Manuel Gonzales began his color guard career as a senior member of the 2007 Red Oak High School Color Guard in Red Oak, Texas. After High School he went on to attend The University of Texas at Arlington to study music where he was a member of the Maverick Marching Band, Jazz Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Orchestra as a lead trumpet player. In 2011, he continued to pursue his love for color guard as a member of the Independent A Class Winter Guard, White Gold, earning a bronze medal at the WGI Championships. He then went on to march with the Independent World Winter Guard Black Gold for their 2012 season. After college graduation, Manuel went on to perform during the winter guard season with Cypress Independent From Houston, TX in 2013, 2016, and 2018.
While attending college, he decided to begin to share his love for the activity as an educator for several high school, independent, and drum corps color guard programs throughout the country earning Texas Color Guard Circuit State Finalist, North Texas Color Guard Association Champions, UIL State Marching contest Finalist, BOA Regional Finalist, and WGI Finalist spots as well as medaling in 2014 with a silver medal. In 2017 he performed as an air blade member with Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl LI Halftime show. During the winter seasons of 2017 – 2019, Manuel also served on the staff for the 8 time world class WGI finalist, Cypress Independent as well as served in the role as the flag technician for the Phantom Regiment in 2017-2019.
Manuel hopes to assist today’s performers in the refinement of their craft through true love and passion for the color guard activity.