Analy High School Jazz Band Class Saved, New Music Director Hired
By Janis Snyder
Sebastopol, CA, Tuesday, June 18, 2019: The Analy Band Wagon is ecstatic to announce that the jazz band class at Analy High School is confirmed for the 2019-20 school year! Jazz Band will not become a ‘club’ as has been considered in recent months.
Because of some amazing commitment by the school administration, especially our new principal Ms. Shauna Ferdinandson along with Superintendent Toni Beal, and the extra efforts of our ABW family, the High School District has made a commitment to keep Jazz a credited course.
This will provide our student musicians with the opportunity to keep Analy music excellent and keep jazz in the curriculum for this coming year.
Analy Band Wagon wants to express its deep appreciation for all the careful listening and deep dedication to our music program shown by every member of the West Sonoma County High School District Board and by past and present leaders in our AHS administration. We also acknowledge the outstanding effort of our parents and students in bringing this issue to the leadership with intelligence and caring for our musicians and for the music program.
SUCCESS! Now let’s make 20019-20 the best school year ever!!
If you have questions please email our new ABW President Mr. Michael Ost at president@abw.groups.io.
Again, thank you to everyone involve in this effort to preserve Jazz Band a class and keep Analy Music the best it can be.
June 15, 2019: Announcing our new Music Director! The Analy Band Wagon is excited to announce that Mr. Casey Jones has been approved as the new Music Director for Analy High School and Brookhaven Middle School! He will be teaching 60% at Analy and 40% at Brookhaven for the coming 2019-2020 school year.
Mr. Jones has been teaching for six years. Most recently he taught at San Jose Middle school in Novato, California. His duties included concert band, choir, and jazz band.
Prior to that he held a teaching position at Sonoma Valley High School that included Concert Band, Concert Choir, Beginning Instrumental music, ASB Leadership, and extra-curricular strings. As an educator, his teaching experience includes students from as young as kindergarten up to collegiate level.
Mr. Jones has experience playing and teaching a multitude of instruments such as trumpet, saxophone, bassoon, strings, and percussion. He attended Sonoma State University and studied under Dr. Andy Collinsworth graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He grew up in Healdsburg and has worked at Cazadero Music Camp in Cazadero since 2006.
Mr. Jones has played the clarinet for 20 years and performed in community bands, orchestras, and professional groups alike. He currently plays in a traditional New Orleans jazz group, the King Street Giants.
Their sounds have been heard at Strawberry Music Festival, Petaluma Music Festival, San Jose Jazz Fest, Healdsburg Jazz Fest, Sausalito Arts Festival, Lagunitas Beer Circus and Honk Fest West, and have appeared at events and in commercials for the San Francisco Giants. Winners of the North Bay Bohemian's "Best of" Best Band in Sonoma County award in 2017.
Mr. Jones is honored and excited to share music making with the students of Analy High School and Brook Haven Middle School. You will have an opportunity to meet Mr. Jones during Analy registration (Aug 6th & 7th) and at our Band Parent Meeting (Aug 22nd).
