RESUME
CREDENTIALS................................................................................................................
• California Professional Clear Single Subject Instruction Credential, Music.
University of California, Los Angeles, June 1988. Renewed 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2023.
• California Clear Cross Cultural, Language, and Academic Development Credential (CLAD), 2008.
EDUCATION...................................................................................................................
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, August 1996.
Master of Science Degree, Music Education.
• University of California, Los Angeles, June 1988.
Teacher Education Laboratory, Graduate School of Education.
• University of California, Los Angeles, June 1987.
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Music Education.
TEACHING/DIRECTING EXPERIENCE................................................................................
• Instrumental Music Teacher, Arnold O. Beckman High School, 2004 - Present.
2026, 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2011 & 2009 Invitee to New York International Band & Orchestra Festival, Carnegie Hall, New York
2014-2025 Invitee to Orange County Philharmonic Society High School Festival, Segerstrom Hall
2019 & 2015 California Gold Ribbon School, Exemplary Program: Visual & Performing Arts
2016 Grammy National Music Educator Award Semi-Finalist
2016 & 2012 Invitee to Los Angeles International Music Festival, Disney Hall, Los Angeles
2014 & 2008 Invitee to National Cherry Festival Parade, Washington D.C.
2011 & 2008 California Distinguished School
2007 Invitee to National Invitational Festival, Carnegie Hall New York.
2006 Teacher of the Year
Choral Director 2005-2006
• Choral Director, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles, 2010 - 2021 (Retired).
Assistant Director, 2004-2010
2004 Los Angeles Magazine’s “Best Church Choir in Los Angeles”
• Orchestra Teacher, Tustin High School, 2000-2005.
2005 Invitee to National Invitational Festival, Carnegie Hall, New York.
• Instrumental Music Teacher, Columbus Tustin Middle School, 1994-2004.
1999 California Distinguished School
1999 Teacher of the Year
• Instrumental Music Teacher, C.E. Utt Middle School, 1994-1996.
• Instrumental Music Teacher, Vina Danks Middle School, 1988-1994.
• Counselor, Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp, Summer 1994 & 1995.
• Woodwind Teacher, Alta Loma Music, 1990.
The 1989 winner of Music & Sound National Award “Most Effective Education Program.”
• Student Teacher, Grant Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Mark Twain Junior High School, & Paul Revere Junior High School, 1987-1988.
PUBLICATIONS..............................................................................................................
• MASTERS THESIS: Nineteenth Century Bands in Orange County, California
• 3 Schubert Waltzes, JPM, 2000.
• “Anaheim Band, 1897-1899,” Journal of Band Research, Winter, 1999.
• “Audition Tips,” Bandworld, May 1998.
• “Scales Through Tetrachords,” Bandworld, May, 1996.
• “I’m Going To Audition, Now What?,” Bandworld, April, 1995.
• “Toot Your Own Horn,” Bandworld, January, 1994.
• “Everyone Can Play in Twelve Keys!,” Part 2, Bandworld, September, 1990.
• “Everyone Can Play in Twelve Keys!,” Part 1, Bandworld, August, 1990.
• Everyone Can Play in Twelve Keys, Copyright 1990, renewed 1992.
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP............................................................................................
• Department Chair, Visual & Performing Arts, Beckman High School, 2006-present.
• Southern California School Band & Orchestra District Festival Host, 2000-present.
• Orange County Register Varsity Arts Top 10 Artist Selection Committee, 2014 -2015, 2017, 2019,
2021 - 2025.
• Tustin Unified School District Visual & Performing Arts Steering Committee Co-Leader, 2024.
• Secondary Instrumental Music Lead Teacher, Tustin Unified School District, 2021-2024.
• California Music Educator's Association Council of Representatives, CMEA State Band & Orchestra Festival Coordinator, 2020-2022.
• Virtual Instruction Trainer of Teachers, Tustin Unified School District, 2020 - 2021.
• Induction Mentor, Tustin Unified School District, 2018- 2020.
• Technology Fellow, Tustin Unified School District, 2013-2015.
