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Music Faculty
Dr. Michael Jacko
Music Conservatory Director / Orchestra / Integration of Abilities / College Portfolio
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
Joel Duarte
Choir / Music Theory / Conducting
jduarte@dallasisd.org | Room 130
I believe music and the arts hold a power unlike any other. Through my studies at Wayland Baptist University (BM) and Southern Methodist University (MM), and 15 years of teaching, my students and I have been empowered through sharing enriched musical experiences. I am passionate about teaching and mentoring students to strive for their dreams. I am humbly honored to be a part of BTWVPA and to create magical moments with our students.
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
Composition / AP Music Theory / Jazz Improv
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
Winds & Percussion / Music Theory / Big Band
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/Music Business
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
Andrea Wallace
Voice / Vocal Jazz / Musical Theatre / Music Theory
andwallace@dallasisd.org | 972-925- | 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.
He studied piano under Dr. Richard Baca and Prof. Alfred Mouledous. Having obtained two master's degrees at SMU (in piano performance and pedagogy and in music theory), Dr. Zuno taught courses as adjunct lecturer at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts in the areas of music theory, aural skills, and class piano to both graduate and undergraduate students. In addition, he has taught piano for over 20 years, and also has experience teaching at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. He has been a board member for Dallas Music Teachers Association from 2006-2018 and has also volunteered with Texas Music Teachers Association's theory advisory committee.
Dr. Zuno frequently adjudicates around the DFW metroplex in festivals and contests.
He loves being married to his wife and is blessed to have two children. One of his greatest joys is seeing students succeed. He considers himself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to serve Booker T. Washington’s amazing and dedicated students.
lzunofernandez@dallasisd.org | 972-925-1232 | Room 236
