Robert A. Lopez, Jr. (Bobby) - Guitarron

Bobby Lopez is currently a faculty member at Texas State University-San Marcos. A native of Corpus Christi, TX., Bobby has been performing in a professional mariachi since the age of 13. Bobby was introduced to the world of (music) mariachi by his father Robert A. Lopez, Sr., a certified music educator, a mariachi musician and band leader/arranger for nearly 30 years.

Mr. Lopez is an active educator, clinician, performer and adjudicator in the central and south Texas areas. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Texas State University. His teachers include Dr. Norman Weinberg, Dr. Paul Bissell, Genaro Gonzalez, Jim Casella, Murray Gusseck, Dave Sankus, Jeff Lee and Scott Johnson. Alumni of the DCI High Percussion recipient 1998 Santa Clara Vanguard and the 1999 DCI World Champion Blue Devils, he was awarded first prize for his composition Two Days in the 1998 DCI multi-percussion solo competition. He has worked with several percussion programs including the Georgetown High School(TX) drumline, Cedar Park High School drumline, Revolution Indoor drumline, and the Texas State University drumline. Aside from his duties at Texas State University-San Marcos and performs as an extra in the Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He is published by Tapspace Publications and is an endorser for Encore Mallets.

In the field of mariachi music, Bobby has nearly 20 years performing as a professional mariachi musician. He has been a student of great performers belonging to pioneering ensembles such as Mariachi Los Camperos, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán, and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. He is an active clinician and adjudicator in the field. Mr. Lopez has recorded (and produced) a CD with Mariachi Tamazula entitled Con Orgullo Mexicano and will soon release a second in the Fall of 2009. He has also recorded alongside Manuel Vargas (formerly of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan) on his second album A Rienda Suelta.

Bobby is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators Association, College Music Society and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.