About Steven

During high school I was interested in band and saxophone, but not sold on it until I was shown what this music truly represents. During a walk to my bus freshman year, I noticed my band teacher with his back against the wall and saxophone in hand. He started playing these long, beautiful lines and that felt like someone had been speaking to me for hours on end, and he never stopped to look around or wonder what the hundreds of young kids thought about his music. His devotion to this sound is what music has come to represent for me, and from that moment on, I was sold. 

I began teaching when I was asked to return to my high school after leaving for college to help keep the band program running after the director unexpectedly quit. I was tasked with directing concert band, jazz band, and marching band on my own following my own curriculum the entire time. During this time I was forced to find ways not only to convey information to 100+ students, but I had to find a way to connect with students I was only a few years older than and gain their trust and respect as an instructor.

1. My college career began with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, UNLV, where I was fortunate enough to create my own jazz combo that eventually played payed gigs, but I was not able to afford the degree at UNLV and found a school in Florida I could attend.
2. Florida State at Jacksonville is where I graduated with my Associate's of Arts degree while studying music theory, performing with multiple ensembles, and learning how to play the saxophone from a former U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note Jazz Band member, Professor John Thomas.
3. I now currently study under Dr. Angelo Versace and Brice Winston at the University of Arizona where I will complete my Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies in 2022.