Band-o-rama
2024
Presented by the La Costa Canyon High School Music Program
Supported by the City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts
Program Information
Performing Groups:
Encinitas Union School District Band and Strings
Ada Harris Elementary School Band
Oak Crest Middle School Beginning and Intermediate Bands
Diegueno Middle School Beginning and Intermediate Bands
San Dieguito High School Academy Bands
La Costa Canyon High School Band
Special thanks to all of our parent and student volunteers today!
Today's Program
Elementary Groups
Ada Harris
"March of the Romans" Michael Sweeney
"Festivo Fantastico" James Curnow
EUSD Band
"Hot Cross Buns"
"Ode to Joy"
EUSD Strings
"Old MacDonald"
"Fire Dance"
Middle School Bands
Intermediate and Advanced Band
"Journey to the Stars" James Swearingen
Advanced Band
"Blue Sky Horizon" Randall Standridge
High School Bands
"Mambo" From Westside Story arr. Michael Sweeney
"The Legend of Zelda Medley" arr. Charles Mekealian
Combined Groups
"Riders on the Storm" arr. by Michael Story (Middle and High School Bands)
“Band-o-rama March” by Sandy Feldstein and Larry Clark (All Groups)
School and student performers
Ada Harris
Beginners:
Percy Simpson - Flute
Sammie Hewitt - Flute
Abby Grogan - Flute
Olivia Gainey - Flute
Sierra Wall - Clarinet
Cassidy Georgens - Clarinet
Parker Barre - Clarinet
Quinn Gates - Clarinet
Lexi Lukacs - Clarinet
Camia Krehbiel - Clarinet
Lily Arango Hewitt - Saxophone
Paisley Torres - Saxophone
August Sassone - Saxophone
Adeline Ninegar - Saxophone
Jackson Kampman - Trumpet
Lucia Chintawat - Trumpet
Rowan Sarver - Trumpet
Brayden Shepstone - Trombone
Simon Brenner - Trombone
Patrick King - Trombone
Asher Evans - Trombone
Ivan Pinedo - Trombone
Alan Beltran - Trombone
Ford Pavey - Percussion
Weston Gilmore - Percussion
Intermediate:
Nora King - Flute
Evelyn Seerveld - Flute
Lucy Mathison - Flute
Donovan Iida - Flute
Sydney Barre - Flute
Parker O’Brien - Flute
Dylan Menveille - Flute
Mia Eng - Clarinet
Abigail Blazevich - Clarinet
Claire Sakurai - Clarinet
Kelly Reyes - Clarinet
Brisbane Gates - Clarinet
Jocelyn Rocha - Saxophone
Asha Swamanithan - Saxophone
Zane Alejandro - Saxophone
Naomi Alvarez - Saxophone
Gemma Sassone - Saxophone
Malia Robles - Saxophone
Ryan Navarro - Trumpet
Alice Wieland - Trumpet
Lukas Riedlbauer - Trumpet
HannahJane Wright - Trumpet
Rylie Whelihan - Trumpet
Isaac Rodriguez - Trumpet
Gianna Walker - Trombone
Lane Miyashiro - Trombone
Sydney VanBuskirk - Trombone
Vander Brittan - Baritone
Natalie Marley - Percussion
Noah Isquierido - Percussion
Lincoln Townsend - Percussion
EUSD
(italic blue names are SDA HS mentors and green names are instructional coaches)
Addie Konopacki- Flute
Summa Purton - Flute
Alexandria Henigan- Clarinet
Chase Murrey- Clarinet
Ivo Bicanic - Clarinet
Monzerat Cruz - Clarinet
Melanie Pollard - Clarinet
Hannah Jewell- Alto Saxophone
Hannah Harris- Alto Saxophone
Liam Thompson- Alto Saxophone
