President
Matt Bringedahl
Maria Carrillo High School
[email protected]
Matt Bringedahl is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, California. He is in his 10th year teaching at that site where he leads three levels of wind band, two levels of orchestra, two levels of jazz ensembles, and multiple student independent ensembles.
Mr. Bringedahl received his BA in Music Education from Sonoma State University in the spring of 2012, his credential the following year, and his Masters from Michigan State in the summer of 2018. All levels of his degrees were received with honors from each university. He studied under multiple conducting professors, most notably Dr. Andy Collinsworth and Dr. Jenny Bent from Sonoma State as well as a collection of others during professional development sessions including Dr. Kevin Sedatole from Michigan State University.
Mr. Bringedahl maintains an active professional musical schedule. He spends summers working with various summer camps, conducting clinics, teaching music courses, and teaching a steady cohort of private students. In addition to teaching, he also performs with a variety of local ensembles ranging from Marin up to Ukiah. His primary instrument is clarinet but is a proficient woodwind doubler on flute and saxophones. Mr. Bringedahl is a proud member of NAfME (National Association of Music Education), CMEA (California Music Education Association), NCBCDA (Northern California Band and Choir Association), CODA (California Orchestra Directors Association) and CAJ (California Alliance for Jazz).
Matt Bringedahl
Maria Carrillo High School
[email protected]
Matt Bringedahl is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, California. He is in his 10th year teaching at that site where he leads three levels of wind band, two levels of orchestra, two levels of jazz ensembles, and multiple student independent ensembles.
Mr. Bringedahl received his BA in Music Education from Sonoma State University in the spring of 2012, his credential the following year, and his Masters from Michigan State in the summer of 2018. All levels of his degrees were received with honors from each university. He studied under multiple conducting professors, most notably Dr. Andy Collinsworth and Dr. Jenny Bent from Sonoma State as well as a collection of others during professional development sessions including Dr. Kevin Sedatole from Michigan State University.
Mr. Bringedahl maintains an active professional musical schedule. He spends summers working with various summer camps, conducting clinics, teaching music courses, and teaching a steady cohort of private students. In addition to teaching, he also performs with a variety of local ensembles ranging from Marin up to Ukiah. His primary instrument is clarinet but is a proficient woodwind doubler on flute and saxophones. Mr. Bringedahl is a proud member of NAfME (National Association of Music Education), CMEA (California Music Education Association), NCBCDA (Northern California Band and Choir Association), CODA (California Orchestra Directors Association) and CAJ (California Alliance for Jazz).
President Elect
Dustin Friel
Rancho Cotate High School
[email protected]
Dustin Friel is currently the director of music at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, California. He is currently in his 5th year of teaching at RCHS and leads Band 1, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Auxiliary Band, and Jazz Ensemble, and is the caption head of the RCHS indoor drumline program.
Upon graduating high school Dustin chose to study music education at the Santa Rosa Junior College, and began teaching percussion at Maria Carrillo High School in 2010. In 2012, Dustin began teaching at Petaluma High School as a percussion instructor and assistant band director. Mr. Friel received his BM in Music Education from Sonoma State University in the spring of 2017 and began credentialing the following year at Petaluma High School, through a teaching credential program at SSU. He has studied percussion underneath Jennifer Wilsey, Josh Bryan, Daniel Recoder, Brad Stein, Joe Perea, Brandon Hussey, and Casey Brohard. In addition to his percussion training, he has received conducting instruction from Dr. Andy Collinsworth, Dr. Jenny Bent, Dr. Alexander Kahn, Dr. Emily Threnin, and Dr. Gary W. Hill.
Dustin has an extensive background in the area of percussion and marching percussion. Serving as the previous percussion caption head at Maria Carrillo High School, Petaluma High School, and Granada High School. He has been involved as an instructor and composer in the NCBA competitive circuit for approximately 15 years and has helped develop indoor percussion culture in the area of Sonoma County. In addition to his teaching, he has marching experience at the Renegades drum and bugle corps in 2012 (Quadline) and Team Percussion Indoor in 2014 (Quadline).
Dustin is a proud father of his four-year-old daughter Alaia and is excited to introduce her to the musical world. Hobbies include music production, composition, skateboarding, video games, gardening, and spending quality time with family/friends. He is excited to grow as a conductor/educator in his future years and make many more great relationships through his musical journey.
Dustin Friel
Rancho Cotate High School
[email protected]
Dustin Friel is currently the director of music at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, California. He is currently in his 5th year of teaching at RCHS and leads Band 1, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Auxiliary Band, and Jazz Ensemble, and is the caption head of the RCHS indoor drumline program.
