Maria Lopez, Parent Center Coordinator and Dumas graduate, accepted the position as the Dumas Middle School Band Director starting the 2023-24 school year.
Lopez, whograduated from Dumas High School in 2018, became parent center coordinator for the Dumas School District late 2022. Lopez attended University of Arkansas at Monticello and graduated with a Bachelors in Arts and Music emphasizing Instrumental. Starting Fall 2023, Lopez will be both Dumas Middle School Band Director and Dumas Parent Center Coordinator. She will also be assisting Leah Venable with the high school band, and working with her to administer the beginner band.
Throughout Lopez’s academic career she has been involved in show and concert band. She first picked up an instrument in 2011 as a beginner under the administration of Leah Venable and Charles Freeman. Lopez said growing up “we did not have a lot”, she couldn’t buy a brand new instrument like her classmates. She bought a used flute from a Dumas resident and refurbished it. Lopez quickly learned how to play the flute and said she was known as a “stereotypical band student” amongst her peers. She said she stayed to herself and frequently practiced in the band hall. Lopez describes herself as “competitive” and always did her best to get first chair. Lopez became drum major of what was then the Jr. High Marching Band during her freshman year.
“It's not that I don't like losing, It’s knowing I didn’t give my all to it,” said Lopez. Dumas High School band director, Leah Venable describes her as a “go-getter” and says, “She made all region band as a seventh-grader, which was really unheard of for Dumas.”
As she got to Dumas High School, Lopez wanted to pick up another hobby. She was encouraged to try out for the majorette team by her friend, Jalyn Miller. After many practices with Miller, Lopez quickly gained confidence in her craft. Before the tryouts, she was constantly told it would be difficult to compete with the other girls who had been practicing for years. She successfully completed the tryouts and made the team, then later became co-captain. After high school she joined the UAM Weevil Band and performed as their only majorette and first majorette in a long time, according to Leah Venable. Just recently Lopez was granted the opportunity to teach the UAM Auxiliary Camp.
Lopez said she has made a family of her work staff and is excited for the future. Leah
Venable says “I am super excited to have her at Dumas because I know that she will care as much about the students as I do.”
