Organization

geoff-radant

Geoffrey Radant

Director of Bands

Geoffrey Radant has been teaching at San Marcos High School since 2006. His responsibilities include directing the Knight Regiment Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band 1, Concert Band 2, Jazz B, Jazz combos, Wind Chamber Ensembles, and the Axiom Performance Ensemble. 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 Mr. Radant have performed in prestigious events all over the world including China, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic and have acquired a reputation for musical excellence.  Ensembles under his direction have also performed at the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis and he has presented at the Arts Empower Mega Conference.

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.  His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Jazz Education Network, Western Band Association, California Band Directors Association, and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association.

Matthew Armstrong

Music Director
SMUSD Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator

Mr. Armstrong began teaching at San Marcos High School in 2004 and in 2015 accepted the position of Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for San Marcos Unified. Named San Marcos High School Teacher of the Year, and San Marcos Unified Teacher of the year in 2013, Music Educator of the Year for California Music Educators Association in 2015, he is a sought after performer, clinician, and arts advocate.

Along with guest conducting appearances statewide, in 2017 and 2019 he had the honor of being the guest conductor for the Cuban National Concert Band in Havana.

In 2015 Mr. Armstrong founded the San Diego Percussion Festival which partners with the San Diego Symphony and Yamaha to provide quality a concert percussion performance experience for students across San Diego and Southern California.

Over the past 15 year, his percussion ensembles have performed 7 times at the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival. Mr. Armstrong is a member of Percussive Arts Society, California Music Educators Association, NafME, and is an artist with Vic Firth and Zildjian.

Ashley Lindsey

Music Assistant / Visual Caption Head (Knight Regiment Marching Band) / Artistic Director (Axiom) / Saxophone Coach

Ashley Lindsey has ben teaching at San Marcos High School since 2009. Her responsibilities include Music Assistant for the entire music program, Visual Caption Head for the Knight Regiment, Artistic Director for the Axiom Performance Ensemble, and saxophone coach.

Ms. Lindsey has been heavily involved with music from an early age, first studying piano and then saxophone. She has been a saxophone player for 19 years and while a student at Vista High School, she was involved with the marching band, jazz band, and the wind ensemble where she was principal chair for 4 years. During this time, Ms. Lindsey performed at the Music for All National Festival and has also performed internationally.

During the summers of 2003-2005, Ms. Lindsey marched with the Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps on mellophone, winning the Division 2 World Championships in 2003. Continuing her musical education after graduating, Ms. Lindsey studied saxophone under Geoffrey Radant while earning a B.A. Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Entertainment from CSU Fullerton. Ms. Lindsey also spent 7 years training in jazz dance to improve her understanding of movement and repertoire as a visual designer.

Ms. Lindsey has been teaching since 2004 and has worked as a visual technician, movement technician, choreographer, drill writer, visual caption head, and music coach for both marching bands and indoor drumlines. She also continues to play saxophone and works independently as a private lesson teacher. She has worked with many award winning programs in Southern California including Cerritos HS, Westview HS, Mission Hills HS, SDSU, and San Marcos HS and is regularly sought out as a visual consultant for marching band. Intrigued by the visual and artistic aspect of the marching arts, Ms. Lindsey has spent years training and studying to develop a unique teaching method that highly integrates dance technique and choreography with marching, and has helped build the innovative programs and design seen with the Knight Regiment Marching Band and the Axiom Performance Ensemble at San Marcos High School.

Jacqueline Goldberg

Guard Caption Head

Jacqueline is a graduate of Rancho Buena Vista where she spent all four years involved with marching band, color guard, and dance.

After graduating, she performed with several groups including Lealta and Vox Artium in the winter and the Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps and Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in the summer.

Her love of dance and color guard gave her the passion for focusing her education on dance and movement and in 2011 she graduated from Cal State San Marcos with a bachelor in kinesiology.

As a teacher, Jacqueline has taught at many local high schools, independent groups, and a middle school as an instructor and clinician. She has been teaching at San Marcos School since 2007 and has been the Guard Caption Head since 2011.

