Donnie Hull
Director of Bands, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band B, Fine Arts Department Chair
Donnie Hull is currently the Director of Bands at Haltom High School near Fort Worth, TX. Mr Hull has taught at Haltom High School since 2008. During his time at Haltom High School, the Symphonic Winds have advanced in the TMEA Honor Band Competition and the Pride of Haltom has been a Texas UIL State Marching Band Contest participant, a Bands of America Super Regional Finalist as well as champions at multiple independent marching contests.
Donnie is currently the Assistant Visual Caption Head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. From 2015-2022, he was a member of the visual staff of the Santa Clara Vanguard, serving several seasons as the Assistant Visual Caption Manager. Formerly, he served as a member of the brass instructional staff and Associate Brass Caption Head of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003-2009.
Mr. Hull, a native of Southern Illinois, received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Houston. He is an active enthusiast for the performing arts and currently resides in Fort Worth with his Lab-mix rescue, Lucy.
Casey O’Neal
Associate Band Director, Symphonic Band
Casey O’Neal is entering his 2nd year as the Associate Band Director at Haltom High School in the Birdville Independent School District after 7 years as the Percussion Coordinator for the entire Haltom Cluster. Prior to working at Haltom, Casey was an Assistant Band Director at Kennemer Middle School and the Battery Instructor for the Duncanville Independent School District. Casey received his Bachelor of Music Education from Morehead State University where he was a member of the Drumline, Steel Band, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Jazz Band.
Casey’s drum corps experience includes playing snare drum for the Magic Drum and Bugle Corps and Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Casey has also taught with the Glassmen and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.
Casey enjoys reading, playing board games and card games, and most of all, spending time with his family.
Jazper Saldana
Percussion Director, Haltom HS & Haltom, North Oaks, and Watauga Middle Schools
Jazper Saldana is currently entering his 2nd year as the Percussion Director for Haltom High School and Haltom, North Oaks, and Watauga Middle Schools. Originally from San Diego, California, Jazper moved to Denton, Texas in 2015 to continue pursuing his educational endeavors. He holds degrees in Percussion Performance from California State University – Long Beach and the University of North Texas. Performance credits include Pulse Percussion, RCC Indoor, Sacramento Mandarins, and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. He has taught a variety of high school/independent programs in the Southern California area as well as Texas including Westminster HS, Ayala HS, Sacramento Mandarins, and Vigilantes Indoor Percussion.
Caleb Santacruz
Assistant Band Director, 9th Grade Honors
A native of Waco, TX, Caleb Santacruz is entering his third year of teaching at Haltom High School. Caleb graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Texas Tech University in 2020 after student teaching in Leander ISD under the mentorship of Robert Herrings and Bryan Christian.
At Texas Tech, Caleb was a 4-year member of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and the Texas Tech performing wind bands. He was also the founding director of the Texas Tech Undergraduate Conducting Project. While in college, he served as a conducting assistant with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and worked with band programs in the Waco, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Lubbock areas.
Caleb’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Outside of teaching, Caleb enjoys going out on the lake, spending time with his friends and family, and traveling with his cat, Puma.
Preston Rice
Assistant Band Director, Concert Band A
Preston Rice is entering his first year as an Assistant Director of Bands at Haltom High School. Mr. Rice is a native of Bedford, TX, where he graduated from L.D. Bell High School. During his time at L.D. Bell, he was a three-time TMEA All-State Musician on euphonium. He received his Bachelor in Music Education from Texas Christian University where he studied euphonium with Mr. Richard Murrow and Dr. Clay Garrett. While at Texas Christian University, he was principal euphonium of the Wind Symphony under the direction of Mr. Bobby Francis. He also spent time playing French Horn in the TCU Concert Band, trombone in the TCU Basketball Band, and baritone in the TCU Marching Band. Outside of TCU, he was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps where he played baritone and trombone during the 2018 and 2019 Drum Corps International seasons.
Prior to working at Haltom, Mr. Rice was an assistant band director at Hurst Junior High in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. Mr. Rice is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority.
During his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, mountain biking, knee boarding, and fishing. Mr. Rice loves teaching, music, and most of all getting to work with students!
