Ernesto Constante:
Teacher, Musician, Perfomer
How it all began.
As a kid, I was always fascinated with music. I remember listening to songs on the radio and trying to figure out the melodies on a small electric keyboard that my parents bought me. I had a few musical influences growing up, mostly uncles and cousins that played musical instruments. It wasn’t until I got that small keyboard and discovered that I could make music that I found my passion.
Training Begins
I started my musical training playing trumpet in beginner band at Seale Junior High in Robstown, Texas in 1993 as a 7th grader. My instructor was Mr. Zamora, who was also the saxophone teacher. He pushed me to be the best that I could be, and I was mostly unstoppable as a beginner. I practiced as much as I could, and when we would compete in class, my goal was to be the top chair.
Middle School and High School
After my first year of band in Robstown, my family moved to Corpus Christi, TX and I became a member of the Calallen Band Program. As an 8th Grader, I excelled in music and earned 1st chair in the Region Band on trumpet (best in the Corpus Christi/Laredo region). In High School, I earned many accolades including principal trumpet player, 4A Area 1st chair (best trumpet player from South San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Eagle Pass, and El Paso) and I was ranked 14th best 4A trumpet player in the state. Additionally, I also made the Region Jazz Band 3 years in a row and was state ranked in Jazz (although I did not make the All State Jazz Band).
University and Beyond
In the fall of 1999 I enrolled at Texas A&M University – Kingsville. This is where my passion for music blossomed. I was the principal trumpet player in the Wind Ensemble for 3 years as well as a member of the Jazz Band 1. At TAMUK, I also learned to play oboe, saxophone, and violin. I was a member of the school’s woodwind quintet and Concert Band on oboe (soloist on Scheherezade), the school’s Jazz Band 3 as a lead alto sax player and featured soloist at our Jazz Festival, and played violin in the school’s mariachi. I really developed a passion for learning other instruments. I am currently expanding this passion by taking Violin lessons and Orchestra class at Del Mar College to improve my violin performance and pedagogy. I also perform regularly with Mariachi Mexicanisimo, a local mariachi group.
Career
From 2004 – 2021, I was a music educator. I taught at Cunningham Middle School (Corpus Christi ISD), Calallen Middle School (Calallen ISD), Las Vegas Academy (Clark County ISD), Alice High School (Alice ISD), and most recently Tuloso-Midway Middle School (TMISD). I am currently seeking a career in another field. My passion for music and teaching students has not changed at all. For health and personal reasons, I decided to leave the public teaching field and am looking to continue in a private setting.
As a performer, I perform regularly with Mariachi Mexicanisimo (violin). Other ensembles that I have performed with are the Corpus Christi Chamber Orchestra (violin), and the Corpus Christi Wind Symphony (trumpet/bassoon/bass clarinet),
The Bearded Violinist 