Janelle Agustin
Visual/Marching Instructor

Janelle is a graduate of the Riverside Kingsmen Marching Band at Martin Luther King High School, class of 2011. During her tenure at King, Janelle was heavily involved with band, where she played flute. Janelle is currently attending University of California - Irvine where she is majoring in pharmaceutical sciences; she expects to earn her undergraduate degree in the spring of 2015. She also plans on rejoining the music scene by enrolling in marching and/or concert band. After graduation, she plans to continue on the path towards becoming a Pharmacist by earning her doctorate of pharmacy.

Janelle began working for Mr. Gray almost immediately after her graduation from King HS, and has positioned herself to become an integral part of the marching program. According to her, she began aiding the program because she wanted to help the program achieve success. Reflecting on her tenure with King, she was particularly fond of winning the prestigious Arcadia band review all 4 years and attending the Fiesta Bowl national band competition in December of 2007. Janelle likes working with the students in the Riverside Kingsmen program because she gets to see how the students are improving as a group over time which is much different than the viewpoint she was afforded as a student.

Rachel Garcia
Visual/Marching Instructor

Rachel is a graduate of the Riverside Kingsmen Marching Band at Martin Luther King High School, class of 2011. During her tenure at King, Rachel was heavily involved with band, where she played trumpet. Rachel is currently attending Riverside Community College, where she is majoring in music. After graduation, she plans to begin an exciting career in the field of education as a music director for a k-12 school. Her passion for music shows as she is also planning on continuing her musical edification by performing with drum corps and orchestral groups.

Rachel began working for Mr. Gray almost immediately after her graduation from King HS, and has positioned herself to become an integral part of the marching program. According to her, she began aiding the program because the program and existing staff members are very knowledgeable and friendly. Furthermore, she wants to be a facet in the continuing education of the younger musicians. Rachel thrives in an atmosphere where the people around her are as passionate about music education as she is. In fact, her fondest memories of the program revolve around the ideal that dedication, values, and commitment  allow a program to achieve greatness. Rachel looks forward to sharing her insights and creative ideas with the band program in order to help achieve the goals of growth and success; she wants to help give them the experience she was fortunate enough to have during her high school career.

Adrienne Geffen
Clarinet Instructor

Having graduated in 1999, Adrienne is an alumni of Upland High School where she played clarinet in the music program. Adrienne is also the holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University and the holder of a Master’s degree in Woodwinds Performance from Cal State Fullerton. During her time in college she continued to play clarinet while also learning how to play flute and saxophone.

Adrienne began working for Mr. Gray during 2007 because she knew his work ethic. Mr. Gray was actually the instructor to her high school band director! At King, she provides clarinet lessons as well as instruction to the prestigious Clarinet Choir. She also provides her expertise to Western High School in Anaheim and the Orange County High School for the Arts.

Matt McDaniels
Visual/Marching Instructor

Matt is a graduate of the Riverside Kingsmen Marching Band at Martin Luther King High School, class of 2010. During his tenure at King, Matt was heavily involved with band, where he played bass trombone. He performed with the Kingsmen during the 2007 Rose Parade and 2007 Fiesta Bowl national band competition. Matt is currently attending Riverside Community College, where he is majoring in mechanical engineering. He has continued to advance his musical abilities and has even performed with the RCC Marching Tigers in the prestigious London New Year's Parade in 2011. After graduation, he plans to begin an exciting career in the field of automotive technology with a specialization in design and manufacturing.

Matt began working for Mr. Gray almost immediately after his graduation from King HS, and has positioned himself as an important part of the marching program. According to him, he began aiding the program because very simply, he enjoys teaching proper marching technique to the younger musicians. Matt loves being able to watch the students at King continually improve throughout their tenure with the Kingsmen program.

Cameron Nabhan
Saxophone Instructor

Cameron is an 2007 alumni of Palm Springs High School, where he played saxophone and was very involved with the music program. He is currently in pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and California teaching credential from University of Redlands. His expected commencement will occur during June of 2011. After graduation, Cameron would like to use his Single Subject teaching credential to instruct a high school music program.

Cameron began working for Mr. Gray during January of 2009 as a saxophone instructor and as the conductor of the Saxophone Choir. He chose to work for Mr. Gray due to his reputation as a model music educator. During his short time with the program, Cameron has already managed to aid the Saxophone Choir in earning a "Superior" rating at a regional Festival competition. When asked about the reason he teaches, Cameron mentioned that he believes all students should be able to experience music as it is a multi-faceted subject that is extremely beneficial to anyone who has the opportunity to study it.

Carl Nelson
Visual Consultant

Carl is an alumni of Cypress High School, class of 89', where he played trumpet and was the drum major for two years. After completion of high school, Carl attended Cypress College.He is now employed as a Senior Dispatcher for the Santa Ana School Police, a Color Guard Coordinator for WGASC, the Contest Director for MBOS, a DCI judge, and as a freelance drill writer. Carl has been married to his wife Dia for 14 years and has two sons, Logan (10) and Tyler (7).

