MISSION, TEXAS (October 15, 2026) - What began with learning chords, classical pieces and ensemble music at Mission CISD has become a pathway to higher education for a group of district alumni who are continuing their passion for music at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
For alumni David Saldivar, Jose Manuel Ramirez III and Matthew Cortez, the Mission CISD guitar program became more than another class on their schedules. It introduced them to new styles of music, gave them opportunities to perform and compete, and helped them see music as something they could continue beyond high school.
For Saldivar and Jose, that experience went even further. Both are now pursuing music education with hopes of eventually becoming teachers and giving future students experiences similar to those they received at Mission CISD.
Discovering a future through music
Students entered the guitar program with different levels of experience.
Some began learning guitar through Mission CISD, while others entered the program already familiar with the instrument but had little experience with classical guitar. Through classes, rehearsals, performances and competitions, their connection to music continued to grow.
Saldivar said guitar quickly became one of the classes he most enjoyed. He credits guitar director Mr. Farias, Mission High School guitar instructor - with creating an environment that made students want to come to class and continue improving.
“My biggest influence is definitely Mr. Farias,” Saldivar said. “I feel like the impact that he had in me was more than anything I could ask for.”
Saldivar said watching Farias teach also gave him an example of what an educator could be. He remembers seeing him introduce new students to the instrument with patience and enthusiasm, an approach that made teaching music feel like a natural career path for him.
Today, Saldivar is studying music education at UTRGV.
“I want to be an educator that can definitely bring smiles to other students every day,” Saldivar said.
From guitar student to future teacher
Jose found a similar direction through the program.
During high school, music became an important part of his life, but the guitar program also helped him understand that his passion could become a profession.
He said discovering that he could study music education and eventually become a teacher helped solidify the idea of pursuing music after graduation. He sees music education as an opportunity to teach more than notes and songs. It can also help students develop discipline, character and other lessons that remain with them outside the classroom.
His experience with Farias also shaped the kind of educator he hopes to become.
The students recalled that Farias emphasized enjoying the process of making music rather than focusing only on perfection. After performances, one of the questions they remember hearing was not simply whether they played the correct notes, but whether they had fun.
That approach helped students see music differently and strengthened their desire to continue playing.
Jose now hopes to eventually lead an ensemble of his own at a middle or high school continuing the same cycle of mentorship that helped guide him toward college and a career in music education.
Keeping music part of their future
The impact of the program is also visible in alumni who chose career paths outside of music.
Cortez is pursuing a music minor, allowing him to continue developing as a musician while working toward his primary field of study.
For Cortez, continuing music in college was important because he did not want guitar to become something he left behind after graduation.
He described music as something that had become part of his everyday life and something he wanted to keep with him as he moved forward.
That continued connection reflects the broader impact of the Mission CISD guitar program. Whether students choose music as a career or simply make it part of their college experience, the program gave them an opportunity to discover something they wanted to carry beyond high school.
Inspiring the next generation
For Saldivar and Jose, the journey is beginning to come full circle.
They entered the guitar program as students learning from their teachers. Now, they are preparing for the possibility of having classrooms and ensembles of their own.
Their long-term goals include becoming music teachers, leading their own programs and giving students an outlet to express themselves through music. One even joked about a future in which their respective school ensembles could someday compete against each other.
More importantly, they hope to recreate the encouragement they received as Mission CISD students.
“I just want my students to be inspired, like how I was with Mr. Farias,” Jose said.
For these alumni, the Mission CISD guitar program did more than teach them how to play an instrument. It helped them discover how music could remain part of their lives after graduation and, for two future educators, how their own passion for music could someday inspire another generation.