The Director

Dr. Ambriz has been the Band Director at Dartmouth Middle School in Hemet, California, for seven years. His work as a music educator extends across Southern California, where he has provided studio instruction, led clinics, and facilitated master classes for students at various educational levels.

In addition to his role at Dartmouth, Dr. Ambriz coordinates the Middle School Honor Band program for the Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) and serves as a CTI induction mentor, supporting the professional development of new educators within the district. His dedication to music education and mentorship has earned him the 2025 Governing Board Recognition of Excellence Award for outstanding performance, professionalism, and loyalty to HUSD.

Dr. Ambriz has contributed to numerous regional music programs, including serving as a private instructor for students in the Riverside and San Bernardino County Honor Bands. He has also held the role of VAPA Studio Instructor at La Sierra University and worked extensively with high school marching bands as a woodwind coach and marching instructor within the Alvord, Riverside, and Corona-Norco Unified School Districts.

At the collegiate level, Dr. Ambriz served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at California Baptist University. His responsibilities included directing the CBU Lancer Pep Band and assisting with the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble.

Dr. Ambriz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University, San Bernardino, and pursued an Artist Diploma in Clarinet Performance at La Sierra University under the mentorship of Dr. William Wellwood. He later completed a Master of Music Education at California Baptist University and holds a Doctor of Music Education degree from Liberty University. His doctoral research focuses on the impact of formal and informal mentoring practices on the professional development of novice elementary and middle school band teachers.