Directors & Staff

Jalen “Mr. B” Baraoidan is the Director of Band and Choir at Lahainaluna High School, the alma mater from which he graduated in 2017. In this role, he leads the symphonic band, concert band, jazz band, marching band, and concert choir. He also performs as the principal clarinetist for the Maui Pops Orchestra, an ensemble he has played with since 2022, and serves as an assistant conductor for the Maui Community Band.

Prior to returning to Lahainaluna, Baraoidan earned a Bachelor of Education in Music from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2022. During his time at UH Mānoa, he was a clarinetist in the wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, and various chamber groups, and served as the wind ensemble librarian in 2019. His musical development was shaped by his studies with mentors including Dr. Jeffrey Boeckman and Professor Joseph Stepec (conducting), Dr. Thomas Osborne (orchestration), and Jim Moffitt of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (clarinet). He also participated in masterclasses with clarinetists Professor David Shifrin and Dr. Helen Goode-Castro, and received conducting instruction from Dr. Danh Pham and Dr. David Jacobs.

While completing his degree, Baraoidan gained foundational instructional experience by teaching private lessons and leading clinics on Oʻahu. He later returned to Maui to complete his student teaching, where he was mentored by Mr. Scot Kiyonaga at Maui Waena Intermediate School and Mr. Kerry Wasano at Maui High School.

Now leading the music program at Lahainaluna—the oldest school west of the Rocky Mountains—Baraoidan has championed major milestones for his students. Under his direction, the program participated in a historic joint concert with McKinley High School, the second-oldest school in the state. He also spearheaded the revitalization of Lahainaluna's Chapter 463 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, currently serving as the chapter advisor after reviving the program from a multi-decade hiatus following its brief initial run from 1958 to 1968. Through these initiatives, he focuses on helping his students grow both as musicians and as individuals. Guided by a personal philosophy of daily self-improvement, he encourages his students to consistently strive for their best and to share their music in service to the community.