Directors

Thomas Mann, M.M.

Fine Arts Department Chair

Director of Orchestras, Classical Guitar Ensembles, The New Music Ensemble, and AP Music Theory

Thomas Mann graduated with a BA in Music at Texas State University with a focus on piano and composition and completed his Master of Music in Composition. Thomas is a board member of The National Association of Composers, USA-Texas Chapter as well as an active member of several other organizations and associations. He plays Piano, Hammond Organ, Rhodes, Guitar and Bass in several genres and with various artists around Texas.. 

Along with teaching and live performances, he does studio work, arranging and composing for pop, jazz and modern works. Thomas has written and premiered pieces at conferences across the country and has won composition competitions at the University and Professional Organization level. His catalogue of compositions has been rapidly expanding and gaining attention, notably a set of Art Songs that have had repeat calls for performances and the release of a nontraditional quartet piece with PARMA records. He studied with composition professors Dr. Thomas Clark, Dr. Michael Ippolito, Richard Hall and Dr. Russell Reipe along with acclaimed pianist Dr. Washington Garcia at Texas State University, and Dr. Bruce Pennycook of the University of Texas. Mr. Mann always strives to be well rounded and disciplined in music while driving for more knowledge and ability without sacrificing creativity in performance, composition and teaching practices. 

Susana Diaz-Lopez

AISD Mariachi Facilitator 

Director of Mariachi Ensemble, Assistant Director of Classical Guitar Ensembles, Mariachi Region 18 Chair

Susana Diaz-Lopez is a graduate of Washburn University, where she pursued a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Education. She has been a part of the Washburn University Wind Ensemble & Orchestra Principal French Horn Player, the Women of Music Concert, a French Horn Performer for 12 years, a Classical Guitar Performer for seven years, the Washburn University Classical Guitar Studio and Topeka Community Guitar Ensemble and many more. 

She serves as the Austin Independent School District Mariachi Facilitator and TMEA Region 18 Mariachi Chair. She has received awards and acknowledgments like attaining the Teacher of Promise in her first year of teaching. Before receiving the Classical Guitar and Mariachi Director position at Akins High School, Susana had been working with Austin Classical Guitar as a private instructor and teacher. She has had the opportunity to work with the Education team of ACG with the Juvenile Justice Programs. Susana recently moved back to Texas in January 2021; and has been teaching at Akins High School for 4 years. Through her years at Akins her Mariachi group has gained many acknowledges from the community, like PBS, KUTX radio and more. They have made history by attending the UIL Mariachi competition and bringing home a trophy in 2024. Through these experiences, Susana has evolved as a person and as a teacher.