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Instrumental Music Director - Ms. Yeon Choi
Instrumental Music Director - Ms. Yeon Choi
Yeon Choi received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California, Irvine, and her California Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. Ms. Choi has taught at all scholastic levels, including elementary, middle school, and high school. She started teaching at Arroyo Vista Middle School. She then taught at Niguel Hills Middle School and was selected as the 2014 Capistrano Unified School Districts Teacher of the Year.
Her groups are known on a local and regional level for their attention to detail and the quality of their musical performances, where they consistently earned superior and unanimous ratings at festivals. This past year, Ms. Choi performed with her students at the International Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall and received the highest rating of Gold. This year, the Chamber orchestra was chosen as the representing ensemble group at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Music Educators Conference. Their performance at the Orange County Segerstrom Performing Arts Center earned the highest rating of Mastery!
Ms. Choi has professional affiliations with the California Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). Her service to SCSBOA includes All-Southern Honor Group String Orchestra Manager, All-Southern Honor Group Full Orchestra Manager, Middle School honor group audition panelist, conference clinician, Vice President of Middle School Education, and Vice President of String Education.
Ms. Choi believes music education allows students to develop a music appreciation and encourages the skills and discipline necessary for achieving musical success throughout a lifetime of experiences. Students learn the importance of a cooperative team effort while working with fellow members to accomplish shared goals.
Her groups are known on a local and regional level for their attention to detail and the quality of their musical performances, where they consistently earned superior and unanimous ratings at festivals. This past year, Ms. Choi performed with her students at the International Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall and received the highest rating of Gold. This year, the Chamber orchestra was chosen as the representing ensemble group at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Music Educators Conference. Their performance at the Orange County Segerstrom Performing Arts Center earned the highest rating of Mastery!
Ms. Choi has professional affiliations with the California Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). Her service to SCSBOA includes All-Southern Honor Group String Orchestra Manager, All-Southern Honor Group Full Orchestra Manager, Middle School honor group audition panelist, conference clinician, Vice President of Middle School Education, and Vice President of String Education.
Ms. Choi believes music education allows students to develop a music appreciation and encourages the skills and discipline necessary for achieving musical success throughout a lifetime of experiences. Students learn the importance of a cooperative team effort while working with fellow members to accomplish shared goals.
Instrumental Music Director - Miss Natalie Do
Instrumental Music Director - Miss Natalie Do
Email: nndo@capousd.org
Email: nndo@capousd.org
Natalie Do graduated with a double Bachelors of Music in Music Education and Cello Performance in 2019 and teaching credential in 2020 from California State University, Long Beach, followed by a Masters of Arts in Music Education in 2023 from San Jose State University.
Beginning her teaching career during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Miss Do has taught multiple sections and levels of string orchestra, concert band, jazz band, guitar ensemble, music technology, and special education general music in her time as instrumental music director at Vista View Middle School, as part of Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach, CA. At Vista View, Miss Do established a multi-level orchestra, guitar, and band program with over 200 middle school music students by the 2023-24 school year, competing and performing in various festivals and events such as Angels Stadium, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Music in the Parks. Miss Do served as the Visual and Performing Arts lead teacher at Vista View, as well as co-director for the Ocean View Honor Orchestra and Jazz bands.
Prior to her time at Vista View Middle School, Miss Do has coached a number of middle and high schools in both strings and the marching arts across Orange County. She has coached and coordinated with youth ensembles including Orange County Youth Symphony, University of Redlands Cello Camp, and CSULB Honors Festival. Student teaching in Los Alamitos Unified School District, Miss Do also worked extensively with the jazz bands, orchestras, and concert bands at Los Alamitos High School and Oak Middle School.
Outside of school teaching, Miss Do continues to perform and record as a professional cellist in addition to teaching her private studio of piano and cello students. Upon finishing her Masters program at SJSU, Miss Do presented at the California All State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC) on her thesis research, “Establishing Orchestra at the Title I School Site,” in 2023 and at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Southwest Conference as a part of the “Young Educators Panel,” in 2022.