Upon graduating high school Dustin chose to study music education at the Santa Rosa Junior College, and began teaching percussion at Maria Carrillo High School in 2010. In 2012, Dustin began teaching at Petaluma High School as a percussion instructor and assistant band director. Mr. Friel received his BM in Music Education from Sonoma State University in the spring of 2017 and began credentialing the following year at Petaluma High School, through a teaching credential program at SSU. He has studied percussion underneath Jennifer Wilsey, Josh Bryan, Daniel Recoder, Brad Stein, Joe Perea, Brandon Hussey, and Casey Brohard. In addition to his percussion training, he has received conducting instruction from Dr. Andy Collinsworth, Dr. Jenny Bent, Dr. Alexander Kahn, Dr. Emily Threnin, and Dr. Gary W. Hill.
Dustin has an extensive background in the area of percussion and marching percussion. Serving as the previous percussion caption head at Maria Carrillo High School, Petaluma High School, and Granada High School. He has been involved as an instructor and composer in the NCBA competitive circuit for approximately 15 years and has helped develop indoor percussion culture in the area of Sonoma County. In addition to his teaching, he has marching experience at the Renegades drum and bugle corps in 2012 (Quadline) and Team Percussion Indoor in 2014 (Quadline).
Dustin is a proud father of his four-year-old daughter Alaia and is excited to introduce her to the musical world. Hobbies include music production, composition, skateboarding, video games, gardening, and spending quality time with family/friends. He is excited to grow as a conductor/educator in his future years and make many more great relationships through his musical journey.
Past President
Daniel Sedgwick
Del Norte High School
[email protected]
Daniel Sedgwick was born in Santa Barbara, California. Daniel started as an instrumentalist at the age of ten, when he was talked into playing clarinet for his grandfather’s band. Daniel played clarinet throughout elementary school, in junior high, and in high school where he also played alto sax and clarinet with the jazz band and tuba in the marching band. He sang in the high school Madrigals and in the Royal Knights, a men’s choir. In high school he also joined the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony where he was exposed to professional music literature and decided that he wanted to spend his life working in music.
Daniel started his college career at beautiful Santa Barbara City College. While there he played clarinet in the concert band, and symphony, and alto sax in the jazz band. He was the featured soloist with the symphony playing the Mozart clarinet concerto. With his general education completed Daniel began applying to colleges to
pursue a degree in clarinet performance. Although he was accepted to several schools to pursue music, Daniel chose to follow his heart and went to Humboldt State University so he could be with his high school sweetheart, Lisa. While there he studied with Ken Ayoob, played lead clarinet and saxophone.
After completing his performance degree, Daniel studied in Eugene at the University of Oregon for his graduate studies. He studied clarinet with Dr. Wayne Bennett and earned his master’s degree in clarinet performance in 2008. Upon graduation Daniel accepted a position teaching music in Crescent City. In the Fall of 2008 he started his new life as the full time band and choir director of Del Norte High School.
In addition to teaching at Del Norte High School, Daniel plays lead alto saxophone and clarinet for the Tsunami Swing and for the local theater group Lighthouse Repertory Theatre.
Daniel Sedgwick
Del Norte High School
[email protected]
Daniel Sedgwick was born in Santa Barbara, California. Daniel started as an instrumentalist at the age of ten, when he was talked into playing clarinet for his grandfather’s band. Daniel played clarinet throughout elementary school, in junior high, and in high school where he also played alto sax and clarinet with the jazz band and tuba in the marching band. He sang in the high school Madrigals and in the Royal Knights, a men’s choir. In high school he also joined the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony where he was exposed to professional music literature and decided that he wanted to spend his life working in music.
Daniel started his college career at beautiful Santa Barbara City College. While there he played clarinet in the concert band, and symphony, and alto sax in the jazz band. He was the featured soloist with the symphony playing the Mozart clarinet concerto. With his general education completed Daniel began applying to colleges to
pursue a degree in clarinet performance. Although he was accepted to several schools to pursue music, Daniel chose to follow his heart and went to Humboldt State University so he could be with his high school sweetheart, Lisa. While there he studied with Ken Ayoob, played lead clarinet and saxophone.
After completing his performance degree, Daniel studied in Eugene at the University of Oregon for his graduate studies. He studied clarinet with Dr. Wayne Bennett and earned his master’s degree in clarinet performance in 2008. Upon graduation Daniel accepted a position teaching music in Crescent City. In the Fall of 2008 he started his new life as the full time band and choir director of Del Norte High School.
In addition to teaching at Del Norte High School, Daniel plays lead alto saxophone and clarinet for the Tsunami Swing and for the local theater group Lighthouse Repertory Theatre.
Jazz Choir Rep
Alissa Gibbs
Enterprise High School
[email protected]
Alissa (Aune) Gibbs is the Choral Music Director of Enterprise High School, her alma mater, since 2013. She conducts the Chamber Singers, A Cappella Choir, Low Voice and High Voice Ensembles, TBA Jazz Choir, and is the director of Enterprise Starship and the Victorian Dinner.
