De La Cruz spent the past five years as the Associate Director of Bands and Visual Program Director for the Dublin Coffman High School Band in Columbus, OH. De La Cruz helped lead the band to two Bands of America (BOA) Outstanding Visual Performance Awards (2016 & 2017), as well as its first class (AAA) Championship at the BOA Canton Regional in 2017. Prior to moving to Columbus, De La Cruz spent the previous four years teaching in The Woodlands, TX as an Assistant Director of The Woodlands High School Band. During his tenure at The Woodlands, the program was a consistent finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships and was crowned the 2013 Grand National Champion.

De la Cruz’s performance career includes time as a member of the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from 2001-2002 and the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps in 2003. As an educator, De la Cruz served on the Cavaliers’ visual staff from 2004-2010, and the Santa Clara Vanguard visual staff from 2011-2019 before moving into his current role as Corps Director with the organization.

In addition to his work as an educator, De La Cruz also works as a visual designer for numerous schools throughout Texas, Mississippi, Ohio, Arizona and New Mexico, where a multitude of these programs are successful both at the local and state level. He serves as a marching band adjudicator, consultant, and clinician throughout the country. He has also served as a visual judge in the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association, Mid East Performance Association, and the Indiana Percussion Association over the last 4 years. Currently, De la Cruz lives in Columbus, OH with his lovely wife Alyssa and their two dachshunds – Charlie and Lilly.