Carlos Luna

Class of 2026

The late Rafael and Rafaela Luna are the parents of Carlos Luna, who is their eldest son. His parents endured a full livelihood as farmers who worked for the betterment of their children. Mr. Rafael Luna and Mrs. Rafaela Luna's formal schooling advanced to the third and eighth grade, respectively. After leaving the farm when Carlos graduated from Three Rivers High School, his parents resided and worked in Three Rivers. Mr. Luna has five brothers (Felix, David, Raymond, Thomas and Joaquin), and three sisters, (Sylvia, Mary and Gloria) whom he loves dearly, and always spoke very highly of each. He was also very blessed with six beautiful children and seven precious grandchildren, whom he positively impacted by being a living example of what it means to work hard! His grandson, Hiram, said…. “His passionate love for music was contagious and demonstrated the true power of touching the soul through mere ink, paper, and sound.”

Carlos’s parents taught the family how to work on the farm which included taking care of the livestock, driving a tractor to work the fields (at the extremely young age of eleven), and picking cotton, pulling broomcorn, and ear corn all by hand. When his brother Felix was asked, "Give us a brief description regarding how the way of life was for your family being young workers on the farm, as far as your father is concerned?" His stern response was, "Ralph, our father, was a very strict man who insisted that all things be done right the first time without fail. Ralph’s work ethic has been an example that we all follow to this very day." Carlos’ sister, Silvia, made references to their Mother; "Mom taught us to place God and family first. Her love and her unwavering strength to provide and teach us the meaning of family is truly a model we can all use in our everyday life, and a lesson that all of our family will pass on from generation to generation."

Mr. Luna began his educational career in first grade at Three Rivers Elementary with Mrs. Ann Fair as his teacher, whom he kept in contact with until her passing in 2012. He is a 1976 graduate of Three Rivers High School. Mr. Luna then received his Associate of Science Degree from Bee County College in Beeville in 1979, followed by his Bachelor of Music Degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX. In 2001, he earned his Master of Science in Educational Administration from Texas A&M International University in Laredo, TX.
In 1984, Mr. Luna inherited a U.I.L. 5A State Marching Championship Band after serving there as an assistant band director for two years. He was then named as Director of Bands for the J.W. Nixon Band in Laredo. This is a position he held for almost three decades. (A 5A band from that time would be classified as a 6A band today.)

During his successful 35 years in the field of Music Education, Mr. Luna was Coordinator of Bands for the Laredo Independent School District and served as Director of Fine Arts for Laredo I.S.D. As the Director of Fine Arts, he served many fine arts students in three Comprehensive High Schools, four Middle Schools, twenty Elementary Schools and a Fine Arts Magnet School. Mr. Luna served students and teachers at each of these schools in U.I.L. Academics, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Mariachi, Elementary Music, Art, Theatre Performing Arts, and Cheer/Drill Team.

Mr. Luna was a member of various Community and Professional Organizations including the Texas Music Adjudicator's Association (TMAA), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB), and Phi Beta Mu. He also served on the U.I.L. Sight reading Music Selection Committee and TMEA Honor Band Rules and Guidelines Committee.

Mr. Luna was an active clinician and adjudicator in Texas, Oklahoma, and Illinois. A tremendous honor bestowed upon him was the "Exemplary Lifetime Achievement Award in Music" from Laredo Community College. Mr. Luna received this award on behalf of his students and staff for earning an unprecedented 28 consecutive U.I.L. Sweepstakes Awards. He also received the "Laredo Gateway Rotary Club Vocational Excellence Award", and the Power of Partnership "Honoring the Elite" of the Community of Laredo award. Another profound and well-deserved recognition for Mr. Luna was in his hometown of Three Rivers, where many of his family were present, he received the Legendary Award where he was named "Three Rivers Legend" in 2010.

Professional Memberships and Affiliations include: Texas Music Educators Association State Board of Directors, TBA Region XIV representative, Member of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra Board of Directors, President of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra Board of Directors (three consecutive years), TMEA Region XIV President, TMEA Region XIV Band Organizer, TMEA All-State Tryouts Adjudicator, and TMEA 4A All-State Audition Chairperson.

Under the Direction of Mr. Carlos Luna, his students and band staff have earned recognition at many marching Band Competitions, some of which include U.I.L. Area and State Marching Band Contest Rankings. His Marching bands advanced from the Region level to the U.I.L. Area and State Marching Band Contest on several occasions. His Concert bands, including the J.W. Nixon High School Honors Winds Ensemble, won First Place and Honorable Mention Awards at the Prestigious Buccaneer Music Festival, as well as other festivals in Texas, Washington D.C. and Colorado. His band was a consistent TMEA State Honor Band contender for many years, ranking as high as eighth place in the State of Texas in Conference 5A. Under the direction of Mr. Luna, his bands have also won first place in the "UIL State Wind Ensemble Contest." at the University of Texas in Austin.

In December 2018, Mr. Luna was inducted into the TMEA Region XIV South Texas Band Directors Hall of Fame in Corpus Christi. One month later in January 2019, The Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce named and presented Mr. Luna as their "Educator of the Year." After retirement, he very proudly served an additional eight successful years as a Band Consultant for Tree Rivers I.S.D.

The J.W. Nixon High School Band was selected in 1994 to perform at the prestigious Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. A current Midwest International Band and Orchestra Board of Directors member quoted, "Being selected to perform at the Midwest International Conference is equivalent to winning the Super Bowl!”

On September 30, 2022, Laredo I.S.D. and J. W. Nixon High School had the Honors Winds Ensemble Rehearsal Hall dedicated to Mr. Luna. It is now named….. “The Carlos Luna Honors Winds Ensemble Rehearsal Hall." There was a beautiful dedication ceremony where many of his band students from different generations, close family members, music family, friends & colleagues were in attendance. It was such a precious privilege for those there to witness Mr. Luna conduct the band…. one last time. Weeks after his passing, his Alma Mater’s Band Hall at Three Rivers High School was also named after him, making it more evident how many lives he touched.

Carlos Luna was extremely proud of the numerous former students who have chosen to pursue Music Education as their field of profession. He was a huge family-man, an extremely hard worker, a high caliber professional, a rare talent, a Legend, and was always giving thanks to the Lord for the many blessings bestowed upon him and his family. If he was here, he would surely be thanking God, his parents, his former students, and the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame committee for this tremendous honor that will forever be remembered and cherished

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