Miss Do believes that music education helps create an outlet for students to grow into the best versions of themselves. Students not only develop a passion for the arts, but are also given the opportunity to practice leadership, teamwork, and camaraderie through music.
Richard Huang as a performer, an educator, and a marching percussion battery arranger.
He has over 20 years of experience and has worked with many high schools and drum corps more notably 2001 W.G.I. Silver Medalist Fountain Valley HS, 2009 S.C.S.B.O.A. Gold Medalist Savanna HS, 2014 A.D.L.A. Gold Medalist Anaheim HS, Taipei Yuehfu, The Troopers, and Pacific Crest. In 2018 he helped Tesoro HS Percussion win the Silver Medal at A.D.L.A. Finals.
He is currently on faculty as a music teacher at Irvine High School and is a musician at the Disneyland Resort.
He has his BA in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach and a teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton.
He has over 20 years of experience and has worked with many high schools and drum corps more notably 2001 W.G.I. Silver Medalist Fountain Valley HS, 2009 S.C.S.B.O.A. Gold Medalist Savanna HS, 2014 A.D.L.A. Gold Medalist Anaheim HS, Taipei Yuehfu, The Troopers, and Pacific Crest. In 2018 he helped Tesoro HS Percussion win the Silver Medal at A.D.L.A. Finals.
He is currently on faculty as a music teacher at Irvine High School and is a musician at the Disneyland Resort.
He has his BA in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach and a teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton.
Summer Elliott is a percussionist that specializes in the marching arts.
Summer began his music career at Buena High School participating in Marching Band, Indoor Drumline, and Wind Ensemble as a section leader and principal player. He graduated from CSU Long Beach with a B.A. in Economics while practicing and performing with the CSULB Concert Band. Summer is currently a performing member of Broken City Percussion and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
Summer also teaches percussion at Grover Cleveland Charter High School and Buena Park Middle School.
Summer began his music career at Buena High School participating in Marching Band, Indoor Drumline, and Wind Ensemble as a section leader and principal player. He graduated from CSU Long Beach with a B.A. in Economics while practicing and performing with the CSULB Concert Band. Summer is currently a performing member of Broken City Percussion and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.
Summer also teaches percussion at Grover Cleveland Charter High School and Buena Park Middle School.
Kassie Vasquez
Color Guard TechKassie Vasquez
Email: vasquez.ka.m@gmail.com
Kassie Vasquez was born and raised in Orange County. She has extensive training experience in a variety of styles including contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop and modern. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. Throughout college she performed works by Keith Johnson, David Hochoy, Anna Sokolow, Claire Porter and Doug Varone.
She is currently a member of the Lume Dance Collective, led by Maryann Chavez and Monika Felice Smith. Kassie has performed in visual concept videos by Shelby Davis, Diana Schoenfield, Mike Tyus and Luca Renzi, and Riley Roberts. She also just finished her season with Geometry Dance Company’s second company, where she trained with Mackenzie Martin.
In addition to dance, Kassie has over a decade of color guard experience. She performed with both Carolina Crown and The Academy drum corps. Through her Drum Corps International experience she had the opportunity to perform in some of the largest stadiums in the country, including Mercedes-Benz stadium and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kassie now serves as a color guard coach for schools in Southern California and at Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. She trains the next generation of performers, sets choreography at various schools and serves as a clinician for various events.
Gabe Rodriguez was born and raised here in Southern California. He has performed across the west coast with various groups in the World, Open, and A Class divisions. This has helped him develop an understanding of what is expected from a performer at all levels. He brings with him variety of knowledge he learned from mentors around the country. Some of the groups he has performed with include Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, Diamante Independent World, and Vox Artium. Gabe has taught and mentored schools across the Southern California region. Some of those school include Taft Charter High School and 2020 Rose Parade participant Rancho Verde High School.
Gabe is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at California Polytechnic University of Pomona. His goal is to inspire students to be the best versions of themselves whether that be in color guard or in the classroom. His end in mind is to work his way from being a teacher and become an administrator at the elementary school level.
Gabe is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at California Polytechnic University of Pomona. His goal is to inspire students to be the best versions of themselves whether that be in color guard or in the classroom. His end in mind is to work his way from being a teacher and become an administrator at the elementary school level.
