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Anna Peeples
Anna Peeples
West Mesquite High School, Director of Choirs
West Mesquite High School, Director of Choirs
Anna Peeples has been the Director of Choirs at West Mesquite High School since 2018. Prior to teaching at WMHS, Mrs. Peeples taught at Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas from 2014-2017 and Harrisville City School District in Harrisville, New York in 2013. Students under her direction have earned Sweepstakes, made the TMEA All Region and All State Choirs, and earned Superior Ratings at UIL Solo and Ensemble and Texas State Solo and Ensemble.
Anna graduated Magna Cum Laud from Sherman High School in 2009 and pursued a degree in Music Education at The University of North Texas College of music where she graduated in 2013 Summa Cum Laud.
Mrs. Peeples recently married and enjoys spending time with her husband, Lamar, watching movies, and jogging.
Oliver Rodriguez
Oliver Rodriguez
West Mesquite High School, Assistant Director
West Mesquite High School, Assistant Director
Mr. Rodriguez is continuing his second year of teaching at West Mesquite High School as the assistant director of choirs. He is a graduate of Poteet High School and Abilene Christian University. While at university, Mr. Rodriguez performed in Germany with the ACU Opera and was named ACU Choirs Student Director. He is excited to be teaching in Mesquite and share his love and passion for choral music.
Dustin Barksdale
Dustin Barksdale
Fraiser Middle School, Director of Choirs
Fraiser Middle School, Director of Choirs
Mr. Barksdale is starting his 9th year of teaching and his first year at Fraiser.
Melody Villegas
Melody Villegas
AC New Middle School, Director of Choirs
AC New Middle School, Director of Choirs
Mrs. Melody Villegas has been the Director of Choirs at AC New Middle School since 2015. Under her direction, students have earned consistent Sweepstakes ratings at UIL Concert & Sight Reading contest. Her firm belief that everyone can sing has manifested in the Knight Choir by tripling its size from 88 to 300 students with a tenfold increase in male singers.
Before teaching in Mesquite, Mrs. Villegas taught at Ted Polk Middle School in Carrollton, TX, from 2009-2015. Under her direction, TPMS Choirs more than doubled in size, received consistent Sweepstakes awards, and increased their All-Region membership from 3 to 21 students. Additionally, she served as the TMEA Region 24 Middle School Vocal Division Coordinator from 2012-2014, and is the current Middle School Vocal Division Coordinator for Region 3.
Melody is a Mesquite native and a 2005 graduate of Poteet High School. In 2009, she graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Choral Music Education. She holds professional affiliations with TCDA, TMEA, and TMAA, and judges UIL, All-Region, and Solo and Ensemble contests in various regions across the state.
Mrs. Villegas lives in Mesquite with her husband, AJ, and their children, Ian and Fiona. The Villegases are members of White Rock UMC. When Mrs. V. is not serving the choir students of AC New, she spends time listening to podcasts, learning about history, chasing toddlers, and planning trips with her family.
Julia Murphy
Julia Murphy
AC New Middle School, Assistant Choir Director
AC New Middle School, Assistant Choir Director
Ms. Murphy is starting her first year of teaching at AC New Middle School as the assistant director of choirs. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with Magna Cum Laude. During her time at TWU she performed with the Concert Choir at several conventions, including conventions for: NCCO (National Collegiate Choral Organization), ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), and TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association). During her last year at TWU, she received the TMEA Collegiate Music Educator Award (Fall 2020.) Ms. Murphy is looking forward to becoming a part of the AC New Choir family and help students to discover the power of singing and community that choir provides.
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