Staff

Ms. Marisa Davidson M.M., Assistant Director of Bands

Ms. Marisa Davidson, Assistant Director of Bands Originally from Oceanside, California, Ms. Davidson attended middle and high school in Clark County School District. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with her degree in Music Education in December 2018. While at UNLV she played oboe, saxophone, and trumpet in groups such as the UNLV Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Baroque Ensemble, woodwind quintets, Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, and the UNLV Marching Band. Ms. Davidson was a an oboe student of Dr. Stephen Caplan. While completing her studies she taught private music lessons and was a marching band technical assistant at CCSD high schools such as Cheyenne HS, Coronado, HS, Del Sol Academy, and Clark HS. While attending UNLV, she was consistently on the Dean’s List, graduating near the top of her class with Magna Cum Laude honors. Ms. Davidson was

immediately hired after graduating college as the band director of Canarelli Middle School, where she helped start the school’s first ever Drumline Club, as well as applied for and earned many grants that eliminated financial burdens for her students. While Ms. Davidson was the band director at Canarelli Middle School her students earned consistent superior ratings, developing a positive culture with a large number of students who were passionate about music education. Ms. Davidson simultaneously taught middle school while earning her Master’s degree in Wind Band conducting at UNLV, which she completed in 2024 with a 4.0 GPA. During

her Master’s program, she conducted rehearsals and concerts with the UNLV Community Band while receiving instruction from Tom Leslie, Dr. Zane Douglass, and Tony LaBounty. In 2024 Ms. Davidson received the honorary “Middle School Music Educator of the Year” Award through the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, thanks to the many nominations received from her students, Canarelli parents, and co-workers. From 2020-2025 she served as the head chairperson for the Nevada Music Educators (NMEA) Middle School Allstate Band. Under her direction of this ensemble, the group reached the highest ever amount of participating schools from all over Nevada. She is now the head chairperson for the NMEA Allstate Command Performance. Ms. Davidson believes in providing equitable opportunities for all students, using music as a catalyst for real world applications. Ms. Davidson utilizes her musical experience to

mentor UNLV students, conduct bands across the Las Vegas valley, provide professional development to CCSD music educators, and serve as a guest clinician. When she isn’t teaching, Ms. Davidson is working on improving her own musicianship and enjoying the gift of performing music. She is currently a saxophone student of Rob Wilkerson and always looking to improve her craft, taking opportunities to perform with groups around town such as the Henderson Symphony, Nevada Chamber Orchestra, Desert Winds, jazz reading bands, salsa groups, and whatever opportunities are available. Ms. Davidson regularly performs as the saxophonist for local Latin psychedelic rock band, Sanalba.

Ms. Davidson is thrilled to be a part of the Del Sol Academy band team, working to collaborate with others and spread her passion for music to her students.

Jacob Chairsell, Percussion Specialist

Mr. Jacob Chairsell is the percussion specialist at Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts, bringing over 10 years of experience across all aspects of percussion. His expertise spans concert percussion, rhythm section, drum set, and 4-mallet keyboard technique. Jacob has performed in a diverse range of ensembles, including concert bands, jazz bands, rock bands, percussion ensembles, and marching bands, as well as solo performances. 

A 2020 graduate of Del Sol Academy, Jacob is currently pursuing an Associate of Arts in Music at the College of Southern Nevada, studying under professor Robert Bonora. He has also been mentored by esteemed instructors such as Paul Lowry, Erika Hill, Matthew Symes, and Brad Bradly.

Andrew Dardis, Woodwind Specialist

With a Masters of Music in Flute Performance, Drew Dardis is the newly-appointed Woodwind Specialist at Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts. Originally from Sacramento, Mr. Dardis discovered his passion for music when he began playing the flute in his elementary school's band program at age 9. At 17, he was accepted into Marina Piccinini's award-winning flute studio at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland on a full orchestral studies scholarship. Mr. Dardis would become the first student in Peabody's 150-year history to earn an official Minor in Piccolo Performance under the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's former piccoloist of 47 years, Ms. Laurie Sokoloff. After an immersive semester abroad at the University of Vienna, Mr. Dardis would go on to pursue international opportunities, eventually accepting a generous woodwind scholarship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Here, Mr. Dardis won multiple awards and completed orchestral apprenticeships with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony while earning his Masters of Music under the primary instruction of RSNO Principal Flautist Katherine Bryan and piccoloist Janet Richardson. After moving back to The States in 2021, Mr. Dardis spent three years teaching and freelancing in Portland, Oregon before moving to Las Vegas in 2025 and joining Del Sol as the ParaPro Flute Specialist. He is a passionate educator and performer, playing with local ensembles and maintaining a private flute studio for students of all ages, motivated to inspire the next generation of musicians.

Joahna Osuna, Band Office Manager

Ms. Joahna Osuna is the Band Aid at Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts. With ten years of musical experience, she has a background in Mariachi music and developed a strong foundation in performance, specializing primarily in rhythm. As an alumna of Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts (2023), she continues to build upon her musical background while gaining valuable experience working alongside students in an educational setting. She is currently pursuing a career in music education and  enjoys helping students develop both academically and musically.

2018-2025: Ms. Erika Hill, Assistant Director of Bands

Originally from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Ms. Hill graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at UNLV, she was actively playing the oboe in multiple groups, including UNLV’s Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Morelli Quintet, Henderson Symphony and Nevada Chamber Orchestra. 

Ms. Hill was also a part of a competitive marching percussion ensemble called the Vegas Vanguard Percussion Theatre, where she marched for three years and served on the board for two. Vegas Vanguard traveled out of state to compete in WGI competitions, including WGI world championships in Dayton, Ohio.

Ms. Hill has experience teaching students of all ages, including various high school marching bands and indoor drumlines, K-8 music at Pinecrest Academy, and private lessons.

Ms. Hill has been at Del Sol Academy since 2018, directing the Symphonic Band, intermediate jazz, lab jazz, percussion ensembles, and the marching band and color guard.

2024-2026: Mr. Michael Villarreal M.M., Assistant Director of Bands

Mr. Villarreal received his Bachelors of Music Education (B.M.E.) in 2016 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He returned to UNLV to complete his Master’s of Music (M.M.) in 2018. During his time at UNLV, he studied French Horn with Bill Bernaits and Beth Lano. He played with UNLV’s Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Brass Band, Star of Nevada Marching Band, and Community Bands. He also was a guest soloist with UNLV’s New Horizon Band and the Las Vegas Master Singers. When he is not teaching, he plays with the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, Nevada Chamber Orchestra, and other playing opportunities in the community.

In 2018, he joined the Del Sol Academy Band Staff as Brass Specialist. He helped coach DSA’s chamber groups, staffed during the marching band seasons, and would give sectionals and free lessons to students. He would gain his teaching license but would depart Del Sol in 2023. He soon taught at Cimarron Memorial High School as Assistant Director of Bands alongside Director of Bands, Mr. Rambat and Percussion Specialist, Mr. Thompson. This year he is happy to return to Del Sol Academy as its third band Director. He hopes to continue to build upon the quality of education, success,and legacy of DSA Bands!