Ginger Wheelock
Head Choral Director
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Ginger Lynn Wheelock is a native of Harlingen, TX and is a graduate from The University of Texas at Brownsville with a bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education. She began her teaching career at Filemón B. Vela Middle School in Brownsville, TX, where she was the Assistant Choir Director for three years, followed by Head Director for an additional three years. Mrs. Wheelock is currently the Head Choir Director at Harlingen High School and is in her nineth year teaching and serving in this position. Under her direction, the Harlingen HS Varsity Treble Choir was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in February of 2021, just four years into her teaching adventures while at HHS. Her students have shown success at UIL Evaluations, festivals, and competitions throughout her fourteen years of teaching experience, consistently earning superior ratings. Mrs. Wheelock is a member of TMEA, TCDA, and ACDA, and actively seeks opportunities to serve in different roles and capacities through these professional organizations. She is a sought-after clinician and judge in the Rio Grande Valley, as well as throughout the state of Texas. Mrs. Wheelock served as the TMEA Treble Choir Soprano 2 Section Leader at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in February of 2024, and is currently serving as the TMEA Region 28 Vocal Vice-Chair.
Along with teaching, Mrs. Wheelock enjoys singing with various professional choruses throughout the state when possible. She has participated in vocal pedagogy symposiums in Italy, as well as had the privilege of touring and performing throughout Ireland and Italy while in college, under the direction of Dianne Brumley. Notably, Ginger has found a love of travel with her husband, Art, visiting both big cities and remote locations. She also enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, dogs, and equally loves relaxing on the beach, true crime documentaries, and attempting challenging recipes.
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​​Emily Saldivar
Assistant Choral Director
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Emily Saldivar was born and raised in Brownsville, TX and is a graduate from Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Music Education with a concentration in Vocal Studies. Her choir journey began in high school being a two-year TMEA All-State Member and UIL Outstanding Performer for State Solo and Ensemble. In 2018, Ms. Saldivar was Section Leader for the NSU Chamber Choir in tour to Austria, Slovakia, and Czech Republic winning Top 3 Choirs in the world for the 2018 Ave Verum Choral Competition.
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Now in her third year of teaching, Ms. Emily Saldivar is the Assistant Choir Director at Harlingen High School in Harlingen, TX serving students the love for music and the passion to inspire others. In her short years of teaching, choirs under her direction have received multiple Sweepstakes, Superior, and Excellent ratings. Ms. Sal is an active member of TMEA, TCDA, and ACDA. Her love of vocal pedagogy and choral conducting goes further than an academic degree. She is an Associate Principal Singer for the Valley Symphony Orchestra Chorus and an actively performing mezzo-soprano with numerous organizations, including Pasión - RGV's professional chorus.
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Aside from her musical endeavors, Ms. Saldivar enjoys playing sports such as Volleyball and Softball, and you will find her competitive nature in these. You can find her fishing or walking along the coast of South Padre Island with her very vocal basset hounds, Mori and Arti.
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Ruben Reyes
Assistant Director & Accompanist
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Ruben Reyes is a versatile musician having studied classical and improvisational jazz piano, percussion, composition and conducting. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Centenary College in LA with a Bacher of music in piano performance where he studied under Dr. Gay Grosz. Mr. Reyes was the grand prize winner of the Marjorie Stricklin Emerging Artists Competition and was a featured guest artist with the Monroe Symphony performing Grieg’s Concerto in A minor. He was the pianist for the National Honor Band conducted by renowned composer Frank Ticheli and was a featured artist with the Red River Wind Orchestra performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. As a composer and arranger, his choral works have been premiered on the TMEA and ACDA stages and his piano arrangements have sold over 1,000 copies worldwide.
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Mr. Reyes is in his eleventh year at Harlingen High School where he is accompanist for the award-winning Cardinal Choirs and music director for the award winning Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory. He plays piano with the RGV Jazz Orchestra, which has performed twice at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, is the accompanist for Pasión - RGV’s Professional Chorus, and has made numerous appearances as featured guest artist with jazz bands across south Texas. He is a highly sought after accompanist in the RGV and has worked with a number of premier ensembles in the past, including EXIGENCE, the Shreveport Opera, Prísma Vocal Ensemble, and the world-renowned Centenary College Choir, which, along with many regional and European tours, made debuts in the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall during his tenure. He made his recording debut in EXIGENCE's album entitled Black is Beautiful, which can be found on Apple Music and Spotify.
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Ruben Reyes lives in Harlingen, TX with his wife, Lucy Reyes, and daughters Gwendolyn and Heidi.
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