Chris Schmitz is an active educator, designer, and performer in the orange county area.
A recent resident of anaheim, he previously 2 years performing with the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps as well as 4 years with the SJSU Spartan Marching Band.
While in the bay area he spent 3 years at the Kings Academy Knights Brigade, helping them win visual and a WBA gold medal in their division.
Scholastically he is currently teaching visuals at Tesoro High School, Kennedy High school, Whittier High School, Fallbrook High School. Independently he is on his first year on staff at Gold Indoor as well as his 3rd year on staff at Golden Empire Drum and Bugle Corps.
As a full-time visual instructor, he is always seeking to expose his students to new forms of movement while teaching them tangible life skills.
A recent resident of anaheim, he previously 2 years performing with the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps as well as 4 years with the SJSU Spartan Marching Band.
While in the bay area he spent 3 years at the Kings Academy Knights Brigade, helping them win visual and a WBA gold medal in their division.
Scholastically he is currently teaching visuals at Tesoro High School, Kennedy High school, Whittier High School, Fallbrook High School. Independently he is on his first year on staff at Gold Indoor as well as his 3rd year on staff at Golden Empire Drum and Bugle Corps.
As a full-time visual instructor, he is always seeking to expose his students to new forms of movement while teaching them tangible life skills.
Jason Ezquerro received his B.M. in Instrumental Music Education and California Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach. He currently serves as the Middle School Instrumental Music Director at Las Flores K-8 and has been a Visual Tech with Tesoro High School since 2021. As a former student of Capistrano Unified himself, Jason is thrilled to remain involved with the students and staff in the community.Recently, Jason spent four years with the Orange County Youth Symphony/String Ensemble as the Assistant Manager, helping coach students, organize rehearsals, and compose upcoming season plans. He also previously served as the Assistant Marching Band Director at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, where the band received first-place honors after many years of non-competitive status. As an educator, Jason is devoted to sharing the importance of music with his students and believes that the social & life skills and ambitious work ethics found in a musical environment create lasting results of success.
Originally from the Bay Area, Cole Perez is a graduate student at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU Long Beach. He also earned his Bachelor of Music degree there, studying under Moni Simeonov and Henry Gronnier.
He has received coaching and masterclasses from Kronos, Telegraph, Aizuri, and Argus Quartet members.
Cole has served as Concertmaster for the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony and regularly performs with the Mozart Classical Orchestra and American Youth Symphony.
In addition to performing, Cole enjoys teaching a wide age range of students and coaching string ensembles in public schools throughout Orange County.
He also enjoys writing arrangements and transcriptions for strings and has written arrangements for Midori.
For the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons, Cole was a member of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado.
He has received coaching and masterclasses from Kronos, Telegraph, Aizuri, and Argus Quartet members.
Cole has served as Concertmaster for the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony and regularly performs with the Mozart Classical Orchestra and American Youth Symphony.
In addition to performing, Cole enjoys teaching a wide age range of students and coaching string ensembles in public schools throughout Orange County.
He also enjoys writing arrangements and transcriptions for strings and has written arrangements for Midori.
For the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons, Cole was a member of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Crystaline Tran is a native of Southern California with a diverse portfolio as a violinist and teacher. She has established a rapidly growing violin studio in Orange County. Her students have earned top chairs in their respective school ensembles in Capistrano Unified School District, Saddleback Unified School District, Irvine Unified School District, and Tustin Unified School District. She is also a violin coach for middle and high schools in these school districts. Ms. Tran most recently joined the staff at Long Beach Harmony Project, which works directly with Long Beach Unified School District to provide access to music education for youths in underserved communities.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Tran freelances in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas. Recent projects have included live performances of original works for major streaming platforms such as Apple TV+, Amazon, CBS, and Paramount+, recording at the Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Bros. Studios, and playing in the premiere of Stephen Ferre’s “Postcards from Home.”
Ms. Tran earned a B.M. in String Performance while on full scholarship at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (BCCM) at California State University, Long Beach. She is continuing her studies as a graduate student under scholarship at the BCCM and is studying with Moni Simeonov.