• Co-Leader, 2007 Beckman High School WASC Accreditation: Organization, Vision, Purpose, Governance, Leadership and Staff, and Resources.
• President, Columbus Tustin Middle School Site Council, 2001-04, 1998-99, Member, 1996-98,
2000-01.
• Director, Tustin Unified School District Middle School Honors Concert, 2002.
Organized all aspects of producing a district-wide honors concert including auditioning and selection of students, working with guest conductor, and managing 150 participants.
• Department Chair, Columbus Tustin Middle School, 1997-2004.
• Board of Directors, Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association, Vice-President, Middle School & Elementary Education, 1999-2001.
• Tustin Unified School District Subject Area Council, 1996-2001.
• Pioneer Middle School Design Team, Tustin Unified School District, 1997-98.
• Mentor Teacher, Tustin Unified School District, 1996-97.
Organized the effort to include string orchestra at the high school level. Wrote and was awarded grants to support instrumental music instruction. Organized string workshop for district music teachers.
• Chair, Tustin Unified School District Facilities Committee, 1995-96.
This district wide committee was comprised of representatives from Tustin’s educational and business community. A plan for more effective use and improvement of the district’s facilities resources was developed, presented, and adopted by the Board of Education.
• Board of Directors, San Bernardino Music Educator’s Association, Secondary Orchestra Representative, 1993-94.
Increased participation in honor orchestra from 30 to 110. Coordinated all aspects of forming 110 piece secondary symphony orchestra, including recruitment of students, guest conductor, clinicians, managing the orchestra and producing a concert with over 300 participants.
• Ontario-Montclair School District Visual and Performing Arts School of Choice Task Force, 1993-94.
This task force examined performing arts intensive curricula at schools throughout California. The task force then created, presented, and implemented a school of choice, Buena Vista Elementary, for the 1995-96 school year. This school is currently operating according to plan.
• Mentor Teacher, Ontario-Montclair School District, 1993-94.
Designed and implemented district string instrument renovation project. All district instruments were catalogued on a database that was created for this project. Contracts for repair were sent out and a plan for preventive maintenance was developed.
• Chair, Vina Danks School Site Leadership Council, 1993-94, Member 1991-1993.
• Department Chair, Vina Danks Visual & Performing Arts Department, 1992-94.
Conducted a self-study of the Vina Danks Arts Program and created a 3-year plan for improvement.
PRESENTATIONS, SEMINARS, & CLINICS.........................................................................
• Chapman University, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, March 2021.
Seminar entitled “Building a Successful String Program.”
• Vanguard University, October 2020.
Seminar entitled “Successful Interviews for the Music Teacher.”
• Vanguard University, October 2018.
Seminar entitled “Successful Interviews for the Music Teacher.”
• TUSD Summer Institute, August 2017.
Seminar entitled “From Proficiency to Artistry.”
• Church Music Institute, Greek Orthodox Diocese, Las Vegas, January 2013.
Seminar entitled "Music of Epiphany."
• Summer Music Forum, Greek Orthodox Diocese, San Francisco, June 2011.
New choral music clinic.
• California Baptist University, Collinsworth School of Music, January 2011.
Seminar entitled “Organizing the School Music Program.”
• California Music Educators Association, State Conference, 2001.
Clinic entitled “Implementing the California Visual & Performing Arts Framework in the Concert Band Rehearsal.”
• Southern California School Band & Orchestra Conference, Fall 2000.
Clinic entitled “Implementing the California Visual & Performing Arts Framework in the Concert Band Rehearsal.”
• California Music Educators Association, Southern Section Conference, Winter 2000.
Clinic entitled “How To Start A String Program From Scratch.”
• Orange Community Historical Society, November 1998.
Lecture entitled "The Orange City Band in the Nineteenth Century."
• Southern California School Band & Orchestra Conference, Fall 1998.
Clinic entitled “Toot Your Own Horn: Public Relations for the School Music Program” and “New Teacher Forum.”
• Southern California School Band & Orchestra Conference, Spring 1998.
Clinic entitled “Toot Your Own Horn: Public Relations for the school music program.”
• University of Illinois, July 1996.
