The Reagan Choir department is fortunate to have three full time directors with 41 years of combined experience leading our students. We also have two voice teachers available for students with studios on campus for private lessons.

Mary Cowart is the Head Choir Director at Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Cowart began her teaching career at Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Texas. She relocated to San Antonio in 1999 and began teaching private voice lessons for NEISD high schools, including Reagan. In 2005, she became an Associate Director at Reagan High School under Jo Scurlock-Dillard and is now in her ninth year as the Head Director there.
Ms. Cowart's choirs have consistently received Sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contests, and each year multiple students have been selected to participate in the Texas All-State Choirs. Under her direction, Reagan Choir has performed in many venues in the US, Europe, and South America, including the Washington National Cathedral, Notre Dame Cathedral, and St. Peter's Basilica.
Ms. Cowart has a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Art in Music from Brigham Young University as well as a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Rice University. She continues to sing and perform as a soloist whenever the opportunity presents itself and has been singing with the San Antonio Chamber Choir since 2006. Mary is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and spends a lot of time volunteering there when she isn't directing her students or spending time with her dogs.

Christian De la Cruz is an Associate Choir Director at Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX. Christian is in his ninth year of teaching and is the primary director for the Non-Varsity Men, Varsity Men, Varsity Symphonic Choir Kantorei, and the award-winning female pop a cappella ensemble Chantez Nouvelle. Under his direction, his choirs have earned consistent Superior ratings at the UIL Concert & Sight Reading Competitions and have earned high praises for their innovative programming, vibrant tone color, and genuine heartfelt performances. He is also the associate minister of music at FPC New Braunfels and is the executive camp administrator for the Texas State Choir Camp.
Mr. De la Cruz graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University with a Bachelors in Music Education and a Minor in Mathematics thanks to the Terry Foundation Full Ride Scholarship. He was also awarded the College of Fine Arts Presidential Scholarship, the Texas Music Educators Association Scholarship, the Texas Choral Director's Association Scholarship and was named most Outstanding Future Music Educator by the Texas State School of Music.
Side by side the dynamic team of directors and voice teachers at Reagan High School and their feeder middle schools, the choir department has been incredibly proud to have the highest number of all-staters in Texas for the past 7 out of 9 years. Christian, a former three year all-stater himself, discovered his passion for choir during his middle school region experiences. He has conducted and toured with choirs in Peru, Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. He has also sung professionally and recorded two albums with the San Antonio Chamber Choir, the premier professional choir in San Antonio. Still, his greatest joy comes from spending time with his lovely wife, Audrey, and adorable daughter, Rose.

​Amanda Jeffries-Hardy is in her ninth year of teaching and her third year as an Associate Director at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX. She began her teaching career at Woodrow Wilson Junior High in Dayton, TX, where she was awarded Rookie Teacher of the Year and also taught at Eisenhower Middle School in San Antonio, TX before coming to Reagan. Mrs. Jeffries-Hardy holds a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
​Mrs. Jeffries-Hardy has performed internationally in the Abbeys of England and the breathtaking cathedrals of France, Austria, and Italy. This summer (July 2019), she will conduct the Reagan Choir in the Leonardo da Vinci International Choral Festival in Florence, Italy. Choirs under her direction have received numerous Sweepstakes ratings at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert and Sight Reading competition. She also serves as a clinician, guest conductor, and judge for various high school and middle school competitions in San Antonio, TX and surrounding areas. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Choir Directors Associations, as well as the Texas Music Adjudicators Association where she currently serves as a UIL Concert and Sight Reading judge for the Fort Worth area.
Amanda has been a Reagan Rattler since 2001 and is a proud alumni of the choir program at Reagan High School. As a Reagan Choir member, she received superior ratings in UIL Solo and Ensemble competitions and was a member of the 2005 Texas All-State Choir. Outside of her choir life, she enjoys spending time with her husband, hiking with her dogs, kayaking, singing, and visiting farmer’s markets and festivals named after food. Mrs. Jeffries-Hardy has a passion for teaching music and believes strongly that what her students learn with joy, they will never forget.

RONALD REAGAN HIGH SCHOOL

19000 RONALD REAGAN DR.

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78258

210-356-1800