Carl began working for Mr. Gray as a visual consultant upon recommendation by Ryan H. Turner during the 2009-2010 school year. He mentions that he accepted the position due to the fact that "Mr. Gray is the epitome of professionalism in the activity." He goes on to say that "the [Kingsmen] students are tremendous. Their dedication and willingness to learn amazes me at every rehearsal." Carl is a respected drill writer in the southern California area; he has been writing for 22 years and currently writs for several performing groups. In the end, his teaching philosophy centers upon the ability to bring a group from the base of a mountain and deal with the adversities along the way; to teach the members life lessons that will last forever. He derives his motivation by leading the students on a journey and aiding them to choose the right path.

Joshua Norton, D.M.A.
Brass/Trumpet Instructor

Joshua graduated from Ventura High School in 1999 where he was a member of multiple performing groups. While in High School, he was a member of numerous All-State Honor Bands and Orchestras, marched the Rose Parade with the Tournament of Roses Herald Trumpets, and was a two time State Champion Drum Major. Upon graduation, Joshua attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he studied under Marie Speziale, former Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Cincinnati Symphony. While there, Joshua was a member of the Trumpet Ensemble, which won the National Trumpet Competition in 2001. Among his many performances at Indiana University, performing Hector Berlioz’s Requiem and playing in the IU Wind Ensemble under Ray Cramer are two that stand out. After Graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance, Joshua headed to New York to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where he was a member of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and Chappaqua Symphony. Joshua graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Peformance and a Performer's Diploma in Orchestral Trumpet Performance. After his time in N.Y. was finished, Joshua moved out west and began his Doctoral studies in Trumpet Performance at USC. While attending USC, Joshua performed with the USC Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Scholarship Brass Quintet, and has maintained an active freelancing career in the Los Angeles area, including performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In May of 2010, Joshua graduated from USC with his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance with an Academic Minor in Music Theory. Beginning in the fall of 2010, Joshua will be joining on as Faculty with California Baptist University and Golden West College.

Joshua began working for Mr. Gray in 2007 after a chance meeting to adjudicate his Brass Recital Night. He knew of Mr. Gray and his excellence in music education from watching his pervious program. During his three years at King High School, Joshua started the King Brass Choir, instructed the trumpets at an individual level, and worked with the Parade Band and Drum Major. Of many memories that Joshua has of working at King High School, hearing the brass choir mature over the past two years and seeing adjudicators speechless at the sound of the group is the most memorable. Since graduating from USC, he looks forward to winning an Orchestra job anywhere in the U.S., and establishing his own successful studio as a University Professor.

Alexis Orens
Visual/Marching Instructor

Alexis is a graduate of the Riverside Kingsmen Marching Band at Martin Luther King High School, class of 2011. During her tenure at King, Alexis was heavily involved with band, where she played baritone saxophone. Alexis is currently attending Cal State Fullerton where she is majoring in sociology; she expects to earn her undergraduate degree in the spring of 2015. After graduation, she plans to begin an exciting career as a social worker or clinical psychologist.

Alexis began working for Mr. Gray almost immediately after her graduation from King HS, and has positioned herself to become an integral part of the marching program. According to her, she began aiding the program because she wanted to help the program achieve the same level of success that she has ejoyed throughout her tenure. She especially liked attending and when the program was invited to compete in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl parade and field show. Alexis likes working with the students in the Riverside Kingsmen program because she likes sharing her knowledge with the students that she used to march side-by-side with; although, she does look forward to being able to finally watch a field show.

Jacob Reece
Percussion/Pep Band Instructor

Having graduated in 2009, Jake is an alumni of the Riverside Kingsmen Band & Colorguard here at Martin Luther King High School. During his tenure in the program he played several of the percussion instruments, including drum set with the Pep Band. Jake is currently attending Cal State University San Bernardino where he is majoring in Entrepreneurial Management with an expected graduation date of June 2013. He expects to earn a postgraduate degree after his undergraduate work is complete.

Jake began working for Mr. Gray almost immediately after his graduation from the program. In his own words, “being a part of something like the marching band was phenomenal; I was exposed to a lifestyle and a culture that no one else on the campus got to experience. The places we went and the things we achieved dwarfed many of my other achievements in this point of my life, and I wouldn’t have traded that for the world.” In other words, aiding the band is an attempt to give back to the program and teacher that have given him so much through his 4 years of high school.

Jake has adopted the teaching philosophy that there is a time for work and a time for fun while enrolled in band. As long as the work is getting done correctly and on time then the students should be able to enjoy themselves.

Sergio Reyes (R.J.)
Marching Instructor

R.J. is a 1997 graduate of Rubidoux High School, where he was enrolled in Mr. Gray's previous program. R.J. was enrolled in band where he played saxophone and oboe.

R.J. began working for Mr. Gray during 1998 and followed him to King High School during the 2003-2004 school year because of his love for music. Although he finds it difficult to pinpoint a favorite moment from his tenure with King; however, he enjoys being able to pass on his experiences to all the students. He also enjoys seeing the kids reap the benefits of all their hard work and dedication; this makes him look forward to watching them grow as individuals who will settle for nothing short of greatness.

R.J. teaches exclusively with the Riverside Kingsmen and when asked about his teaching philosophy he responded with a quote from Vince Lombardi, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle-victorious."