Seminar entitled “Research in Music Education; Brass Bands in Orange County.”
• California Music Educator’s Association, Southern Section Conference, Winter 1994.
Clinic entitled “Everyone Can Play in 12 Keys!” and “Promoting Your Program” (with Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times)
• Southern California School Band & Orchestra Conference, Fall 1992.
Clinic entitled “Everyone Can Play in 12 Keys!”
• California Music Educator’s Association, Southern Section Conference, Winter 1991.
Clinic entitled “Everyone Can Play in 12 Keys!”
GUEST CONDUCTING & ADJUDICATION..........................................................................
• Conductor, Tustin Unified School District Honor Orchestra, January, 2024.
• Adjudicator, Irvine Unified School District Orchestra Festival, March, 2023.
• Conductor, Tustin Unified School District Honor Orchestra, January, 2023.
• Conductor, Greek Orthodox Diocese Conference Choir, June, 2013.
• Conductor, San Bernardino County High School Honor Orchestra, February, 2012.
• Conductor, San Bernardino County Concert Orchestra, March 2000.
• Auditioner, Southern California School Band & Orchestra All-Southern California High School Honor Band, January 2000.
• Adjudicator, Orange County Philharmonic Society “Ed Doyle” Vocal Scholarship Competition, April 2000.
• Conductor, San Bernardino County High School Honor Orchestra, 1998.
• Auditioner, San Bernardino County Music Educator’s Association All-County Jr. High Honor Band, 1994.
• Conductor, Ontario-Montclair School District Jr. High Orchestra, 1993.
ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS..............................................................................................
• I have been very effective in grant writing, fundraising, and seeking donations for school music programs. To date, I have raised in excess of $1,000,000 for music education in the Tustin Unified School District.
• In 1994, organized the effort and coordinated all aspects of establishing a string program in the Tustin Unified School District, including grant writing, recruitment of students, soliciting support and donations from community businesses, service organizations, and private donors, and the acquisition of instruments.
• Increased participation in the Beckman High School instrumental program from 3 classes in 2004 to over 400 students in 8 classes in 2018. Established the choral program at Beckman High School.
•Produced the first four full-length Broadway musicals at Beckman High School (The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, State Fair!, and Beauty & the Beast), including grant writing, advertisement, coordinating operating budgets of $30,000, hiring and managing personnel, and rehearsing and conducting the production.
• Increased participation in the Tustin High School Orchestra 6 students in 2000 to 34 students in 2004.
• Increased participation in the Columbus Tustin M.S. Instrumental Music program from 100 students (4 classes) in 1994-95 to a high of 292 students (6 classes) in 2003-04. Established two string orchestras and a symphony orchestra.
• Increased participation in Vina Danks M.S. Instrumental Music program from 120 students in 1989-90 to a high of 225 students in 1992-93. Established two string orchestras and a symphony orchestra.
• Organized music, musical instrument, and equipment inventories including purchase of new instruments and repair budgets including all music purchases relating to the opening of Beckman High School.
•Organized educational field trips, including logistics, itineraries, and transportation to New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco.
• Enlisted support for music program from members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Orange County Philharmonic Society. Organized the visits of many guest clinicians, including Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Guido Lamel, Kronos Quartet, Dover Quartet, members of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Coordinated the recruitment of elementary students and junior high students into the music program and worked to vertically align curriculum.
• Organized communications between music parents and students, school and district personnel, community businesses, elected officials, and media by way of newsletters, press releases, and social media.
• Organized and hosted multiple SCSBOA District Band & Orchestra (19 years) and Solo & Ensemble Music Festivals (5 years).
• Managed coaching staff for the instrumental music program.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT......................................................................................
• Tustin Unified School District Professional Development, 1994-2024.
• OC Can You Play With Us? Pacific Symphony, 2017.
• Tustin Unified School District Technology Fellow, 2013-2015.
• Pacific Chorale Summer Festival Choir, 2012-14.
• Southern California School Band and Orchestra Conferences, 1988-2010.
• California Music Educator’s Association Conferences, 1988-2001.
• Mid-West International Band & Orchestra Clinic, Chicago, 1990-94, 1999.