After two years at Shasta College, she graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She received her teaching credential from Simpson University, while student teaching at EHS. She completed her Masters in Music, with an emphasis in Conducting and Music Education, at Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
Alissa started her teaching career at Nipomo HS as the Director of the Instrumental and Choral programs, as well as the music director for three musicals a year. She became a full-time choral director at Bear River HS, and during those five years directed seven choirs and a variety of musicals.
She has performed with and/or directed a variety of choral and instrumental organizations, as well as musical theatre companies, throughout the state. She is the current Jazz Choir Representative to the Northern California Band and Choral Directors Association, where she helps organize the annual select choir and honor jazz choir for all high schools in the northern part of the state. She is the past Northern Representative and Summer Conference Chair for the California Choral Directors Association.
She was recognized with the Choral Educator Award from the California Music Educators Association in 2020, a statewide recognition for her efforts in Choral Music Education.
When not in rehearsal, she's probably hanging out with her husband John, chasing around her dogs, traveling, or cooking, all while listening to the Dave Matthews Band.
Alissa Gibbs
Enterprise High School
[email protected]
Alissa (Aune) Gibbs is the Choral Music Director of Enterprise High School, her alma mater, since 2013. She conducts the Chamber Singers, A Cappella Choir, Low Voice and High Voice Ensembles, TBA Jazz Choir, and is the director of Enterprise Starship and the Victorian Dinner.
After two years at Shasta College, she graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She received her teaching credential from Simpson University, while student teaching at EHS. She completed her Masters in Music, with an emphasis in Conducting and Music Education, at Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
Alissa started her teaching career at Nipomo HS as the Director of the Instrumental and Choral programs, as well as the music director for three musicals a year. She became a full-time choral director at Bear River HS, and during those five years directed seven choirs and a variety of musicals.
She has performed with and/or directed a variety of choral and instrumental organizations, as well as musical theatre companies, throughout the state. She is the current Jazz Choir Representative to the Northern California Band and Choral Directors Association, where she helps organize the annual select choir and honor jazz choir for all high schools in the northern part of the state. She is the past Northern Representative and Summer Conference Chair for the California Choral Directors Association.
She was recognized with the Choral Educator Award from the California Music Educators Association in 2020, a statewide recognition for her efforts in Choral Music Education.
When not in rehearsal, she's probably hanging out with her husband John, chasing around her dogs, traveling, or cooking, all while listening to the Dave Matthews Band.
Choral Rep
Joshua Small
Ukiah High School
[email protected]
Joshua Small has been the Vocal Music Director at Ukiah High and Pomolita Middle Schools since 2015. Over the last 10 years, he has offered: Bass Chorus, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Panther Choir and a keyboard lab class. Josh received his BA in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton in 2014 and his credential in 2015. Under the direction of John Tebay and Katharine Rundus at Fullerton College, Josh went on to finish his undergraduate degree at CSUF with Christopher Peterson, Robert Istad and Mark Goodrich. Since 2019, Josh has also served as the Music Director for the Ukiah United Methodist Church. He is currently serving as the Concert Choir representative for NCBCDA.
Joshua Small
Ukiah High School
[email protected]
Joshua Small has been the Vocal Music Director at Ukiah High and Pomolita Middle Schools since 2015. Over the last 10 years, he has offered: Bass Chorus, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Panther Choir and a keyboard lab class. Josh received his BA in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton in 2014 and his credential in 2015. Under the direction of John Tebay and Katharine Rundus at Fullerton College, Josh went on to finish his undergraduate degree at CSUF with Christopher Peterson, Robert Istad and Mark Goodrich. Since 2019, Josh has also served as the Music Director for the Ukiah United Methodist Church. He is currently serving as the Concert Choir representative for NCBCDA.
Jazz Rep
Chris Cox
Eureka High School
[email protected]
Chris Cox currently teaches instrumental and choral music at Eureka High School. He also directs the Wind Ensemble and teaches trumpet at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata. He earned his Bachelor Arts in Music Education from California State University Fresno and his Master of Music Performance on Trumpet from Ithaca College in 1993. Mr. Cox has taught at all levels in public schools, from TK to high school in Washington and California. Mr. Cox spent five years as a school administrator before returning to his first love, teaching music.
Mr. Cox is an active trumpet player. He plays Principal Trumpet with the Eureka Symphony and is a member of the NorthCoast Brass Quintet. He has performed with the Humboldt Bay British Brass Band, Cal Poly Jazz Orchestra, Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, Fresno Lyric Opera, Ithaca Brassworks Quintet, Cornell Symphony, the Port Angeles Symphony, Port Townsend Community Orchestra, the Turtle Bluff Chamber Orchestra, the Dukes of Dabob Dixieland Band, The Temptations, and was Solo Cornet and Co-Director of the Port Townsend Summer Band. He has been a featured soloist in various orchestras and bands throughout his career. He has studied trumpet with Joe Alessi Sr., Ritchie Clendenin and Frank Campos.
