared opera choruses, conducted new music by living composers, and performed internationally as both singer and conductor.

In addition to being an accomplished choral conductor, William is a trained countertenor, having performed in Handel's "Messiah" (University of Notre Dame), Bach's "Magnificat in D Major" (St. Mark the Evangelist, Plano, Texas) and numerous early music groups.

In June of 2020, William successfully defended his dissertation, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d: A Conductor’s Perspective” and received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Oklahoma.  Previous degrees include a Master of Sacred Music degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Butler University, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Transylvania University.

wigeorge@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1229 | Room 130

Terence Hobdy

Root, Jazz & American Music (RJAM)

Terence Hobdy, a native of Houston, TX, earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. While studying at North Texas, he was a member of several ensembles and represented the music department internationally. Mr. Hobdy earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston.
For nearly 18 years, he has been a professional performer and educator, having traveled to various countries to perform and record with many different artists. For six of those years, Mr. Hobdy has served as an adjunct professor and instructor of drum set, general percussion, and Jazz Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to his professorship, he has served as a consultant for the Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts as Director of the Contemporary Music Ensemble and initialized a weekly Drum Set Master Class.
Mr. Hobdy is committed to seeing his students develop the skills that will allow them to adapt to any circumstance in which they find themselves. This concept is more than a philosophy of music, but a philosophy for life. He is also a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America, Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

thobdy@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1251 | Room 238

Christian Parkess

Vocal Jazz / Composition / Music Theory / Music Business / World Music / Pedagogy

Christian Parkess is a proud alumni of Booker T. Washington HSPVA from the class of 1995, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Music degree from The University of Oregon. He worked as a Graduate Teaching Fellow, teaching undergraduate music classes while earning his Master’s in Oregon. Before completing his academic degrees, Christian worked extensively as a professional performer, composer, and arranger in the New York City area.

Christian has taught music in San Antonio, Houston, and for the last four years has been teaching International Baccalaureate and AP Music Theory in Frankfurt, Germany and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He is forever interested in the cultural contexts in which music is created, and the myriad of ways that music functions as a part of the human experience.

Christian has performed at multiple venues in the UK, and has appeared at the Montreux, Umbria, La Spezia, and Vienne Jazz festivals.

cparkess@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1233 | Room 242

Art Ruangtip

Wind & Percussion / Music Theory

Mr. Ruangtip is the new Director of Wind and Percussion Studies at Booker T. Washington HSPVA. He was previously the Director of Bands at Rowlett HS in Garland ISD after just completing his 20th year as a Texas music educator. Art obtained his Master of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and his undergraduate music education degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Currently he currently resides in Fate, Texas with his wife, Rose and dog.

sruangtip@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1237 | Room 273

Steven Schrag

Assistant Director of Music Conservatory / Guitar / Music Production

Mr. Schrag has played in live bands and studio sessions across the nation, and maintains an active performance schedule in addition to teaching.

sschrag@dallasisd.org | 972-925-8263 | Room 284

Audra Scott

Voice / Opera / Musical Theatre

This Award-winning soprano continues the steady ascent of her emerging career. She has received numerous accolades for her stunning vocal quality and artistry, by way of top ranking in both regional and national vocal competitions. Audra has been seen in the role of Strawberry Woman throughout Europe. Ms. Scott has performed with the tour of Porgy & Bess for the past ten years with the Munich-based Company, New York Harlem Theater. Ms. Scott has been seen in opera houses and theaters such as; Oper Leipzig, Bremen Music Theatre, Kölner Philharmonie, Komische Oper Berlin, Grand Théatre de Genéve, Chassé Theater (Netherlands), Amsterdam RAI, Le Colisée, Opéra de Massey and National theatre Mannheim to name a few. She has also been featured in a concert series entitled, 'Christmas Dreams from America' presented in churches throughout Germany. Ms. Scott has been presented in recital throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Houston, Prairie View, Arizona, Minnesota, Utah and California. She has trained as a young artist with Amarillo Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and Dallas Opera. Ms. Scott has also been seen at the Historic Jubilee Theater in Fort Worth, TX. Ms. Scott will debut with the Fort Worth Opera as Lily in their production of Porgy & Bess spring of 2019. Ms. Scott was recently presented in concert at the Toruń International Music Festival in Toruń, Poland.

As a musician Ms. Scott's career does not stop with her, it extends to the education of others. Ms. Scott has a Bachelor of Arts from Prairie View A &M University and a Master of Music from University of Arizona, both degrees specializing in vocal performing.  Ms. Scott worked as a voice teacher in Richardson ISD while completing her Artist Certificate from Southern Methodist University. She also taught studio production in Houston for various recording artist.  Ms. Scott served as a choral director with the Fort Worth Independent School District for 8 years. Ms. Scott now holds the position of Opera & Gospel Director at  Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Scott also serves as co-owner/operator of the non- profit organization, Music Mentors of Texas. 

Last but certainly not least, Ms. Scott has released her first cd; A collection of spirituals and hymns that have been arranged with elements of jazz and classical. The cd is entitled, A Long Road and the single, "Wade in the Water" can be found on Itunes, Cd baby and through Audra Scott music on Facebook. Ms. Scott dedicates her life to the character building of students and other aspiring musicians through music and world traveling. 

audscott@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1240 | Room 230

Dr. Leonardo Zuno Fernández

Piano / Music Theory / Music History

Leonardo Zuno Fernández was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He discovered his passion for teaching from a very young age. Mr. Zuno recently completed his Ph.D. in music theory with a related field in musicology at the University of North Texas, where he recently taught as a Teaching Fellow for four years.