Music Staff

Evan Walsh

High Brass Specialist

Evan Walsh is a freelance trumpet player, teaching artist, and music contractor in Southern California. Evan studied trumpet as a Cole Scholar at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach and holds a degree in music business from Full Sail University.

Evan received an honorable mention in the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and in 2015 won an opportunity to perform in the first annual Future Session Players Clinic at the Sony Scoring Stage. Evan has performed with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Young Artist Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony, and the Southern California Brass Consortium.

In the pit, Evan has performed with San Diego Musical Theatre, Lamb’s Players Theatre, and Moonlight Stage Productions. Evan performs regularly and leads groups for Disneyland, The San Diego Zoo, and SeaWorld San Diego. You can also see and hear Evan performing on TV for HBO’s Westworld, Deadwood, and Old Navy and Apple Commercials.

Music is important on many levels in life. Music helps develop self-discipline, aids the brain to learn and process academic skills, and is a catalyst in creativity both individually and in a group. Because of these benefits of music and the fact that music is such a vital and integral part of his life, Evan wants to promote music to others through teaching, mentoring, and giving educational concerts and workshops. What Evan enjoys most about teaching is that it gives him the opportunity to inspire others to be creative.

Andew Kreysa

Andew Kreysa

Percussion Specialist
Andrew Kreysa is a native of Frederick, MD and has been performing on percussion instruments for over twenty-five years. From 2011-2014 Andrew acted as Conductor and Artistic Director of the South Coast Percussion Ensemble, and from 2014-2016 served as Graduate Assistant to the San Diego State University Percussion Ensemble.

In addition to conducting, Andrew is an avid soloist and chamber musician. Andrew was a winner of the 2011-2012 SDSU Soloist Competition; performing David Gillingham’s Concerto for Marimba No. 2 with the San Diego State University Wind Symphony. In the spring of 2013 Andrew joined the modern music ensemble SWARMIUS; and has since then performed on over fifty occasions across the United States—in New York, Colorado, and throughout California. In April of 2015, Kreysa, along with other members of SWARMIUS were featured soloists with the SDSU Symphony Orchestra, performing the world premier of Joseph Martin Waters’ concerto Suite Noir. In April of 2016, Kreysa made his Copley Symphony Hall debut, as one of three soloists featured with the SDSU Wind Symphony, performing Russell Peck’s The Glory and the Grandeur. In 2017, Mr. Kreysa performed Peck’s triple concerto once again at the annual SCSBOA Conference in Anaheim.

Mr. Kreysa’s scholarly writings have been heralded as “insightful” and “thought provoking”. He is coalescing his talents in music and writing through working towards the completion of his first Percussion Method book, which will emphasize the importance and integration of music theory in order to foster a higher level of comprehension, as well as facilitate rapid absorption of music through the use of philosophical and technical rhetoric and exercises. 

Andrew holds a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from San Diego State University, and studied under Gregory Cohen, Principle Percussionist of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Additionally Andrew has studied under Frank Anthony Ames, Mike Holguin, John Tafoya, and Janis Potter. Andrew has played under Shannon Kitelinger, Matthew Rowe, John E. Wakefield, Edward Maclary, James Ross, and Kenneth Keisler, Andrew lives in San Diego and maintains a large private teaching studio and percussion rental business.

d’Lainey Forrester

Woodwind / Brass Specialist
Assistant Director – Concert Band II

d’Lainey Forrester is an alumni of San Marcos High School in which she performed in Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, and served as Drum Major in the Knight Regiment. After graduating, she continued on to earn her Bachelor’s in Music Performance from UCLA in 2017. During her time in college, Ms. Forrester studied clarinet under Gary Gray, Principal Clarinetist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. In addition to woodwinds, Ms. Forrester also studied low brass (concentration in euphonium) with Aubrey Foard, Principal Tuba of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She performed on trombone in the UCLA Bruin Marching Band and served as principal chair euphonium in the UCLA Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Travis Cross. Ms. Forrester also studied conducting with Dr. Cross during her time at UCLA. Outside of school she worked on staff with Santa Monica High School, where she was a visual instructor for their marching band.