• California Arts Project Sampler, May 1993.
• Berklee in Los Angeles Summer Jazz Studies Program, July, 1992.
• Upland Professional Development Workshop 1989.
• Lee Cantor Assertive Discipline Workshop 1988-89.
• Additional coursework taken at California State University at San Bernardino, CSU Fullerton, CSU San Francisco, and CSU San Diego, University of San Diego, Orange Coast College, and Fullerton College.
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE........................................................................................
ORCHESTRAL
•"OC Can You Play?" – Pacific Symphony Orchestra
•UCI Symphony Orchestra, "Hansel & Gretel."
•UCLA Symphony Orchestra
•Santa Monica College Community Orchestra
WIND ENSEMBLES
•Claremont Wind Symphony
•UCLA Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band
•University of Illinois Bands
•Anaheim Community Band
MUSICAL THEATER
•Tustin Area Council of the Fine Arts (Pit Orchestras), "Wizard of Oz," "Cinderella," "Grease."
•Showcase Benefit Productions (Pit Orchestra), "Cabaret"
•UCLA Theater Department (Pit Orchestras), "A Little Night Music," "A Chorus Line," "Merrily We Roll Along," "Most Happy Fella."
JAZZ BANDS
•Mike Henebry Big Band
•Max Bishop Big Band
•Al Sanada Big Band
•Close Harmony Jazz Band
•Senior Class Big Band
•University of Illinois Jazz Band
•UCLA Jazz Band
MARCHING BANDS
•1984 Olympic All-American Marching Band
•UCLA Marching Band
CHORAL
•Pacific Chorale Summer Festival Choirs
•St. Sophia Cathedral Greek Orthodox Choir
•St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Choir
HONORS & AWARDS......................................................................................................
• Superior Ratings, Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association Festivals, 2022-2024, 2006-2019, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1993, 1992.
• Invitee, Vienna Conducting Competition, Vienna, Austria, 2023.
• American Prize, 3rd Place, Orchestral Performance, Youth & School Orchestra Division, 2023.
• American Prize in Conducting, Finalist, Honorable Mention, Youth & School Orchestra Division, 2023.
• Invitee, Lake Como International Conducting Competition, Bellano, Italy, 2022.
• American Prize in Conducting, 2nd Place, Youth & School Orchestra Division, 2021.
• American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music, 2nd Place, Youth & School Orchestra Division, 2021.
• American Prize in Orchestral Performance, 3rd Place, High School Orchestra Division, 2021.
• Orange County Outstanding Arts Educator Award, 2021.
• American Prize in Orchestral Performance, National Finalist, High School Orchestra Division, 2020.
• American String Teachers Association Southern Section Classroom Teacher of the Year, 2018.
• Orange County High School Instrumental Music Educator of the Year, 2018.
• Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra Music Educator of the Year, 2017.
• Grammy Music Educator Award Semi-Finalist, 2017.
• Gold Award, New York International Band & Orchestra Festival, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017.
• Gold Award, Los Angeles International Band & Orchestra Festival, Disney Hall, Los Angeles, 2012.
• National Invitational Festival, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 2005 & 2007.
• Teacher of the Year, Beckman High School, 2006.
• Superior Ratings, Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association Regional Festivals, 2006.
• Who’s Who in America, multiple years since 2003.
• Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, multiple years since 1994.
• Finalist, Orange County Arts Educator of the Year Award, 2003 & 2000.
• Nominee, Disney American Teacher Award, 2001-2003.
• Nominee, Orange County Arts Award, 2001.
• “Toast of the Town Award,” Town & Country Committee, Orange County Philharmonic Society, 2001.
• Teacher of the Year, Columbus Tustin Middle School, 1998-99.
• Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association, Pied Piper Award, 1996.
• Vina Danks Middle School PTSA Honorary Service Award, 1992.
AFFILIATIONS..............................................................................................................
• American String Teachers Association
• Music Educators National Conference
• California Music Educators Association
• Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association
• National Education Association
• Tustin Area Council for the Fine Arts
• Beckman High School PTO
• Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Music Fraternity
