Mark Calima
Music Event Director & Music Performance Specialist - Sales, TX Office
I love to travel, sing, and eat at unique restaurants.
When I Joined ETA & What I Love About Working Here
Professional Background
Mark Calima is the Music Performance Specialist and Event Director for Music Travel Adventures by ETA. Through his extensive background as a former band director, he specializes in creating and executing seamless band trips for his clients including the Bands of America Grand Nationals and Super Regionals, UIL Texas State Marching Band Competitions, The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the Music For All National Concert Festival. In addition to competitions and festivals, his clients have participated in worthwhile workshops and performances in Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Believe NYC, and the Bluebonnet Music Festival.
As a band director, Mark Calima has completed 14 years of teaching and began his career as the Associate Band Director at Westfield High School in Houston, TX. During his time at Westfield, he assisted the band to achieve many accomplishments, including being named the 2003 Bands of America Grand National Champion. Westfield HS Concert Bands, under his direction, were consistent Texas UIL Sweepstakes Award Winners as well as “Best in Class” at statewide festivals. In 2010, Mr. Calima opened Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, TX as the Director of Bands. Within a very short amount of time, the Cedar Ridge HS Marching Band became a consistent Bands of America Regional Finalist and Caption Winner, a UIL 6A State Marching Band Participant, as well as a BOA Grand National Finalist in 2013. Also in 2013, the Cedar Ridge HS Low Brass Choir was invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, in addition to the annual UIL Sweepstakes Awards given to the Cedar Ridge Concert Bands. In 2015, Mr. Calima returned to Westfield HS as the Director of Bands and has continued the rich traditions of musical excellence. The Westfield HS Percussion Ensemble performed at the 2015 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, which marked the second ensemble under Mr. Calima’s direction to perform at this recognized event. Mark Calima has been awarded the “Who’s Who Among America’s High School Teachers” and has been a campus “Teacher of the Year”. He is now an adjudicator and consultant across Texas and the country, in addition to loving travel and exploring the world for unique and new flavorful food.
Fun Facts About Mark
Interesting Facts
I have a degree in Music Education as well as a degree in Chemistry
Favorite Place Traveled:
New York City – I am a huge Broadway Theater Fan
Favorite subject to study in school:
Chemistry – I thought it was super fun to learn about the composition of the world
Most Recent Passport Stamp:
Dominican Republic
Most unexpected moment while traveling:
Getting to use the currency exchange on great days when the US Dollar is worth alot!
Window seat or aisle seat?
Aisle – I like to stretch out into the aisle
Dream destination (not yet visited):
Iceland.
Go-to travel snack:
Anything low carb.
One thing I hope students gain from traveling:
Experiences that they can share with other students that were not on the trip, hoping the ones that did not go on the trip will join the next time around.