Mr. Cox has been active in music education leadership during is career. He previously served as the Secretary/Treasurer of NCCBDA and President for North Coast CMEA. He has been recognized as the NCCBDA Director of the Year in 2006 and Outstanding Music Educator for the North Coast Section of CMEA in 2022.
Treasurer
Troy Symington
Pleasant Valley High School
[email protected]
Troy Symington is from Auburn, CA and attended college at California State University, Chico where he received his Bachelors in music education. He is in his eighth year of teaching and his third year as the director of bands at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, CA where he teaches concert band, wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band, and guitar. Throughout his career he has also taught choir, piano, jazz choir, music theory, and music appreciation. He is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University.
Mr. Symington performs regularly in the North State area and plays percussion and drum set with many different jazz, rock, and concert groups such as the North State Symphony, Solano Symphony, Chico Jazz Collective, and many more.
Historian
Audrey McCombs
Ukiah High School
[email protected]
Audrey McCombs has been Instrumental Music Director at Ukiah High School since 2016. Her courses have included Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Beginning Band, Guitar, String Orchestra, Musica Norteña, and History of Jazz and Rock. She received her BA in Music Education from (then) Humboldt State University and an MA in Musicology from the University of Bristol (UK). As a tubist, she has performed with the Humboldt Symphony, Lake County Symphony, Symphony of the Redwoods, and Ukiah Symphony, and once with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. However, her heart lies with British style brass bands, particularly the Humboldt Bay Brass Band, City of Bristol Brass Band, and the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band.
When not spending time in the UHS band room, Audrey loves hanging out with her cat Mavis Beacon, cooking, working out, travelling the country to see every MLB ballpark, and stalking Paul McCartney, who she has seen 22 times in 5 different countries.
Audrey McCombs
Ukiah High School
[email protected]
Audrey McCombs has been Instrumental Music Director at Ukiah High School since 2016. Her courses have included Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Beginning Band, Guitar, String Orchestra, Musica Norteña, and History of Jazz and Rock. She received her BA in Music Education from (then) Humboldt State University and an MA in Musicology from the University of Bristol (UK). As a tubist, she has performed with the Humboldt Symphony, Lake County Symphony, Symphony of the Redwoods, and Ukiah Symphony, and once with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. However, her heart lies with British style brass bands, particularly the Humboldt Bay Brass Band, City of Bristol Brass Band, and the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Silver Band.
When not spending time in the UHS band room, Audrey loves hanging out with her cat Mavis Beacon, cooking, working out, travelling the country to see every MLB ballpark, and stalking Paul McCartney, who she has seen 22 times in 5 different countries.
Secretary
Christina Sleigh Garcia
Lindhurst High School
[email protected]
Christina Sleigh Garcia is beginning her 15th year of teaching this fall; 11 of which have been with Lindhurst High School. She is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor's of Music, Music Education degree and California State University, Sacramento with a Masters of Music, Instrumental Conducting degree.
Mrs. Garcia has been an integral participant in bringing music back to the Marysville Joint Unified School district, which has paved the way for the success that Lindhurst is beginning to see, grow and enjoy. More importantly, Mrs. Garcia is proud of the type of people that are being created as they graduate from the LHS Music Department and from Lindhurst itself. Music connects us and makes us a special family.
Finally, family. Mrs. Garcia is a proud step mother to two wonderful teenagers, Logan and Lilandra, proud mama to her toddler, Adam and loving wife to husband Nathan. When not playing the role of Mom, Mrs. Garcia has been an avid performer in the Northern CA area in both vocal and instrumental venues. Her favorite adventures include performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City and conducting in Disneyland, Anaheim.
Christina Sleigh Garcia
Lindhurst High School
[email protected]
Christina Sleigh Garcia is beginning her 15th year of teaching this fall; 11 of which have been with Lindhurst High School. She is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor's of Music, Music Education degree and California State University, Sacramento with a Masters of Music, Instrumental Conducting degree.
Mrs. Garcia has been an integral participant in bringing music back to the Marysville Joint Unified School district, which has paved the way for the success that Lindhurst is beginning to see, grow and enjoy. More importantly, Mrs. Garcia is proud of the type of people that are being created as they graduate from the LHS Music Department and from Lindhurst itself. Music connects us and makes us a special family.
Finally, family. Mrs. Garcia is a proud step mother to two wonderful teenagers, Logan and Lilandra, proud mama to her toddler, Adam and loving wife to husband Nathan. When not playing the role of Mom, Mrs. Garcia has been an avid performer in the Northern CA area in both vocal and instrumental venues. Her favorite adventures include performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City and conducting in Disneyland, Anaheim.