Ms. Amy Suggs comes to the Santa Rita Ranch Middle School Private Lesson staff after serving as a band director for the past 10 years. Ms. Suggs taught at Tom Glenn HS in LISD as a founding staff member and director from 2016-2022. Prior to Glenn, Ms. Suggs completed five years in the Austin Independent School District, teaching at James Bowie High School.  Ms. Suggs holds a Bachelors of Music Education Degree from Texas Christian University. While at TCU Ms. Suggs was a member of the Horned Frog Marching Band, Symphonic Ensemble and Wind Ensemble. She’s performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the USS Midway,  the Rose Bowl and the 2011 Super Bowl.

Ms. Suggs has been playing flute for over 20 years and has been developing flute players in her respective band programs and feeder middle schools for the last 10 years. Ms. Suggs has had multiple All-State flute players in her programs and even taught private lessons to double reed students seeking to learn flute for marching band. Ms. Suggs’ ensembles and students have received superior ratings at UIL Marching Contest, UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest, and the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Under her direction, her programs have been UIL State Marching Band Contest Finalists, PASIC, Bands of America Regional, Super Regional, and Grand National Finalists, and a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield in 2013.

Ms. Suggs holds professional affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Tau Beta Sigma.

Samu Jarvela is a clarinetist and music educator based in Austin, Texas. Samu has a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor’s degree in the Arts from Southern Methodist University. Additionally, Samu has attended numerous orchestra festivals such as the Rocky Ridge Young Artist Seminar and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Institute in Whistler. Samu has also freelanced with multiple groups in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, such as the Las Colinas Symphony. Samu’s teachers include Todd Levy, principal clarinetist of the Milwaukee Symphony, Gregory Raden, principal clarinetist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and David Shea, principal clarinetist of the Lubbock and Abilene Symphonies. As a devoted music educator and private lesson teacher, Samu maintains a studio of clarinetists around the Austin area and seeks to instill a strong sense of musicianship in his students through study of solo repertoire, etudes, and technique work.

Dr. Michael (Mick) Pierce is a retired band director with 35 years of teaching experience at all levels of education, from elementary through college. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Pierce taught music and band in several states but most of his experience has been in Texas, including 23 years in the Georgetown Independent School District at Tippit Middle School.

These days find Mick teaching private lessons on French horn and other brass instruments, leading the First United Methodist Church, Georgetown orchestra, and playing in the Cinematic Symphony, a group of highly talented amateur musicians based in Austin, Texas. Mick also takes a couple of weeks in the summer to fish in Canada.

With over six years of teaching experience in Central Texas and Austin, Shelby Avants shares her passion for music while considering her students' goals and individual learning styles. 

In 2019, Shelby earned her Associate of Arts in music at Temple College. In December 2021, Shelby earned her Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance at Southwestern University. Currently, she is working on her Master's Degree in Performance and Pedagogy at Texas State University.

Shelby customizes every student's learning experience to their goals, interests, and learning styles.

She loves teaching classical, jazz, and pop while incorporating history, theory, and ear training.

Shelby's personal goal for her students is to balance reading sheet music with learning music by ear to empower her students to be adaptable in any given musical situation.

