Kara Wallace began her teaching career in 2004 at Rockwall ISD. In 2005, she became the Director of Bands at the Herman Utley Freshman Center. From 2006 to 2016, she was the Associate Band Director at Rockwall High School. While working in Rockwall ISD, she was able to work alongside and learn from master teachers; such as, Mike McGill, John Mays, Steve Sauerwein and Alycia Bingaman. Mrs. Wallace had the privilege to conduct the Rockwall Community Band in 2009, as well as perform with them in previous seasons. Mrs. Wallace served 4 years as the Jazz Chair for Region 3, from 2012-2016.
In 2016 to 2018, Mrs. Wallace had the opportunity to team teach in Forney ISD at North Forney High School with Jim Gist, Kristin May and Megan Garza. Currently, Kara Wallace is the Director of Bands at Commerce High School in Commerce, Texas where she enjoys educating her students, teaching her bands, engaging with the community, and creating the love of music for her students. Kara Wallace is also proud to serve as Director of Fine Arts for Commerce ISD beginning in the 2022 School Year. Mrs. Wallace has been a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for many groups, including Garland ISD, Dallas ISD, Northwest ISD, the Association of Texas Small School Bands and Texas Private School Association.
Kara Wallace is a proud member of the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Winds, America’s Premier Wind Band. She is an active member on the Education Committee. She assists with the Dallas Winds Summer Band Camp for Dallas ISD, the Windband Festival at the Meyerson and the Dallas Honors Band for Dallas ISD students.
Mrs. Wallace received her Bachelors of Music Education from Texas A&M University – Commerce in 2004. Mrs. Wallace is affiliated with Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Kappa Kappa Psi and Mu Phi Epsilon. Mrs. Wallace lives in Union Valley, Texas with her family, husband Jason Wallace and daughter Grace. Jason Wallace is the Director of Bands at Commerce Middle School in
Commerce ISD.
In 2016 to 2018, Mrs. Wallace had the opportunity to team teach in Forney ISD at North Forney High School with Jim Gist, Kristin May and Megan Garza. Currently, Kara Wallace is the Director of Bands at Commerce High School in Commerce, Texas where she enjoys educating her students, teaching her bands, engaging with the community, and creating the love of music for her students. Kara Wallace is also proud to serve as Director of Fine Arts for Commerce ISD beginning in the 2022 School Year. Mrs. Wallace has been a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for many groups, including Garland ISD, Dallas ISD, Northwest ISD, the Association of Texas Small School Bands and Texas Private School Association.
Kara Wallace is a proud member of the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Winds, America’s Premier Wind Band. She is an active member on the Education Committee. She assists with the Dallas Winds Summer Band Camp for Dallas ISD, the Windband Festival at the Meyerson and the Dallas Honors Band for Dallas ISD students.
Mrs. Wallace received her Bachelors of Music Education from Texas A&M University – Commerce in 2004. Mrs. Wallace is affiliated with Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Kappa Kappa Psi and Mu Phi Epsilon. Mrs. Wallace lives in Union Valley, Texas with her family, husband Jason Wallace and daughter Grace. Jason Wallace is the Director of Bands at Commerce Middle School in
Commerce ISD.
Nick Wilkerson graduated from Van High School in 2015. He attended Tyler Junior College pursuing his associates degree in Music. After graduating from TJC in 2017 he transferred to Texas A&M University Commerce where he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 2020.
Mr. Wilkerson has performed with many ensembles throughout his career, including the TJC Marching Band, TJC Indoor Drumline, TAMUC Pride Marching Band, and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, with performances including the UIL State Marching Band contest, BOA Grand Finals, and Drum Corps International Finals, finishing 6th in the world.
Mr. Wilkerson is in his fourth year at Commerce and is delighted to assume the role of Assistant Band Director and Marching Band director. Mr. Wilkerson has spent the last two years teaching Elementary Music in Commerce, as well as assisting with the Marching Band and is thrilled to have a bigger capacity with the Roaring Tiger Band. Mr. Wilkerson enjoys playing video games, spending time with his friends, and playing with his 3 adorable cats.