Lisette D’Souza- Alto Saxophone
Rivie Hadley - Alto Saxophone
Cary Cisterna - Woodwinds
Morgan Frazer- Trumpet
Luca Killian-Benigno - Glockenspiel
Miles Roach - Glockenspiel
Olivia Lupson - Percussion
Allison Cook - Violin
Anna Baldridge - Violin
Ellie Freeman - Violin
Emily Downes - Violin
Quinn Lindsay - Violin
Sierra Laurs - Violin
Sofia Childs - Violin
Victoria Pupko - Violin
Yuvi Tzur - Violin
Aster McQueen - Violin
Lina Dicus - Violin
Caleb Huddleston- Cello
Oak Crest
Symphonic Band
Eliza Hammond- Flute
Ethan Cordone- Flute
Sophie Somers - Flute
Jake Beck - Clarinet
Parker Gilmore - Alto Saxophone
Lucian Fay- Alto Saxophone
CJ Salinger - Trumpet
Drayce Womack - Trumpet
Ben Bass-Trumpet
Oliver Baird - Trombone
Owen Miller - Trombone
Daniel Calmo Mendoza - Baritone
Everett Love - Baritone
Lily Clair - Tuba
Roxana Arezi - Percussion
Jameson Boaz - Percussion
Kai Garcia - Percussion
Jason Granger - Percussion
Beginning Band
Francesca Caso - Flute
Taylor Seidner - Flute
Melani Velazquez Morales - Flute
Scout Huang- Flute
Mila Needleman- Clarinet
Anay Velasquez- Clarinet
Maxwell Pham - Alto Saxophone
Asher Ross - Alto Saxophone
Sebastian Arteaga - Trumpet
Anne Bandy- Trumpet
Santi Borges - Trumpet
Ryuku Sakurai - Trumpet
Vojina Lazarevic - French Horn
Raf Dyer - Trombone
Grace McKenna- Trombone
Alex McKenna - Baritone
Frank Cohn - Baritone
Kai Engle - Tuba
Gabriel Fratts De Toledo - Percussion
Luke Ludwig - Percussion
Presley Nelson - Percussion
Russel Teel - Percussion
Diegueño
Concert Band
Tore Parker - Flute
Bennett Stewart - Flute
Sage Sandland - Clarinet
Melanie Alvarez Nava - Clarinet
Jane Lockhart - Clarinet
Lisselly Mcmillian - Clarinet
Kiran Wilke - Clarinet
Lucy Downes - Bass Clarinet
Ethan Harris - Alto Saxophone
Rowan Sanchez - Alto Saxophone
Amelia Stanford - Alto Saxophone
Elijah Kachtan - Tenor Saxophone
Callan McCluskey - Baritone Saxophone
Lucy Parkinson - Trumpet
Alan Pecchio - Trumpet
Sierra Black - Trumpet
Charlie Bliss - Trumpet
Jaden Cole - Trumpet
Cardiff Moersch - French Horn
Jacob Gibb - Trombone
Natalie Ball - Baritone
Zackary Hasler - Tuba
Estrella Hernandez - Percussion
Kaleb Kristol - Percussion
Sophi Stumpf - Percussion
Ari Fila - Percussion
Keo Frost - Percussion
Beginning Band
Leighton Allred - Flute
Olivia Moore - Flute
Lyla Roach - Flute
Abby Tryon - Flute
Sam Walter - Flute
Sienna Bradwell - Clarinet
Johnna Marcucci - Clarinet
Abby Moore - Clarinet
Mallory Navarro - Clarinet
Taylor Wilford - Clarinet
Macy Brantl - Oboe
Hallee Bennett - Alto Saxophone
Ethan Funakoshi - Alto Saxophone
Riley Patuski - Tenor Saxophone
Rowan Jackson - Trumpet
Stanley Singleton - Trumpet
Joseph Yacoubian - Trumpet
Anderson Lee - Trumpet
Eli Harris - Trombone
Henry Beierschmitt - Trombone
Hannah Ibrahim - Baritone
Owen Beierschmitt - Tuba
Brayden Daly - Percussion
SDA
Griffin Spears - Flute
Taj Aliotta - Flute
Dakota Burnett - Flute
Sierra Porter - Flute
Christopher Pai - Flute/Piccolo
