Mr. Cortez has been an orchestra director in McKinney ISD since he began his public school career in 2018. He previously served as the Assistant Director of Orchestras and AP Music Theory teacher at McKinney High School, and as the assistant director at Faubion Middle School. His students have earned consistent sweepstakes awards at UIL contests and received a National Mark of Excellence Award from the Foundation for Music Education. He also has taught collegiate level music courses at the University of North Texas​, and presented at the Texas Orchestra Directors Association conference.

As a multi-genre violinist, Mr. Cortez is comfortable playing jazz, classical, and other styles of violin playing. He has performed and recorded with the Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, and served as a concertmaster for the American Baroque Opera Company. Mr. Cortez also is a sought after session violinist. His violin playing can be heard on Mariah Carey’s song, Volare/Nothing is Impossible (featured in the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony) and the song, Still by R&B artist, Kehlani.  

Mr. Cortez earned Bachelor’s degrees in Classical Violin Performance and Music Education as well as a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas.

email: jcortez@mckinneyisd.net

Gabby Cioca is a violist and educator currently residing in Dallas, Texas. She has maintained a private studio of viola and violin students for several years and worked as a teacher for elementary and middle schools in the Catalina Foothills School District. Under her direction, Concertino and Camerata Orchestras at Esperero Canyon Middle School have consistently scored top ratings at the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association Area and State Festivals. At the 2025 ABODA State Festival, the Esperero Canyon Middle School Camerata Orchestra was one of two string ensembles to earn Superior with Distinction at the event. Ms. Cioca is part of the Diverse String Teachers Fellowship through the Bornoff Foundation of the Advancement of String Education, focusing on best practices to uplift, encourage, and empower all students through string education in the classroom. Ms. Cioca has also served as co-chair for the ABODA Southern Arizona Honors Orchestra from 2024-2026. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Cioca has enjoyed working for arts organizations such as Arizona Arts Live and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She also enjoys performing with groups such as the Tucson Pops. Ms. Cioca is a first-generation graduate from the University of Arizona with her Bachelors of Music in Viola Performance and Bachelors of Music Education, accompanied by a Minor in Arts Administration. When Ms. Cioca is not teaching or performing, she enjoys utilizing her AMC A-List membership, thrifting, and playing board games with her partner Christian and their dog Eowyn (supervisor of board game time).

email: gcioca@mckinneyisd.net