Melanie Kulaga is a native of Louisiana, she is in her fourth year as an Associate Band Director at Harlingen High School. Miss Kulaga received her Bachelor of Music degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Miss Kulaga studied trumpet with Mr. David Scott, Professor of Trumpet at McNeese State University. In addition to playing in the university Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Trumpet Choir, Miss Kulaga played second trumpet in the Faculty Brass Quintet, Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra, and the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. She attended the Empire Brass Seminar at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts and played trumpet at Fiesta Texas (Opera Land) Park in San Antonio, Texas for two summers. Her affiliations include the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the International Trumpet Guild, and Sigma Alpha Iota.