Preston Sasmita - Flute
Rainn Townsend - Flute
Abby Hand - Flute
Krystlin Augustin - Flute
Sadie Burnett - Flute
Craig Wong - Oboe
Beckham Kunkler - Bassoon
Aidan Giles - Bassoon
Logan Bender - Clarinet
Melanie Pollard - Clarinet
Niko Santos - Clarinet
Justin Yoo - Clarinet
Ethan Nikkel - Clarinet
Isabella Villamizar - Clarinet
Spencer Alting-Mees - Clarinet
Maya Herman - Clarinet
Niko Santos - Clarinet
Anya Aravanis - Clarinet
Max Chiang - Clarinet
Ajith Kumar - Clarinet
Mick Mushchenko - Clarinet
Melanie Pollard - Bass Clarinet
Finn Rambur - Bass Clarinet
Roy Olson - Bass Clarinet
Richard Rosas - Alto Saxophone
Aki Jackson - Alto Saxophone
Erby Ryan - Alto Saxophone
Lilliana Navarro - Alto Saxophone
Owen Sandland - Alto Saxophone
Joseph Janni - Tenor Saxophone
Steven Rosas - Tenor Saxophone
Jim Tryon - Tenor Saxophone
Maxwell Schwartz - Baritone Saxophone
Gabriel Loren - Baritone Saxophone
Calvin Chiang - Trumpet
Estrella Guanipa - Trumpet
Nathan Jewell - Trumpet
Isaac Laemmle - Trumpet
Nathan Navarro - Trumpet
Jay Renison - Trumpet
Natalie Berry - Horn
Elden Wellington - Horn
Annika Spevak - Horn
Ian Hukill - Trombone
Silas Tillotson - Trombone
Safi Mehboob - Trombone
Caden Legere - Trombone
Melissa Gerson - Trombone
Logan Burgamy - Trombone
Mo Regnier - Trombone
Nico Coyer - Euphonium
Evan Denzler - Euphonium
Maya Mehboob - Euphonium
Charli Coronella - Tuba
Jonah Clair - Tuba
Olivia Lupson - Percussion
Jake Rice - Percussion
Ryan Wright - Percussion
Mia Lastres - Percussion
Claire Becker - Percussion
Alana Dietor-Hartley - Percussion
Nathan McEntee - Percussion
Camden Huh - Percussion
LCC
Cordelia Henigan - Clarinet
Connor Caricchio - Clarinet
Savannah Stanford - Clarinet
Henry Hill - Bass Clarinet
Alexander Mott - Alto Saxophone
Sem Parker - Trumpet
Dylan Delport - Trumpet
Jack Harris - Trumpet
Benicio Rivera - Trumpet
Reagan Allen - Horn
Jina Moon - Horn
Kellen Marcucci - Trombone
Ronnie Wisniewski - Trombone
George Krikorian - Trombone
Grant Marcucci - Euphonium
Michael Christensen - Tuba
Elizabeth Christensen - Tuba
MJ Lee - Bass
Austin Young - Percussion
Benjamin Shipley - Percussion
Charlie Hsu - Percussion
Lennox Marcucci - Percussion
Benjamin Norton - Percussion
Guilherme Gullo - Percussion
Lucas Villamizar - Percussion
Roshan Tzorfas - Percussion
Pedro Giron - Percussion
Sam Holyoak - Piano
Teachers
Encinitas Union School District
Lara Heck
Mrs. Heck, or “Ms. Lara” is a private violin, viola and cello teacher and youth chamber group director. She is also an Artist in Residence at Calavera Hills and Valley Middle Schools, and director of the EEF String Orchestra for Encinitas Union School District. She received her Associate in Arts from MiraCosta College in 2019 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at SDSU. Lara has also completed Suzuki Teacher Training in ECC - Level 2. Born and raised in Carlsbad, Lara now lives in Oceanside with her husband, Justin and floofball (cat), Phoebe.
