Mr. Dan Fritz has been the Director of Instrumental Music at El Toro High School for the past 6 years.  Mr. Fritz began his professional career at age 15 playing trumpet for musical theater productions at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheater and began teaching privately at age 17.  He attended California Polytechnic University Pomona where he earned his B.A. in Music Education, Cum Laude.  Mr. Fritz has been teaching instrumental music in Southern California for the past 9 years and has taught at every level of K – 12 music education.  FUN FACT: Mr. Fritz initially attended college with the intention of pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering. 

E-MAIL: director@ethsband.org                    PHONE: (949) 586 – 6333 x 6623

 Bella Staav is a student at the Chapman University Conservatory of Music, where she is studying Music Education and Flute Performance.  Alum of Esperanza High School in Anaheim, she has performed in various performing ensembles throughout Southern California, including the SCSBOA Symphony Orchestra, the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble.  Completing her 2-year membership with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Bella toured the country of Bulgaria alongside Orange County’s most talented young musicians in July of 2011.  After graduating from Chapman University in 2013, she aspires to be an artistic manager of a professional symphony orchestra while continuing her love of mentoring young flute students. 

E-MAIL: BellaStaav@gmail.com

Beckie began playing the trumpet when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Chapman University in 2009 with a Bachelor's of Music in Performance and most recently graduated from the University of Southern California in May 2011 with a Masters in Music - Trumpet Performance.  Beckie has taught students ranging in age from 10 years old to senior citizens, wanting to learn for fun and church bands.  Also she has helped coach the trumpet sections at South Pointe Middle School and Oswalt Elementary-Jr. High School.

 Philosophy: I believe in Perfect Practice Prevents Poor Performance (5P's). I believe that you could practice something a million times over, but if you practice it wrong you will always do it wrong. I strive to help students learn the proper way to play. I also emphasize to them to practice things that they struggle with more than practice the things that come easily to them. With this method it is very easy to see progress being made as long as the students put in a good ½ hour to an hour of practice every day.  Music can be so much more than a profession. It helps people heal, relax, and socialize. I hope that every one of my students can find what they interpret their role in music to be and embrace it.

 E-MAIL: Bjtak1@gmail.com                                                         PHONE: (626) 513-3300

Brian Shetland is a freelance french hornist, private instructor, music arranger and brass instrument repair technician.  He has performed throughout southern California in the Torrance Symphony, the Riverside County Philharmonic, Westchester Symphony, Capistrano Symphony, Rio Hondo Orchestra, the Golden State Pops Orchestra, Cypress Symphony, Carson Symphony, South Coast Symphony, and the Peninsula Symphony.  Brian is a founding member of the Resonance Brass Quintet, the Spirati Woodwind Quintet and the french horn Sextet Lessix.  He has taught French horn privately for over 15 years and has studied with Jim Atkinson, Joe Meyer and Lisa Cherry. He attended California State University Long Beach where he received a Bachelor of Music and a Masters of Music.

E-mail: bdshetland@hotmail.com                                         Phone: (562) 413-2440

 Jeremy DelaCuadra is an accomplished brass player, conductor and music educator. He received his Master's and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education in from Chapman University, where he received recognition for both his teaching abilities and musicianship, including the M.A. Student of the Year 2010 and the Orchestra Award. An active trombonist, most recently he holds the position as assistant conductor for the Montage Civic Orchestra.  Prior to that, Mr. DelaCuadra completed a 3 year tenure as assistant conductor of the Orange County Symphony.

E-MAIL: jeremy.delacuadra@gmail.com                                     PHONE: (714) 396-8849

 Rudy Arzaga has been an active performer and instructor in the Southern California area for the last 10 years.  As a performer in DCI, Rudy has been a member of Pacific Crest in 2002, Seattle Cascades in 2003, and The Blue Devils in 2004 and 2005.  As a performer in WGI Rudy has been a member of Black Knights in 2003, and RCC from 2004-2006

 As an instructor, Rudy is currently is on staff at Valencia High School, Trabuco Hills High School, Upland High School, Chino High School, El Toro High School, as well as Pulse Percussion Open.

Rudy received his B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Advertising and a Minor in Music in the fall of 2010.

 Spencer Luxenberg is a student at Irvine Valley College where he is studying as a Percussion Performance Major. He started playing percussive instruments in 7th grade on a whim and has never looked back. During his time at El Toro, he played in every major ensemble including Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Orchestra, and Winter Drumline.  His experience also includes playing in musicals, various jazz combos, and church bands on and off over the past 4 years.