Jonathan completed his undergraduate studies at The Juilliard School under the instruction of Richard Aaron, and afterwards, completed his Master’s degree in Cello Performance at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Amir Eldan. Jonathan has served as co-principal cellist in both the Juilliard Orchestra and the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra.
Highlights of his college career include orchestral performances in David Geffen Hall under the baton of Alan Gilbert, a premiere of Tan Dun’s Terracotta Symphony at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and performing in Carnegie Hall for the Bernstein Centennial Celebration conducted by Marin Alsop.
Jonathan has also appeared in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Frans Helmerson, and Ko Iwasaki. In the summers, Jonathan has attended the Chautauqua International Music Festival, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Taipei Music Academy and Festival (TMAF).
Currently, Jonathan is an avid performer and educator serving both the LA and OC regions. He maintains a large private cello studio as well as appearing in regular performances with the Laós Chamber Music collective and the Mozart Classical Orchestra.
Matt Hare is well-known as a performer and educator. He is on faculty at the University of California at Irvine, Concordia University, and Saddleback College. Dr. Hare also teaches several sections of Music Appreciation and History of Rock online and in the classroom at Saddleback College. He is a string coach at Irvine, Laguna Hills, Trabuco Hills, and University high schools. He frequently gives recitals and master classes that often include his own transcriptions and arrangements.
Dr. Hare is a long-time member of the International Society of Bassists. He was a clinician for their Young Bassists’ program at the 2009 convention at Penn State and the 2011 convention in San Francisco.
Previously he was the first director of educational programs at Lemur Music, a retailer specializing in the double bass. He has been on faculty at Luther, Cornell, and Wartburg Colleges and the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival.
Dr. Hare freelances with many ensembles in Southern California, including the San Bernardino and San Diego Symphonies. He has been a regular member of the bass sections of the Quad Cities and Peoria Symphonies and has played in the sections of many symphonies in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
He holds a BA from Bloomsburg University, a MM from Butler University, and a DMA from the University of Iowa. Major teachers include Mark R. Jelinek, Diana Gannett, David Murray, and Volkan Orhon.
Fred is a violist from Southern California. He earned his BM from Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB and his MM at LSU School of Music. Passionate about contemporary music, he helped premier many pieces, such as Tucker Fuller’s The Book of Hours for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra and San Schults’ Prajna for solo viola. He also played with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the New Resonance Orchestra. Fred has studied with Kimberly Sparr, Phillip Triggs, and Jason Bonham.
Fred has been teaching since 2018 and is just as passionate about teaching the younger generation as he is about performing. On the weekends, Fred likes to hike around Southern California and spend time with his dog.
Brian Slack
String Bass CoachBrian Slack
Email: bslack.home@gmail.com
Brian Slack is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in double bass performance at California State University, Long Beach. Here, he studies with Douglas Basye, assistant principal double bass of the Pacific Symphony. At the Bob Cole Conservatory, he serves as the principal bass of the Symphony Orchestra. Originally, Brian is a native of the city of Diamond Bar.
Brian regularly performs with the American Youth Symphony and has performed with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, during the 2023 summer festival season. His concert engagements have taken him to venues nationwide, including the Lincoln Center in New York City and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. In addition to performing, Brian enjoys teaching in various public schools throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County."
Jasmin Cruz, a Bay Area native, is an emerging music educator with a tireless passion for igniting musical curiosity. Jasmin is pursuing a dual Bachelor's in Music at California State University, Long Beach, majoring in Instrumental Music Education and Strings Performance. She contributes her performing skills to the BCCM Symphony at CSULB while under the tutelage of Dr. David Garrett from the LA Philharmonic.
Jasmin's commitment to nurturing musical growth has taken root in her teaching endeavors. With years of experience teaching piano and cello in private settings, she has honed her ability to impart the gift of music to eager learners. After she graduates, her ultimate goal is to become a classroom music educator. In this pursuit, she has already gained valuable experience coaching cello and strings in various Southern California schools, starting in Fall 2022 and continuing with constant dedication.
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