Ben Fox
Mr. Fox has been teaching private music lessons for the last 12 years. He joined the team at EUSD in 2022 and currently directs the Band. He received his BA in ICAM: Music (computer music) from UCSD in 2016. He plays trumpet and guitar with Chunky Hustle Brass Band. When not teaching or making music, he’s spending time with his wife, Zoë and daughter, Evelyn in Clairemont.
Ada Harris Elementary
Isabelle Zapata
Ms. Zapata has been teaching K-3 General Music in Cardiff School District for six years now, and is thrilled to celebrate this second year of adding “Band Director” to her responsibilities! In addition to her work in Cardiff, she serves as the Front Ensemble director at Murrieta Mesa High School. She also serves as both the Education & Outreach Coordinator and as an Avian Husbandry Specialist for Free Flight (a nonprofit parrot sanctuary in Del Mar). She is a member of SCSBOA (Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association) and the San Diego AOSA (American-Orff Schulwerk Association). She earned her Bachelor’s Degrees (Instrumental Music Education B.M., Percussion Performance B.M.,University Honors Program) and K-12 Music Single Subject Teaching Credential at CSU Long Beach, her M.A. in Education (emphasis on Elementary Education) at SDSU, and her Level 1 Orff Certification through UCSD extension. She also holds an associate’s degree in Deaf Studies & American Sign Language from Palomar College. Isabelle resides in Escondido, CA, with her beloved cockatiels - Romeo, Louie, and Sizzle. When not working, she can often be found bird watching, horseback riding, or spending time at the beach!
Diegueño Middle School and Oak Crest Middle School
Cat Gold
Ms. Gold received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from UCLA where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and had the privilege of studying with world-renowned percussionist, Mitchell Peters. She also holds a California Teaching Credential (Music) from UCLA and a Masters in Music Education from Michigan State University. Ms. Gold taught instrumental music in the Los Angeles Unified School District for six years. While in LA, she was the band director and music department chair at Millikan Middle School Performing Arts Magnet. She has extensive experience directing various levels of concert band, orchestra, jazz band, and percussion ensemble. She is a member of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and the California Music Educators Association.
In 2012, Ms. Gold relocated to San Diego where she served as the band director at Ada Harris Elementary until 2017. During her tenure, the band program doubled in size to over 130 participating students. Ms. Gold has been the band director at Oak Crest and Diegueño Middle School since the fall of 2017. Cat resides in Carlsbad with her husband Kevin and three sons Ari, Alexander, and James. Although she has her hands full these days, in her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking and going to see live music.
San Dieguito High School Academy
Jeremy Wuertz
Mr. Wuertz has been teaching music at SDA for 20 years. During that time, SDA’s performance ensembles have received numerous awards and Superior performance ratings. Prior to becoming the Band Director at SDA, he served as the Assistant Band Director at Vista High School for 2 years. He received his BA in Music Composition from UCLA and his Masters in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston State University. Mr. Wuertz was named SDA’s Teacher of the Year in 2011. He is a member of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and the California Music Educators Association. In addition to teaching, Mr. Wuertz plays percussion professionally in San Diego with the Seaside Brass. He resides in Vista with his wife Robin and their children, Peyton and Parker.. He is also a huge baseball fan – Go Padres!
La Costa Canyon High School
Charles Mekealian
Charles Mekealian has been working in the SDUHSD for three years and is a music composer and former Marine Corps Musician. Raised in Sanger, California, Mr. Mekealian was inspired to pursue a career in music education and composition by his music teachers and desire to help student musicians find the value of music in their lives. He went on to serve as a Marine Musician with the MCRD Band, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing band and Marine Band New Orleans. Mr. Mekealian then went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in Music Education at San Diego State University. He began arranging music for marching, concert, and show bands after graduating high school in 2005. Mr. Mekealian has had music performed by the United States Marine Corps, many music programs in the U. S. and abroad as well as several works performed by District Honor Bands in Southern California. He has multiple works published with the Robert W. Smith Music Company and has his own publishing company. Mr. Mekealian resides with his wife and two daughters in Point Loma. He is currently a staff arranger for several high school band programs to include LCC.