Kurt Gray - Director

Mr. Gray is in his third year teaching at Mesa Verde, after spending four years teaching at Garfield High School in Los Angeles. He received 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.

A former student of Moorpark High Director Samantha Theisen, 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 Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Roots, Nirvana, and Led Zeppelin.

Cheryl Marvin - Strings Assistant

Tom Connell - Jazz "B" Director