Union Park School provides an environment for students to embrace inclusivity and other cultures through the lens of awareness and Spanish language literacy. The learning community works together to inspire and empower innovative insights and rigorous opportunities for academic and social emotional growth.
Union Park Vision:
Empowering tomorrow's leaders with second language literacy and fostering extraordinary, motivated, and culturally conscious life-long learner
I am starting my first full year of teaching ever in the classroom here at Union Park. I am super excited about teaching and growing with all my students throughout the school year. I have three wonderful kids who all attend Union Park which is the greatest perk of the job. Along with my wife, Ally, we have our own little homestead five minutes from the school where we have bees, chickens, fruit trees, and a large garden. When we aren't bottling honey or making soap, you can usually find us hiking during the weekends.
As far as my background, I received my Doctorate from the University of Arizona in 2016, where I studied with Dr. Kelly Thomas. I am the founder of the award-winning British style brass band The Colorado Brass. During my time with Colorado Brass, I won Best New Arrangement for brass band at the U.S. Brass Band Open (along with my wife) as well as 2nd place with my tuba quartet at the North American Brass Association's National Championships.
In addition to teaching at Union Park, I teach low brass private lessons in the Phoenix metro area. My student’s accomplishments include; Acceptance to University of Colorado School of Music, Acceptance to The Battalion (Drum Corps), Colorado All-State Band, Colorado Honor Band, CSU honor band, and having received excellent ratings for solo and ensemble competitions. In addition, I have performed with a number of local groups, including the Colorado Wind Ensemble and the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra.
I also hold a Master’s and Bachelor’s of Music degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I studied with Thomas Stein. My doctoral dissertation was on the use of the tuba quartet to increase technical facility in young tuba and euphonium students. If you purchase a copy, I get 3 cents in royalties!
