In 2022, I decided to grow my skills beyond a musician and music educator and learn business skills in bookkeeping and project management. During my studies I was inspired to start my own small business, and I decided to take the leap into starting DBR Bookkeeping. I am excited about this new adventure, and I am already seeing how these new skills and growth have helped me diversify my perspective as a leader and educator. I'll be adding a page on this site to help market and connect with others. Thank you everyone for their support.
For more information about DBR Bookkeeping, go see my business here, https://dbr-bookkeeping.business.site/

Time flies..... as I have not posted here for almost 2 years. Since that time, COVID-19 has changed the world by shutting down businesses, closing schools, and changing the everyday life for everyone. As a music educator, this brought about unprecedented challenges, but as they say... "the show must go on!" 

Faculty, students, and staff have pushed through the past 15 months. NSU campus closed for in-person education on March 13th, 2020. We went to remote learning, and we all were acquainted with new terms such as "social-distancing" and "Zoom." I won't sugarcoat it.... it was hard. It took a toll on all of us emotionally, physically, and intellectually. It really made me really reflect and how I approach life as a musician, leader, and a person.

I could write a long post, but it would never truly capture the experience of the last year. I do want to say that I'm proud my students, my colleagues, and music education community. I want to say thank you to all the health care workers working the frontline. Lastly I want to send my condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.  The future has new challenges, but we as music community will face together. Be strong my friends, and remember that you are not alone. 

Another year has passed, and I have grown as a musician, educator, and as a person. The year had its challenges, but new opportunities have risen. I am happy to announce that I have accepted a new tenure-track position in Oklahoma. I will moving to an new area of the United States, and I look forward to learning and embracing the band culture in the midwest. I'm excited about the new opportunities, and I'm thankful for everyone who has helped me achieve my goals. I hope everyone takes the time relax this summer and recharge. I have seen many of my colleagues reflect on social media on their incredible experiences in music education. It is inspiring, and makes me reflect on our field and how much impact we have on so many lives. Cheers to all my educator friends out there! 

It has been an exciting first year at the University of Wyoming! This past year I've worked to build up the Western Thunder Marching Band's social media platforms. I created a new Facebook page a year ago, and we already have over 1,000 "likes." We've posted a lot of videos and photos throughout the season, and if you click here, you can review the page. You can also visit our the band website at www.uwyo.edu/marchingband. Please let me know if you want to provide any feedback. 

The new drum majors created an information video for the 2018 season. See what they did below!

Wyoming is beautiful campus with outstanding students from the United States and abroad. Even though I've been very busy, the faculty, staff, and students have been incredible in helping me adjust to the new community.

We also hosted two major recruiting events at the University including Band Day and a Marching Invitational. Both events combined brought over 2,000 high school and middle school students to our campus to perform at either a halftime show for a UW football game or a field show performance in one of the best stadiums in the region. 

Fortunately, the Wyoming football team has had a successful season with a current record of 7-4 with one more game remaining in the regular season. This has made our program bowl eligible, and in the coming weeks we will be preparing to take the Western Thunder to a bowl game in December. Go Pokes!!

     It has been a long few months, but I've completed my project, A Survey of the Current Financial Trends in American Adult Community Bands​. I want to thank my committee as well as the Association of Concert Bands for their help and guidance in this project. Community music is growing, and I encourage all musicians to stay engaged with making music and supporting the arts in your local communities. Below you will find a copy of the full project. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Here is a portion of the abstract:
      This investigation comprises two main parts: 1) a perusal of the development of adult community bands within the overall history of bands in the United States, including, when possible, financial aspects of their operations; and 2) an examination of financial trends in ACB organizations, as illustrated by survey data.
        An electronic survey was designed to examine six questions: 1) what are the budgets of today’s community bands, 2) how do bands compensate their staff and personnel, 3) where are bands spending their money, 4) what are their sources of income, 5) how are their current financial trends different than Peter Martin’s 1983 study on community bands, and 6) are there trends in regards to their expenses, revenues, bands’ longevity, and locations? In order to make more accurate conclusions, the author divided bands into five classes, based on their financial structure, to analyze and compare data.
     Five major trends were observed: 1) current adult bands are usually non-profit organizations that list monetary compensation for their conductors on their Annual Operating Budget (AOB), 2) fifty-four percent (54%) of bands with an AOB spend between $4,000 and $19,999, 3) after adjusting for inflation, monetary compensation has remained nearly the same over the last thirty-four years, 4) music is the most common expense among adult bands, and 5) since 1983, the number of bands reporting government funding as a revenue source has decreased.

On Tuesday, November 29th, I will be presenting a lecture recital with the Arizona State University Chamber Winds. We will be performing Ned Rorem's Sinfonia for 15 Wind Instruments and Adam Gorb's Symphony No. 1 in C. I'm looking forward to this opportunity to share some great wind literature while I present a brief discussion on the music, composers, and the history of the symphony. While these two pieces are similar in form, they both have very unique in terms of their style,  harmony, and timbral colors. 

The concert with be in the Katzin Concert Hall at 7:30pm (AZ time). I will be providing a live stream link for people unable to attend the concert in person. In the meantime, stay safe this holiday weekend, and  Happy Thanksgiving!! 

I was recently nominated for the Teaching Excellence Award here at ASU and sponsored by the Graduate and Professional Student Association. I was nominated twice this semester in both the ASU Wind Ensemble and the Sun Devil Marching Band.  I'm honored and humbled to be recognized by the incredible students I get to work with on a weekly basis.

My Lecture Recital is approaching in the next month on Tuesday, November 29th in the Katzin Recital Hall at 7:30 pm. I will be conducting the ASU chamber winds in a program of two wind symphonies. The first by Ned Rorem, his Sinfonia for 15 Wind Instruments and Percussion. The second work is the Symphony No. 1 in C by Adam Gorb.  Below is a little preview of Gorb's 1st movement with the Baylor University Wind Ensemble.
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Hello Friends,
        So much has happened in the last six months!  A quick recap! This past summer I traveled and performed in Sydney Australia to include the Sydney Opera House.  It was a great experience performing with a group of outstanding musicians from the California central valley.  

These past copy months I was busy auditioning and talking with my friends and family about my future to decide what was best for myself and my family.  When I wasn't auditioning or preparing for auditions, I had the opportunity to do some other travel.  In March, I lead the Fresno State basketball band in Las Vegas for the annual Mountain West Tournament.  The students were great and they represented their university well.  Also in March, I played at the annual Lawrence Sutherland Fresno State Wind Festival.  During this time, I also gave some small clinics with some middle school bands in the central valley.  

Lastly, I officially graduated from Fresno State in May.  It was a proud day for me and my family, and I look forward to the future.