While earning her undergrad, Ms. Forrester participated in five seasons of Drum Corps International (DCI) in the World Class division, performing on euphonium and consistently marching in the World Class finals every year.  Ms. Forrester performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard (Santa Clara, CA) in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Bluecoats (Canton, OH) in 2016, and the Blue Devils (Concord, CA) in 2017. In 2016, Ms. Forrester earned the title of DCI World Class Champion with the Bluecoats, earning the group’s first championship in history. Additionally, in 2017 she earned her second DCI Championship title with the Blue Devils, earning the group’s 18th total championship and winning the High Visual Performance caption. Outside of Drum Corps International, Ms. Forrester spent the 2017 winter season with Pulse Percussion (Westminster, CA) in Winter Guard International’s World Class Percussion division, earning a bronze medal at WGI World Class finals in Dayton, Ohio.

After finishing her career in the marching arts, Ms. Forrester worked as a musician in Tokyo, Japan, for Kyoto Tokyo Inc. Theater Company. During her stay in 2018, she performed nearly thirty live shows in the Tokyo International Forum Hall. Ms. Forrester also worked as a woodwind clinician during her time in Japan, teaching students at various high schools and junior high schools in the Yamagata Prefecture.

Back at home in San Diego, Ms. Forrester works in various roles and positions as a music teacher at local high schools and middle schools in the North County area. Her duties include woodwind coach, brass coach, marching technician, and private lessons instructor. At San Marcos High School she enjoys working as a woodwind coach, and visual/marching instructor for Knight Regiment and Axiom Performance Ensemble. Her favorite job at SMHS is assisting with conducting and teaching the students in Concert Band 2.

julia-barnett

Dr Julia Barnett

Flute Specialist

Admired for her rich tone and fluid technique throughout the instrument’s range, flutist Julia Barnett is an active performer and teacher in  Southern California. As a soloist she has performed with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and the UCLA Symphony.  She has performed with chamber ensembles such as the LA Grand Ensemble, Spirati Woodwind Quintet, and is a member of the Coastal Winds, Les Flutes des Salon flute quartet, and Duo Flautas Frescas. Her orchestral ensemble work has included the LA Dream Orchestra, the La Grange Symphony, and she is currently a member of the Midland/Odessa Symphony and Chorale as well as the Billings Symphony. In addition to her performing career, Dr. Barnett enjoys directing the Avanti Flute Choir, a performing flute choir composed of amateur through professional musicians. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in flute performance at the University of California at Los Angeles, where she studied with Sheridon Stokes. For her Master of Music, Dr. Barnett studied with Christina Jennings at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and attended Rice University for her Bachelors Degree under the tutelage of Leone Buyse. ​​

In the Spring of 2012 she received 3rd place in the San Diego Young Artist Gold Competition and in 2010 was named an Elaine Krown Klein Scholar at UCLA. She has been a winner in the San Diego Symphony Concerto Competition, as well as the La Jolla Symphony Young Artist Competition, a two-time finalist in the Coleman ​​Chamber Music Competition, a recipient of the Mary Ellen Hale Lovett Traveling Fellowship while at Rice University and a winner in the Musical Merit Foundation of San Diego competition. Dr. Barnett has also won scholarships to attend the Brevard Music Festival, as well as the Pierre Monteux School of Orchestra and Conducting.​​

Dr. Barnett’s interest in new music led to the commission and premiere of Jacob Barton’s ¡AY! ¡AY! ¡AY! ¡AY! in 2006, a work for flute, percussion and kalimba, based upon Mexican folk songs. She has also premiered numerous new works in ensembles and as a soloist, most recently in February of 2016 with the Los Angeles premiere of John Steinmetz’s Whispers for flute, bassoon, and piano. Her desire to share a variety of cultures with her audiences resulted in the world premiere of Panagiotis Theodossiou’s “The Passage,” based upon a Greek play, which used alto flute, viola, and piano to explore the different scenes of the play. She also has a passionate interest in both studying and performing classical flute music by Mexican composers.  Her doctoral dissertation, “Performing Practice in Roberto Peña’s Concierto para Flauta y Orquesta: Discovering Mexico’s Contemporary Classical Flute Music,” focuses on the works of Roberto Peña, a flutist and composer from Chiapas, Mexico whose works for flute are a wonderful addition to the flute repertoire.​

