Department of Fine and Performing Arts

Program Aid Pianist
FPA 217B
mary.carroll@tamiu.edu

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Dr. Mary Grace Galván-Carroll enjoys a multifaceted career as a pianist, educator, collaborator, and advocate for the arts. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in piano performance from the University of Miami, a Master of Music (MM) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Music (BM) from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she is a Distinguished Alumnus.

Highlighting her contributions to music education and performance, she was inducted into the Del Mar College Wall of Honor in 2024.  

While in college, her primary instructors included J. Robert Floyd, William Masselos, Thomas Mastroianni, and Marilyn Babel.  Collaborations include performances with Ney Rosauro, Tammy Tune, Adrienne Dandrich, Luis Casal, Gerardo Garcia-Cano, Brendan Townsend and Carol Wincenc.

Dr. Carroll has performed with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, JW Alexander High School Symphonic Band, Del Mar College Orchestra (Corpus Christi, Texas), and Drake University Orchestra (Des Moines, Iowa).  She has shared her pedagogical experiences at local, state, national and international conferences, and served on panels for textbook review and curriculum revision for the Texas Education Agency. 

Dr. Carroll and her husband, Vernon Carroll, relocated from Natchitoches, Louisiana, to join the faculty at the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communication & Fine Arts in Laredo in 1994. During her time at VMT, Dr. Carroll built and maintained South Texas's premier high school piano program.  In 2019, VMT was recognized as an exemplary scholastic program by the Texas Cultural Trust. VMT is one of only a few schools in Texas to be a recipient of the TCT's Medal of Arts.

In 1949, Dr. Carroll’s grandfather, Rafael Galván Sr., opened the Galván Ballroom in Corpus Christi. While showcasing his four sons, who were all musicians,  the first interracial dance hall in South Texas also hosted renowned performers including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Duke Ellington, and Trio Los Panchos,  Continuing this family tradition, Dr. Carroll regularly plays at the Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi.

A member of the music faculty at Texas A&M International University since 2023, Dr. Carroll remains dedicated to serving the Laredo community as an arts education advocate and facilitator.