KINGSVILLE (March 5, 2025) — Senior Michael Vara has received the Presser Award for the School of Music at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK). The award comes from the Presser Foundation, an organization that supports schools of music across the country.
Each year the School of Music faculty selects one graduating senior to receive the award that includes a financial gift and the opportunity to be known as a Presser Scholar.
“When I found out I was awarded the Presser Scholar Award, it was definitely a surreal moment for me,” Vara said. “I know this award is granted to only one person per university, so receiving it is truly an honor.
I really owe my gratitude to my professor of percussion, Dr. Ben Tomlinson, who pushed me to become the best student I can be and proving to myself that I am worthy of an award like this,” he added. “Receiving this award means so much to me and it reassures me that I am on the path to become a great music educator in the state of Texas.”
“This is a huge honor for Michael,” Tomlinson said. “The Presser Foundation supports schools of music across the country and each year the Texas A&M-Kingsville School of Music faculty selects one graduating senior to receive the award. The foundation established the award to give to students who have achieved a high level of musical and academic excellence and a track record of leadership and service.”
Tomlinson said Vara has excelled in both his musical growth and academic disciplines in his time at TAMUK. “He is a leader in the TAMUK Percussion Studio and he served as our undergraduate percussion teaching assistant for the 2024 Javelina Marching Band. This is a position created for him to assist the music faculty in the instruction and logistics of the marching band’s percussion section.
“In addition, Michael also worked as a theory tutor in our theory lab for many years, assisting students who needed help in their theory courses.”
Vara was also the recipient of a Texas Music Educators Association Student Teaching Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year and he competed in the 2024 TIERRAS South Texas Percussion Competition hosted at TAMUK.
A Taft native, Vara said “Growing up, academics have always been a priority for me and have pushed me toward success. I have had many amazing teachers and mentors that helped me along the way. They helped me become a four-time All-State band member as well as valedictorian of the Taft High School Class of 2021.
“This led to many scholarship opportunities on my way into college. With the amazing staff at Texas A&M-Kingsville, I was able to enhance and define my passion for music and teaching in the pursuit of my bachelor’s degree in music education. In my time here in Kingsville, I have performed in numerous ensembles, helped consult percussion programs at different schools and received different awards including the Outstanding Freshman Award and the TMEA Student Teaching Scholarship,” Vara said.
Vara is currently student teaching in the Flour Bluff ISD and is due to graduate in May. During his time at Texas A&M-Kingsville, he has been part of numerous ensembles including the Wind Symphony, the Symphonic Band, the Percussion Ensemble, Mariachi Javelina, the Javelina Marching Band, the Kingsville Winds and the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra.
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