Scott Sutherland

Educator, Arranger, Performing Artist

A life-long resident of Southern California, Scott Sutherland has been hailed as “the second craziest tuba player I know” by famed American composer, Joan Tower. He is a member of the Redlands Symphony, Riverside Philharmonic and has been spotted in the back row of the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and San Diego Symphony. Likely due to clerical errors, Scott has performed at the front of the stage as a soloist with the San Diego and Idyllwild Arts Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Riverside and Burbank Philharmonics. He has also recorded for film, television and video game soundtracks, including the major motion pictures Pearl Harbor and Batman vs. Superman (which are the only accomplishments notable to his younger private students).

For 11 years, Scott was a founding member, tubist and pianist of the international touring ensemble, Presidio Brass, for which he continues to work with as a consultant and music arranger. During his time with the quintet, he performed in over 40 states, Canada and China.

Scott can often be found behind his MacBook Pro, slaving away for hours on end adapting music. His arrangements have been performed by ensembles throughout the world, including the Principal Brass of the New York Philharmonic, famed tubist and conductor Roger Bobo, as well as chamber groups from the West Point Band and the “President’s Own” Marine Band. Scott’s “Fantasy on Porgy and Bess” for trumpet and orchestra was commissioned by soloist Barry Perkins and has been performed with the Pacific Symphony (California) and the Aguascalientes Symphony (Mexico).

He began a popular YouTube Channel in 2016 which includes multitrack videos of film, television and video game music, featuring Scott playing euphonium, tuba, cimbasso, piano, and percussion. In its first year, the channel was viewed over 500,000 times.

Beyond his performance career, Scott is a passionate and dedicated teacher. He is currently on the faculty at the University of Redlands, Idyllwild Arts Summer Program and Gene Pokorny Low Brass Seminar.

Despite all of this, Scott’s foremost identity comes as a husband and father to his beautiful family and he is grateful to come home to Carlsbad, CA where it never fails to be 70 degrees and sunny all year round.

Scott Sutherland is proud to be an Artist and Clinician for the Eastman Music Company.

https://www.youtube.com/c/scottsutherlandmusic

https://www.scottsutherlandmusic.com

Kaelyn Henderson

Trombone Coach

Kaelyn Henderson has been a freelance trombonist in the San Diego, Los Angeles and greater Phoenix area for 10 years. Mrs. Henderson studied at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance.

During her time at CSULB, Kaelyn was a Cole Scholar and additionally a featured artist at the Student Showcase in 2015.

Kaelyn has performed with the Dana Point Symphony, Sonoran Brass Quintet, Desert Foothills Theater, and San Diego Musical Theater and alongside members from Pacific Symphony, Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Tucson Symphony, & San Diego Symphony.

Mrs. Henderson believes music is an integral part of a student’s development & is excited to help young minds develop a passion for music.

Terence Cooper

Terence S. Cooper

Jazz C Director
High Brass Instructor

Terence has been a local Horn player/ Singer/Composer/Arranger/Teacher/Coach in the San Diego area for the last 27 years.

He is a former principle horn in the La Jolla Symphony, has performed and written for performing groups at Sea World, Lego Land and most recently, The San Diego Zoo.

He has been also a music minister at North Coast Church in Vista for the last 13 years,
where he plays piano and sings each weekend in the “Soul Gospel” venue.

Visual Staff

Michael Walsh

Visual Technician

Michael is a North County native and graduate from Vista High School, where he first began to love the marching activity.  Upon graduation in 2006, he began a brief career as an orchestral trumpeter in the San Diego area, as well as an educator working with all ages.

He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from California State University, San Marcos, and now works as a Business Process Analyst at ViaSat in Carlsbad.  Michael enjoys traveling, great food, and the outdoors.

He feels privileged to be working at San Marcos High School because he believes it is a very special program which is providing its students with a unique, high quality experience, an exceptionally rare opportunity in the age of school budget cuts.

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