Mr. Wilkerson has performed with many ensembles throughout his career, including the TJC Marching Band, TJC Indoor Drumline, TAMUC Pride Marching Band, and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, with performances including the UIL State Marching Band contest, BOA Grand Finals, and Drum Corps International Finals, finishing 6th in the world.
Mr. Wilkerson is in his fourth year at Commerce and is delighted to assume the role of Assistant Band Director and Marching Band director. Mr. Wilkerson has spent the last two years teaching Elementary Music in Commerce, as well as assisting with the Marching Band and is thrilled to have a bigger capacity with the Roaring Tiger Band. Mr. Wilkerson enjoys playing video games, spending time with his friends, and playing with his 3 adorable cats.
Logan Duschatko is thrilled to be joining the Commerce Roaring Tiger Band for the 2022-23 school year as an Assistant Band Director. Logan was born and raised in Texas before graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with his Bachelor's of Music Education in December 2021, while studying clarinet alongside Dr. Daniel Silver. Mr. Duschatko will begin his teaching career at Commerce!
Logan is a clarinet and woodwind specialist with a deep passion for music and the marching arts. He was Drum Major for two years at Alpine High School in West Texas, and continued to pursue leadership opportunities by becoming a Section Leader and Drum Major for the Golden Buffalo Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Matthew Dockendorf at CU. He hopes to bring a positive, fun-loving, student-driven approach to learning in his classrooms.
In his free time, Logan loves to play Golf, engage in all things motorsports and Formula 1, and play a wide array of video games, as well as spend time with his incredibly needy cat, Ellie.
Logan is a clarinet and woodwind specialist with a deep passion for music and the marching arts. He was Drum Major for two years at Alpine High School in West Texas, and continued to pursue leadership opportunities by becoming a Section Leader and Drum Major for the Golden Buffalo Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Matthew Dockendorf at CU. He hopes to bring a positive, fun-loving, student-driven approach to learning in his classrooms.
In his free time, Logan loves to play Golf, engage in all things motorsports and Formula 1, and play a wide array of video games, as well as spend time with his incredibly needy cat, Ellie.
Joseph Smith is a percussionist, arranger, and educator from Rhode Island who is returning for his second year as Percussion Director in Commerce ISD. He enjoys running, spending time with animals, and being by large bodies of water. Since 2012, Mr. Smith has taught, composed, and arranged for various programs throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut including string orchestras, guitar programs, percussion ensembles, concert bands, marching bands, drum corps., and collegiate ensembles. Before moving to Texas, Mr. Smith served as a Front Ensemble technician for the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps. of Nashua, New Hampshire, who then went on to win the 2019 DCI Open Class Championships.
Mr. Smith graduated in 2012 from Cranston High School East in Cranston, Rhode Island with musical focuses in Chamber Choirs and Indoor & Outdoor Marching Percussion. While pursuing his Associates in Music at the Community College of Rhode Island, Mr. Smith spent three years with the 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. of New London, Connecticut where he served as Front Ensemble section leader for two years. He later graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Orchestral Percussion Performance, studying under Dr. Kyle Forsthoff.
Mr. Smith is currently fulfilling his last year of coursework to complete his Master of Music degree at Texas University A&M – Commerce studying under Dr. Brian Zator, Lauren Teel, Kent Hillman, Cory Doran, and Sandi Rennick. He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators and the Percussive Arts Society.
Mr. Smith graduated in 2012 from Cranston High School East in Cranston, Rhode Island with musical focuses in Chamber Choirs and Indoor & Outdoor Marching Percussion. While pursuing his Associates in Music at the Community College of Rhode Island, Mr. Smith spent three years with the 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. of New London, Connecticut where he served as Front Ensemble section leader for two years. He later graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Orchestral Percussion Performance, studying under Dr. Kyle Forsthoff.
Mr. Smith is currently fulfilling his last year of coursework to complete his Master of Music degree at Texas University A&M – Commerce studying under Dr. Brian Zator, Lauren Teel, Kent Hillman, Cory Doran, and Sandi Rennick. He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators and the Percussive Arts Society.
