MUSIC

CHRIS COUGHLIN

Director of Instrumental and Choral Music, Chris Coughlin, joined the Mission Hills music team in 2016. Mr. Coughlin earned degrees in music education and composition from Arizona State University, where he served as drum major for the celebrated ASU Sun Devil Marching Band. He also holds a Master’s degree in band directing from Sam Houston State University in Texas. Mr. Coughlin began his teaching career in Mesa, Arizona where he taught band at Taylor Junior High School and served as Arts Department chair and Technology Liaison, initiating the district’s pilot program in music technology. Mr. Coughlin is an accomplished trumpet player and is a former member of the Tempe Symphony Orchestra and Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

JOSH HALL

Josh Hall is a full-time music director at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, CA, teaching courses in percussion, music production, and modern rock band. He works directly with the concert bands, percussion ensemble, marching band, and indoor percussion ensemble. In addition to his instructional roles, Josh also serves as a percussion music arranger for the marching band and indoor percussion ensemble at Mission Hills. Josh has taught, consulted, arranged, and worked as a clinician for several high school percussion ensembles and independent organizations in Southern California. In recent years, he has worked with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Gold Indoor Percussion, and Gold Drum and Bugle Corps. His performance experience includes Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, Dark Sky Percussion, the San Diego State University Marching Aztecs, and the SDSU wind symphony and symphony orchestra. Josh holds a B.A. in Communication and a Minor in Classical Music from SDSU, as well as an M.A. in Communication from SDSU. He proudly endorses Innovative Percussion Inc. sticks and mallets.

ANASTASIA HOMES

Anastasia Homes has been teaching at San Elijo Middle school since 2014. She directs Beginning Band, Golden Eagle Band, Wind Symphony, and Gig Jazz Band. In addition to this, Mrs. Homes serves as an instructor to the solo and ensemble groups that perform at the annual San Elijo Solo and Ensemble Festival. Bands under Mrs. Homes perform all over the community and have opportunities to perform at places like Disneyland and Music in the Parks Festivals. She is a native of San Diego, California and is a product of the San Marcos Unified School District. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music and credential from California State University Fullerton. She also holds her Master's Degree in education from California State University San Marcos. While in college, she performed all over the world and participated in various ensembles that have given her insight into many styles of music. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association. Anastasia lives in San Marcos with her husband, son and two dogs. Happy and proud to be a part of the community she works in.

ELLIS KING

Ellyn King is a graduate of San Marcos unified and received a degree in Music Education from UCLA. In addition, they have performed with several world class ensembles including the LA Pops and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. Mx. King is passionate about public music education and firmly believes that it is an ideal medium for teaching the values of accountability, empathy, and communication. They are excited to be back home in the SMUSD family and look forward to serving the students of this community for many years to come!

SHANNON McINNIS

Shannon McInnis has been at San Elijo since 2016. She directs Beginning Band, the Concert Band, Golden Eagle Band, Beginning Jazz Band, Advanced Golden Eagle Choir and Beginning Choir. A native of San Diego, Mrs. McInnis is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BA in Liberal Studies for Education and Minor in Music Education with a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching and California Teaching Credential in Music from Brandman University (now UMass Global). Her groups have performed all over Southern California including at Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, San Diego Padres Games, and at various band and choral festivals. She has been playing instruments since she was 4 years old starting with the piano and adding instruments. Clarinet is her main instrument and she has been playing it for over 30 years. She has played and sung in several professional groups over the years and has been teaching music in schools since 2008. She is a life member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity and her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, California Choral Director's Association, and the Southern California Vocal Association. Mrs. McInnis has been married for 24 years and has 2 sons, ages 19 & 16. 

BRIAN O'DONNELL

Brian O’Donnell is currently the Middle School Band Director at La Mirada Academy. Prior to becoming the band director in 2020, Mr. O’Donnell held a career as a freelance trombonist and music educator for over a decade. He held teaching positions at Palomar College, University of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University, The Idyllwild Arts Academy, as well as numerous school districts in the San Diego area. As a performer, Mr. O’Donnell has performed with many groups including the San Diego Symphony, The Sarasota Opera Company, The Who, Johnny Mathis, Evanescence, and The Gaslamp Quarter Jazz orchestra, and has recorded multiple albums with Joe Garrison and the Night People. When not working with young musicians, Brian enjoys spending time with his family and friends cooking and exploring the outdoors.

