El Cerrito Symphonic Band bio: http://echsbands.com/ensembles/symphonic-band/ Symphonic Band is a performance-based course for woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists looking to continue sharpening their musical capabilities. This intermediate course focuses on strengthening individual playing ability, listening skills, music reading skills, and refining ensemble expression through carefully selected repertoire for wind band. Instrumentation is limited and an audition is required for ensemble membership. Offsite performances, workshops, and sectionals are required of all members.

RECENT AWARDS

• - 2021-22: Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
• - 2018-19: Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
• - 2017-18:
  • - Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
  • - 1st Place; Anaheim Heritage Festival
  • - Gold Award & Outstanding Band; Anaheim Heritage Festival
  • - Adjudicator’s Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
• - 2016-2017: Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
• - 2015-2016: Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival

Director of Bands at El Cerrito High School since 2009, Keith has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and a Master of Arts degree in music education with an emphasis in wind conducting from San José State University. Prior to joining ECHS, Keith was Jazz Director at Portola Middle School in El Cerrito. He was also Director of the Jazzschool Young Musicians Program at the California Jazz Conservatory, where he founded and directed the award-winning Jazzschool Studio Band which has received four national Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards.

Keith also works frequently as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor for honor bands and summer camps throughout northern California. Groups under his direction have received multiple awards and performed in venues that include Carnegie Hall and Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and at several jazz festivals such as Jazz à Vienne and the Montruex, North Sea, Umbria, Victoria, and Monterey jazz festivals. During his time at El Cerrito High School, the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble have been selected to perform at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in 2014 and 2018.

Keith has served on the boards of the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), California Alliance for Jazz (CAJ), and is currently president of the CMEA Bay Section. He has received various teaching honors that include the El Cerrito High School Teacher of the Year (2020), CMEA Bay Section’s Outstanding Jazz Educator Award (2018), KRON 4 Teacher of the Week (2016), CMEA Bay Section’s Outstanding Music Educator Award (2014), and the West County Ed Fund’s Teaching Excellence Award (2014). In 2014 he was also recognized as the West Contra Costa Teacher of the year.