The Wilson Ram Band
Our mission is to cultivate a love for music and excellence in our students and community that will continue beyond our doors. The Wilson Ram Band takes pride in its daily improvement through hard work both as a team and individually. The bands have found consistent success at festivals around the North Texas area including sweepstakes awards at the annual UIL contests. Our students are fortunate to move forward in their music education through the award winning Vines High School Band and the Plano Senior High School Band once they move on from Wilson.
Directors
Abby Buniva, Director of Bands - [email protected]
Abby Buniva is in her first year as the Director of Bands at Wilson Middle School and her fourth year of teaching overall. She lives in Plano with her husband, Matthew, and their beloved fur babies, Casper and Arya.
Mrs. Buniva graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University. While at Texas Tech, she had the privilege of performing with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and TTU Flute Choir. She also served as one of the conductors in the Undergraduate Conducting Project, taught private lessons in Lubbock ISD, and held leadership roles as Uniform Manager and Section Leader with the Goin’ Band from Raiderland. Her student teaching experience in Melissa ISD allowed her to teach and direct band students from 6th through 12th grade. Mrs. Buniva also served as a sectional coach and drum major instructor for Melissa High School Mighty Cardinal Band for three years prior to student teaching.
Before stepping into her current role, Mrs. Buniva spent three years as the Associate Director of Bands at Wilson Middle School, where she enjoyed teaching Concert and Symphonic Bands as well as beginning woodwind classes. As Director of Bands, she looks forward to continuing her work with beginning woodwind students, adding beginning percussionists, and directing the Wind Ensemble.
Mrs. Buniva believes every student deserves to feel valued as part of something larger than themselves. She views band as a supportive home away from home—a safe space where students can grow not only as musicians but also as compassionate, well-rounded individuals who care about the world around them.
Outside of school, Mrs. Buniva enjoys hiking, journaling, playing piano, leading her junior girls’ group in the Chase Oaks student ministry, and cheering on the Red Raiders. As a Plano Wildcat graduate, she is thrilled to continue her career in her hometown with the Wilson Ram Band.
|
|
David Cavazos, Associate Director of Bands
David Cavazos is entering his first year of teaching at Wilson Middle School and comes to the area from Harlingen, Texas. He is a proud graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in music education Cum Laude and studied trumpet under Dr. Jake Walburn. During his time at SFA, Mr. Cavazos served as the Assistant Director of the Roarin’ Buzzsaws Pep Band, leading spirited game-day performances, campus pep rallies, and coordinating rehearsals and logistics to conference tournaments that took him to Las Vegas. He also managed social media for the SFA Trumpet Studio throughout his four years, boosting outreach and engagement with prospective students.
Mr. Cavazos brings a broad range of performance experience, having played in chamber ensembles, musicals, jazz bands, mariachi ensembles, symphony orchestras, and more. Notably, he performed with the SFA Trumpet Ensemble at the 2024 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Conference. He had the privilege to perform How Proud the Pines by Stephen Lias with the SFA Symphony Orchestra in honor of the university’s centennial celebration.
Outside of performance, Mr. Cavazos has served as a marching tech for the Elsik High School Marching Band for the past three seasons, worked as a counselor for the SFASU Summer Band Camps, and provided private trumpet lessons to students during his senior year of college.
His teaching philosophy emphasizes musical excellence, leadership, and life skills that extend far beyond the band hall. Mr. Cavazos is committed to creating an inclusive, structured, and engaging environment where students of all backgrounds can thrive through differentiated instruction, collaboration, and personal growth.
Mr. Cavazos's coffee of choice is a cold brew, and he enjoys traveling, playing Sims 4, and watching documentaries in his spare time. He is thrilled to be joining the Plano community and the Wilson Ram Band this fall and looks forward to a fantastic year ahead!
David Cavazos is entering his first year of teaching at Wilson Middle School and comes to the area from Harlingen, Texas. He is a proud graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in music education Cum Laude and studied trumpet under Dr. Jake Walburn. During his time at SFA, Mr. Cavazos served as the Assistant Director of the Roarin’ Buzzsaws Pep Band, leading spirited game-day performances, campus pep rallies, and coordinating rehearsals and logistics to conference tournaments that took him to Las Vegas. He also managed social media for the SFA Trumpet Studio throughout his four years, boosting outreach and engagement with prospective students.
Mr. Cavazos brings a broad range of performance experience, having played in chamber ensembles, musicals, jazz bands, mariachi ensembles, symphony orchestras, and more. Notably, he performed with the SFA Trumpet Ensemble at the 2024 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Conference. He had the privilege to perform How Proud the Pines by Stephen Lias with the SFA Symphony Orchestra in honor of the university’s centennial celebration.
Outside of performance, Mr. Cavazos has served as a marching tech for the Elsik High School Marching Band for the past three seasons, worked as a counselor for the SFASU Summer Band Camps, and provided private trumpet lessons to students during his senior year of college.
His teaching philosophy emphasizes musical excellence, leadership, and life skills that extend far beyond the band hall. Mr. Cavazos is committed to creating an inclusive, structured, and engaging environment where students of all backgrounds can thrive through differentiated instruction, collaboration, and personal growth.
Mr. Cavazos's coffee of choice is a cold brew, and he enjoys traveling, playing Sims 4, and watching documentaries in his spare time. He is thrilled to be joining the Plano community and the Wilson Ram Band this fall and looks forward to a fantastic year ahead!
|
|
|
|
|