SONJA HERSHKOWITZ

Sonja Hershkowitz joined the San Marcos High School VAPA staff in 2019 and is responsible for Choral Ensembles, AP Music Theory, and the Starry Knights Drama Department. She earned a degree in music education and from Point Loma Nazarene University. She loves helping students of all ages to discover their passions and develop their talents in the arts. Mrs. Hershkowitz has served as an adjudicator for the San Elijo Middle School Solo/Ensemble Festival, as voice faculty for the Palomar Choral Academy at Palomar College, and in 2023 had the honor to conduct the SMUSD Elementary Honor Choir. Mrs. Hershkowitz enjoys performing with some of San Diego's finest vocal groups including the San Diego Master Chorale, San Diego Pro Arte Voices, and Sacra/Profana. She is an active member of the California Choral Directors Association, the Southern California Vocal Association, and the Educational Theater Association.

GEOFF RADANT

Geoffrey Radant has been teaching at San Marcos High School since 2005. His responsibilities include directing the Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble,Concert Band, Studio Jazz, the Axiom Performance Ensemble, the CORE Academy Mentor Program, and the San Marcos Conservatory for Leadership & the Arts. Additionally, Mr. Radant serves as the visual designer and drill writer for San Marcos High School and has worked independently as a consultant, composer, arranger, and designer for marching band, winter guard and indoor percussion. Bands under the direction of Mr. Radant have performed in prestigious events all over the world including China, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Music for All National Festival and have a built a reputation of musical excellence. Geoffrey Radant is a native of San Diego, California. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego and holds a Master’s Degree in Education. Mr. Radant was the San Marcos High School Teacher of the Year in 2022 and has presented sessions at the Arts Empower San Diego Mega Conference, Ryan Anthony Music Project, and the SCSBOA Conference. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, California Band Directors Association, the Jazz Education Network, and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association.

ERASMO RODRIGUEZ

Erasmo Rodriguez-Castaneda joins the San Marcos Bands team in 2023. His responsibilities include directing the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Blues Band, Percussion Ensembles, and teaching the Digital Music Production classes. As an educator, Mr. Rodriguez has taught music at all levels throughout Southern California as well as Mexico, Taiwan, and Japan for over 18 years. This includes teaching percussion, jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra, marching band, drum and bugle corps, and private lessons. Mr. Rodriguez most recently served as the Director of instrumental music at Heritage High School in Menifee Mr. Rodriguez-Castaneda is an accomplished concert percussionist, rudimental percussionist, jazz piano player, and composer and he performs with various professional Symphony orchestras and Jazz ensembles in Southern California. His musical compositions have been played by marching bands, wind ensembles, and indoor percussion ensembles, including orchestrations and sequencing projects for media, and musical theatre in the United States and Japan. Mr. Rodriguez-Castaneda earned his degree and credential at California State University Fullerton. He has served as a percussion and jazz adjudicator for the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) and WCPA (West Coast Performance Association) and is a member of the Vic-Firth Education Team. Mr. Rodriguez-Castaneda also serves on the advisory board for the San Jose non-profit Art of the Heart Music.

MICHAEL SCHMIDT

Michael Schmidt earned his Masters of Music in Trumpet Performance from San Diego State University.  He is an active professional trumpet player and music educator in the San Diego area.  He has performed in a wide variety of musical ensembles including San Diego Musical Theatre, Moonlight Theater, La Jolla Symphony Orchestra, Hector Rivera y la conciencia, Ira Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, Third Project, and Jukebox.  Michael currently serves as the music director at Woodland Park Middle School in San Marcos, CA.   

CARLY INES

I started playing piano when I was 5 years old, and came from a very musical family.   In the 5th grade, I chose the trombone, and played in band all the way through Jr. High and High School.  I attended the University of Kansas on trombone scholarship, and while there I played and sang in a variety of musical ensembles, including the symphonic band, jazz band, marching band, basketball band, trombone choir, gospel choir, and the jazz singers.  I also was a karaoke DJ.  I received my degree in Music Composition, and then moved to San Diego.  I was the lead singer and trombonist for several years in a rock band that played at various venues in the San Diego area, and recorded a CD with the group.  I also played trombone in a jazz funk band. Currently, I am a trombonist and singer in a jazz big band called the Ira B. Liss Big Band Machine, which recently released a CD. I also sing in an a cappella group called Singchronicity, which I’ve been in for about 20 years.

I am married to a wonderful man named Marni, and we have a daughter named Aria who is 19, and our son Noah is 17 and he currently attends San Marcos High School.  We also have an adorable mini Australian shepherd named Zoe.

Music has taken me so many wonderful places, and has been such an enriching and fantastic part of my life.  It is my goal to impart this love of music to all of the students at Double Peak, and to give them opportunities to listen to, learn about, and participate in music.   This is my 3rd year as band director at DPS, and before that I taught elementary music here for 3 years. Before moving to Double Peak, I taught music for 5 years at Twin Oaks, and loved every second of it!