Kurt Gray - Band, Orchestra, Jazz Director, Reed Specialist

Mr. Gray is in his 12th year teaching at Mesa Verde, after spending four years teaching at Garfield High School in Los Angeles. He received his Masters in Music Conducting from the American Band College in 2013, his teaching credential in 2005 from California State University, Northridge, and his B.A. in Music Education from U.C.L.A. in 2004.

While at U.C.L.A., Mr. Gray participated in several ensembles, including Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Latin Jazz Ensemble, several Jazz Combos, the Bruin Marching Band, sitar ensemble, Balinese Gamelan Ensemble and other Ethnomusicology groups. Kurt was also a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003, playing tuba.  

In addition to directing the MVMS Instrumental Music program, Mr. Gray also served as visual designer and caption head for the MHS Musketeer Band and Color Guard from 2011-2017.

Mr. Gray's main instrument is alto saxophone, but he has played all saxophones, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, mellophone, and tuba in performance environments, as well as a number of world instruments. Some of Mr. Gray's favorite musicians include John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, the Roots, Nirvana, and Led Zeppelin.

Apryl Garcia - Assistant Director/Brass Specialist

Apryl Garcia received her B.A. in Music Education and her Single Subject Teaching Credential from UCLA.  Mrs. Garcia serves as a brass coach at Pacific Blue Music Camp during the summer. Apryl Garcia served as Assistant Director of Instrumental Music at John Adams Middle School from 2003 – 2014 where she was a 2010 PTSA Honorary Service Award recipient.  Mrs. Garcia is in her fifthyear here at Mesa.

Laura Asenas - String Specialist (from CSUN's site): Laura Asenas is currently the conductor for the CSUN Youth Orchestras Symphony group. She has a Masters degree in orchestral conducting from California State University of Northridge under the baton of Dr. John Roscigno and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance in violin from California Lutheran University studying with Melissa Phelps. She has spent the past twelve years teaching an elementary strings program at various Conejo Unified Elementary Public Schools as well as teaching privately in the Thousand Oaks/Westlake area. She has also taught at Oaks Christian Middle School as the Strings Director and currently coaches Strings at Moorpark High School and Mesa Verde Middle School working with both intermediate and advanced levels students. Although she has a love for teaching, Laura also enjoys performing in the Westlake Village Symphony and working as a freelance violinist/violist in the Conejo Valley and Los Angeles area. Her greatest passion, however, is conducting. Laura would like to enter into a doctoral program for conducting and eventually pursue a conducting career at the professional or collegiate orchestra level. 

Jordan Lewis - Percussion Specialist (from www.jordanlewispercussion.com) Jordan Lewis (b.1990) is a percussionist, performer, educator, and composer based in Newbury Park, CA. Jordan serves as the percussion instructor at Simi Valley High School, Agoura High School, Santa Susana High School, Mesa Verde Middle School, Isbell Middle School, Oaks Christian School, and has a growing private studio.  He is co-founder and past-curator of the Interference Series, a new music concert sequence presenting venues for experimental and avant-garde music, and advocates for contemporary performance practice. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance and a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Northern Arizona University.

Extended bio available on his website.

Anna Pierson - Brass Specialist

Alex Sadnik - Woodwinds Specialist