Band Directors

Mari Cyr is the Director of Bands at Rawlinson Middle School. She is currently in her twenty-seventh year of teaching overall, and her tenth year as a band director at Rawlinson.  She previously worked in Judson ISD and was the Director of Bands for Kirby Middle School and in Jourdanton ISD as the Head Director of the Middle School and Assistant Director at the High School.

She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Music in Music Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.  While at UTSA she was The Al Sturchio Award Recipient for Instrumental Excellence, was awarded The UTSA Outstanding Music Educator Instrumental Award and performed with the UTSA Wind Ensemble, Flute Ensemble and Orchestra.  She was also a winner of the UTSA Concerto and Aria competition.

Over the years, Mrs. Cyr’s bands have been successful in attaining sweepstakes and first division ratings at UIL competitions, both at the TMEA and ATSSB levels including placing in the top ten of the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series contest.  She has served as a cooperating teacher and mentor for university student teachers over the years.  Mrs. Cyr has also served as a clinician and conductor for Region 12’s ATSSB middle school Region band.  

Mari Cyr continues to be an active musician in the San Antonio area and is the piccolo player in the San Antonio Wind Symphony.  She works as a master class flute teacher and as a flute adjudicator for the TMEA Region, Area and All State competitions.  She is the flute instructor in both the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Middle School Band and Flute Summer Camps.

Mrs. Cyr enjoys her time with her family, her husband Shawn of twenty-seven years and their thirteen year old twin sons Edmund and Joseph.  Both immediate and extended family members have been very supportive of her musical career.  Along with several mentors and fellow band directors, in both her music education and career, Mrs. Cyr attributes all of them towards helping her grow as a music educator.  

Sharing and teaching the gift of music, especially with her students over the years, is what she finds the most rewarding aspect in working within the field of music.  

“The true beauty of music is that it connects people.  It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.”  -by Roy Ayers

Michael Cortes is the assistant band director at Rawlinson Middle School. He is currently in his eleventh year of teaching overall, and his eighth year as an assistant band director at Rawlinson. He previously worked in San Antonio ISD as an assistant band director at Rhodes Middle School.

Michael received a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from The University of North Texas and a Master of Music degree in composition from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His primary instrument is tuba, and as a senior at UNT he was awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate in Brass. 

Michael remains active as a composer for band and has had his music played by such ensembles as The Dallas Wind Symphony brass choir, The University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band, The University of Cincinnati Wind Ensemble and Brass Choir, The University of Georgia Hodgson Wind Ensemble, The Ball State University Wind Ensemble, and numerous middle and high schools around San Antonio.

He is an active member of The Texas Music Educators Association and The Texas Bandmasters Association, and he is currently serving as the TMEA Region 29 Middle School Band Coordinator.