Michael Rey is a professional trumpet player residing in Austin, Texas. In a city known for its live music, he has carved an impressive path for himself, in not only performance, but instruction, adjudication and studio work as well. A founding member of the acclaimed Austin-based horn trio, The Fresh 2 Def Horns, Michael has busied his performance schedule with groups of many varying genres. From the Grammy award-winning Latin piece, Grupo Fantasma, to another Grammy-award-winning artist, Country singer/songwriter Rick Trevino, to say he is a versatile musician is a gross understatement. Michael has been a long-standing performer at the well-known jazz venue, The Elephant Room, down in the basement on Congress Ave. in downtown Austin; a place where many aspiring Austin transplant musicians hope to one day cut their teeth on the same stage that has been graced by the likes of Wynton Marsallis and Harry Connick, Jr. He is among the elite who have had that opportunity, and he has done so on hundreds of occasions - showcasing his chops as the “high note guy” in various established local jazz ensembles. In between performances, local and on tour, Michael also has quite the rap sheet as a recording artist, playing both solo and within a horn section. He can be heard on the four records of the esteemed Austin group, The Nightowls, many tunes featuring horn lines on which he collaborated creatively as well. Most notably, he has found himself blowing away within the walls of the famed Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley was discovered, in addition to being in the talented hands of Grammy-award winning producer Laurence “Boo” Mitchell at renowned Royal Studios. For almost 15 years, Michael has been a private trumpet instructor, working with kids from the time they first put a horn to their mouth to when they’re preparing their college audition material. He has coached several students who have excelled in district, region, and state competitions, and many of his mentees have achieved the highest accolades during solo and ensemble performances. Mr. Rey, as they call him, has helped them hone the skills necessary to enter confidently into their respective universities as aspiring music students. Some of his former students are pursuing their own musical dreams at Stephen F. Austin University (Michael’s alma mater), Oberlin Music Conservatory, Texas State, the University of Texas, and the University of North Texas

Warren Ealy is a graduate of Classical Music Performance with a Bachelor's in Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin (2000) and Masters degree in Music Performance from The University of Southern California (2004). He was fortunate enough to study under the late New York recording artist, Ray Crisara, and Ray Sasaki at UT in Austin, as well as Barry Hopper at Baylor in Waco, Bernie Nero with the Austin Symphony, Jay Saunders lead trumpeter with big bands — notably the Stan Kenton Orchestra (the early seventies), Boyde Hood at USC in LA, and Wayne Bergeron, a Los Angeles recording artist.

Warren performed "Taps" for the 100th episode of The West Wing during his time at USC. He also performed in the John Stamos short film, "I Am Stamos." 

In the Austin area, he has performed in more than 10 musicals, including The Producers “traveling Broadway show”, Les Miserables, Ain’t MisBehavin’, Evita, Annie Get Your Gun, Sophisticated Ladies, White Christmas, The King and I, and Love (Janis Joplin) to name a few.

Mr. Ealy performs and has performed in Austin cover bands and Big Bands, such as Third Language (15 yrs), Monster Big Band (11yrs), Newsboyz, Caboose, Memphis Train Review, Matchmaker, Elvis Tribute band, London Calling, Jumpstart, Siringo Pass, and Duck Soup. 

He has also been a member of the Austin Jazz Band for two years. He has been honored to perform with the Disney Collegiate Band of 1999 (Disneyland), The Austin Symphony, The Austin Symphony Jazz Band, the Corpus Christi Symphony, The Temptations, and Wynton Marsalis.

Warren has been a trumpet teacher for over 30 years. In 2002 he was the teaching assistant (TA) at UT Austin and from 2002-2004 he was the teaching assistant for Boyd Hood at USC. He has been invited to teach masterclasses at USC, OSU, and many Austin area high schools.

Ian Vinciguerra is an up-and-coming educator with a deep-rooted love for the marching arts. His journey in the world of the marching arts began at Cedar Park High School, where he sparked his passion for the marching arts and contributed to the success of the marching band, securing two back-to-back state marching band championships during his time there.

In 2019, Ian embarked on his journey with the Crossmen where he marched euphonium in 2019 and lead baritone from 2021-2023, Ian also served as a soloist and on leadership from 2021 to 2023. During the 2023 season, Ian took on the role of horn sergeant demonstrating his dedication to excellence within the corps. It comes as no surprise that he was recognized as the Crossmen of the Year in 2023, a testament to his exceptional contributions to the corps.

Ian is endlessly thankful to those who inspired and supported him along his journey, motivating him to pursue his passion for music and pass on his knowledge to the next generation of performers at Crossmen.

