EDDIE LOPEZ

President

Edward Lopez, known to most as Eddie is the President and Founder of Global Initiative For Talented Students, owner of Perform America – Texas, LLC, and an owner of Ultimate Drill Book and My Design Team.

Eddie founded GIFTS from finding throughout his teaching career a lack of funding for students and organizations trying to better their talents in Academia, the Arts or Athletics. So many talented students of all ages were not able to gain one on one professional instruction, proper equipment/technology, or able to afford traveling to destinations to better develop their skill. By founding GIFTS and with the help of many others Eddie believes we can offer students life changing opportunities.

Perform America – Texas, LLC is a company that provides memorable travel experiences and performance festivals/tours for any organization domestically, while parting with Perform International to offer the same for groups wanting to travel internationally! Eddie brings a wealth of experience on all sides of travel from working previously with a travel company for 10 years and traveling with his own band and other organizations both domestically and internationally.

Ultimate Drill Book and My Design Team create educational tools for marching ensembles and helps with the creative/educational aspect of the marching arts. UDB provides products that support The Bluecoats, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cadets, Phantom Regiment, Boston Crusaders, The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, and over 100 other drum corps, high school, and collegiate programs annually.

Mr. Lopez is the former Associate Director of Bands at Hendrickson High School. His duties included overseeing the Hendrickson Hawk Marching Band, woodwind studios and directed the Symphonic Winds. The marching band earned the right to perform in the 4A, 5A and 6A UIL State Marching Contest throughout the years and was a consistent BOA Finalist and Class Champion at many local festivals. The Symphonic Winds received continuous superior ratings at UIL and in 2015 the ensemble received the Citation of Excellence Award from the Foundation of Music all while performing music above the non-varsity classification. That same year Mr. Lopez and the Saxophone Ensemble at Hendrickson was invited to perform in the 69th Annual Midwest Clinic.

Mr. Lopez received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin. He continues to adjudicate, consult, program coordinate and clinic marching and concert bands throughout the state. In 2013 he was President of the Longhorn Alumni Band during it’s 50th Annual Reunion and holds affiliations with Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tejas Club Foundation, Texas Cowboys Alumni Association and is a Life Member of the Texas Exes.