Tag Archives: Music Teachers

Teachers who specialized in music.

Alabama’s Chris Cooper to lead Homewood Marching Band in Rose Parade

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This New Year’s Day, the Homeworrd Patriot Band from the city of Homewood in central Alabama will be marching in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade. The group will be led by Homewood Director of Bands Chris Cooper.

Founded in 1972, the Homewood Patriot Band is the largest high school band in the state of Alabama. The group is comprised of 395 members from grades 9 through 12. This will be the fifth appearance in the popular event for Homewood High School. In 1984, the group was the first band from Alabama to march in the parade.

Homewood High School Director of Bands Chris Cooper will lead his school’s marching band in the 133rd Rose Parade this year. Photo credit: Homewood High School.

Band Director Chris Cooper is in his 29th year of teaching and his first year the Director of Bands at Homewood High. He earned his Bachelor’s degree Music Education from Auburn University in 1993. While at Auburn, Chris was the percussion section leader for three years, an undergraduate assistant for one year, and the President of Phi Mu Alpha. Chris completed his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996.

For his work was a music educator, Chris has earned many accolades. In 2014, he was honored as the Homewood Grown Impact Teacher of the Year by the Homewood City Schools Foundation of Education. In 2009, he was selected to be the guest clinician for the Association of China and Mongolia International schools Honor Band held in Tianjin, China. During his ten-day stay in Tianjin, China, Chris worked with several International Schools. In 2004, Mr. Cooper was named the Teacher of the Year at Homewood Middle School. In addition, he was one of eight finalists for the State of Alabama Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Currently Chris is an active band and percussion adjudicator throughout Southeastern United States. He has conducted over 30 middle school and junior high honor bands throughout the area.

 

Jeanne Christensen to lead Mira Mesa High School Band in 133rd Rose Parade

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Jeanne Christensen, Director of Bands for Mira Mesa High School in California, will lead the school’s “Sapphire Sound” in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Bandworld.

The students who comprise the Mira Mesa High School Marching Band and Color Guard are excited to be making an appearance in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade on Sat., Jan. 1, 2022, under the capable leadership of Director of Bands Jeanne Christensen.

Jeanne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of San Diego and and her Master’s degree in Education from the National University. She has devoted 31 years to music education. She has been named the California State Band Educator of the Year Award in 2016. Jeanne is currently serving as President of Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), one of the oldest professional organizations for music education in the state. She also serves as a Board Member of California Band Directors Association (CBDA).

“I try to instill a passion, an appreciation, and a lifelong love of music with my students,” declares Jeanne. “My hope is that students will see lessons of life that go well beyond the notes, the rhythms, and the phrasing we are working on. It is about learning to work together, being an example for them, caring for who they are, building relationships, so that we are able to be human, and helping students to see the world is better when we support one another,” she continues. “The most important lesson I try to instill is to never give up,” she concluded.

This is the second appearance of San Diego County group in the Rose Parade; their first appearance was in 2016. The band, known as “Sapphire Sound,” is a diverse and integrated group of students, who come from humble means and speak 14 different languages. The group is the largest band program in the San Diego Unified School District and perform for civic and district events. Sapphire Sound has been invited to perform in numerous national and international events, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremonies, the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, and they have also performed for the United Nations.

 

Sherrill and Plunkett lead Arcadia High School Marching Band in Rose Parade appearance

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The Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard will march in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade, under the leadership of Directors Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett. This is the 18th appearance in the group in the popular parade.

A number of superb high school marching bands will appear in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. One of these is the Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard, under the direction of two Directors. They are Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett.

The amazing group of student musicians has been performing for audiences all over the country for more than 50 years. This will be their 18th appearance in the Rose Parade. In addition, the band appeared in the 2015 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, two Presidential Inaugural Parades, numerous NCAA football Bowl games, and a Super Bowl commercial.

The students were invited to march in the Rose Parade last year, but Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the event. This year, the band was invited back to perform, and last year’s seniors will be welcomed to join in the performance.

Kevin Sherrill has been a music educator at Arcadia for 21 years. He earned his degree at the University of Texas, Arlington. For his work in the classroom and on the field, Kevin was named a Rotary Teacher of the Year by the Arcadia Rotary Club.

Tom Plunkett has logged nearly 20 years as a music educator. Before his hire at Arcadia High School in 2020, he taught at Los Alamitos High School for eight years. There he led the Marching and Concert Band programs to numerous awards and consistently excellent performances. While teaching at Los Alamitos, he was named their District Outstanding Arts director in 2019.

 

Andy Sealy leads Hebron Marching Band in Rose Parade appearance

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Andy Sealy, Director of Bands at Hebron High School in Carrolltown, Texas, will lead his 350-member marching band in the 2022 Rose Parade. Photo credit: musicforallll.org

Students in the Hebron Marching Band in Carrolltown, Texas, are all excited for their upcoming appearance in the 133rd Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. The 350-member group has been well-prepared by Hebron Director of Bands Andy Sealy.

Through his leadership, Andy strives to achieve the highest standards of music education and music performance, facilitate the musical enrichment of the students, and promote the significant role music plays in the cultural, intellectual, and social development of young adults. “Being extraordinary is doing the little things in your job at an unbelievable level,” declares Andy.

Since it was established in 1999, the Hebron Band has become one of the most respected high school bands in the country. In  2021, the group garnered the Exemplary High School Band award by the Texas Bandmasters Association. The band also earned nine straight appearances in the UIL Texas State Marching Band Contest, where they earned four Silver Medalist finishes (2012, 2014, 2016, and 2020). In addition, the band was awarded the Sudler Shield in 2011, and in 2015 they were selected by the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association to receive the 2015 Outstanding Program Award.

Andy has been a music educator at Hebron for 19 years. He earned his degrees from Texas Tech University and inaugurated his teaching career as middle school band director and high school assistant director in Iraan, Texas. Later he was an Assistant Band Director and junior high Band Director in Monahans, Texas. Prior to coming to Hebron in the Lewisville Independent School District,  Andy served as Director of Bands at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas and at Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Andy frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator. He has professional affiliations with the American Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the International Clarinet Association. In addition, he is a past-President of the Texas Music Educators Association.  In 2016, Andy was awarded the University Scholastic League Sponsor of Excellence Award.

Music educator Charles Pisarra leads Oklahoma band in Macy’s Parade

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Director of Bands Charles Pisarra led the Union High School Renegade Regiment from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade earlier this week. Photo credit: Union High School.

One final post about the excitement generated by this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A number of outstanding high school bands appeared in the extravaganza, including the Union High School Renegade Regiment from Tulsa, Oklahoma. This 185-member group was led by Director of Bands Charles Pisarra.

Charles has been a music educator at Union High School for the past 15 years. His school’s marching program is recognized all over the United States as an innovator in costumes, props, music, and show design. The school’s participation marked the second time in eight years that the marching band has earned a coveted invitation to participate in the iconic parade. The Renegade Regiment also earned a spot in the 2013 event.

In addition to directing the marching band, Charles Pisarra directs the Wind Ensemble, oversees a full time staff of eight assistants and nearly 20 part time staff members, and facilitates a nationwide team of clinicians and designers for the pageantry arts programs.

Union High offers an impressive music education program. The program serves more than 1,100 students, including five high school level concert band ensembles, seven ensembles at middle school level, two curricular jazz ensembles, four curricular winter guards, numerous extracurricular chamber music and competitive percussion ensembles, and over ten beginner-level instrument classes.

Charles Pisarra earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and his Master’s degree in Music Education, both from the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, the Northeast Band Directors Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.