Jonathan Pereira is an Austin-based percussionist and educator. As a classically trained percussionist, he feels equally at home performing classical, jazz, or popular music. Mr. Pereira holds degrees in music education and percussion performance from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY (BM 2013, MM 2016). He spent several years teaching instrumental music in New York State public schools and private percussion lessons before relocating to Austin in 2018. He has extensive performance experience in wind ensembles, orchestras, and pit orchestras for musical theatre productions, and currently performs with Flechaus, an indie folk band based in Austin.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES:

Instrumental Music Teacher, Honeoye Central Schools, Honeoye, NY, November 2016 - September 2018

-Conducted fifth grade band

-Provided private or small group lessons on all wind, brass, and percussion instruments for fifth grade instrumental students and all percussion students grades 4-12

Private Percussion Instructor, Hochstein School of Music and Dance, Rochester, NY, August 2015-September 2018

-Worked with students from ages 5 to Adult for lessons lasting between 30 and 60 minutes

-Conducted Hochstein Percussion Ensemble

Front Ensemble Director, LeRoy High School Marching Knights, LeRoy, NY, Fall 2017 season

-Worked with students in grades 7-12 for weeklong band camp, evening rehearsals, and weekend competitions

-Instruments include snare drum, mallet percussion, and auxiliary percussion instruments.

Seventh and Eighth Grade Jazz Ensemble Conductor, Churchville-Chili Middle School, Churchville, NY, 2017-2018, 2013-2014

-Selected and programmed music in a variety of styles to teach the jazz idiom

-Held weekly rehearsals

-Conducted performances at Churchville-Chili music events An Evening of Jazz and Community Music Festival

Percussion Coach, Chautauqua Music Camps, August 2015-August 2018

Worked in a chamber percussion ensemble with high school camp attendees-

Substitute Teacher, Rochester, NY-area school districts, 2014-Present

-Worked with instrumental, vocal, and general music students from kindergarten- twelfth grade on a per diem basis

-Substitute teaching experiences include two-week paternity leave including brass and percussion lessons and jazz ensemble at Hilton High School, Hilton, NY

-Districts taught in include Brockport, Churchville-Chili, and Hilton

ADDITIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Senior Student Teaching: Churchville-Chili High School, Churchville, NY. March-May 2013

• Taught small group woodwind, brass, and percussion lessons and conducted High School Wind Ensemble

• Used SmartMusic software to enhance presentation of new material

• Began study of Edwin Gordon's Music Learning Theory

Field Experience: Fred W. Hill Elementary School and A.D. Oliver Middle School, Brockport, NY; Terry A Taylor Elementary School, Spencerport, NY; and Greece Blue Knights Marching Band, Greece, NY

• Taught small group and private lessons to students in grades 4-6 in woodwinds, brass, and percussion

• Worked with pit percussionists in one-on-one and group settings

Private Percussion Instruction: Brockport, NY, July 2006- present

• Developed and taught individualized curricula designed to both enhance strong prior knowledge and skills and develop weaker areas of performance for students from grades 4 through 11 over multiple sessions

Junior Student Teaching: Boynton Middle School, Ithaca, NY. Sept. 2011-May 2012

• Taught private lessons to 6th–8th grade students in Saxophone, French Horn, and Percussion

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:

• “Shahin Swings” Jazz Band April 2016-September 2018

• Roberts Wesleyan College Community Orchestra, Eastman Community Music

School Music Educators' Wind Ensemble September 2013-2018

• Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, August 2010-May 2011, August 2012-March 2013

• Ithaca College Percussion Ensemble, August 2009-March 2013

• Ithaca College Brass Choir; August 2009-May 2010, August 2011-March 2013

• Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra, August 2011-Sept 2012

• Ithaca College Wind Ensemble, August 2011-May 2012

• Ithaca College Symphonic Band, August 2009-May 2010

• Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, September 2007-May 2009