WRITER MAXIMUS

Keith Hunter is in his 14th year of teaching and currently teaches 5th grade band and Gunn Jazz II in the Palo Alto Unified School District. He received his B.M. in Music Education and Trombone Performance from San José State University and his Masters in Conducting from the American Band College. During his career in PAUSD, Keith has been the recipient of the PAEA Excellence in Education Elementary for “Inspirational Teaching: Inspiring and Encouraging Others,” received a CAC Sweetheart Award from the Palo Alto Community Advisory Committee for Special Education and the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, and a PAEA Ovation award. Keith is currently serving his third year as the elementary music representative on the CMEA board. Outside of school he likes to spend time with his family, playing games, and riding bikes!

INSPIRING LEADER

Shawn McGinn teaches Big Band Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band II at Gunn and Elementary Band in PAUSD. Mr. McGinn has a B.A. in Music Education from Gonzaga University, with a Master’s Degree in Conducting from Southern Oregon University. Working previously in Morgan Hill, Mr. McGinn served as the Director of Instrumental Music and VAPA coordinator at the secondary level. He has guest conducted at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and was named Teacher of the Year at his school sites in 2014, and 2018. Mr. McGinn has performed in a variety of ensembles in Japan and Europe. Mr. McGinn is celebrating 21 years in Music Education.

EDITOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

Gary Ortega is in his 11th year of teaching elementary music and currently teaches 5th grade instrumental music in Palo Alto Unified School District. Previously, Mr. Ortega was the Director of Instrumental and Choral Music at Quimby Oak Middle School in San Jose, CA where he taught Concert Band, Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and Music Production. He received his B.M. in Jazz Studies and M.A. in Music from San Jose State University. He has studied with Jeff Lewis and Dr. Kathryn Adduci in trumpet performance, and Ray Brown and Dr. Aaron Lington in jazz composition and arranging. From 2012-2020, he was the camp manager and on staff teaching for the Summer Jazz Camp with San Jose Jazz. His experience in music production and composition is behind songs and music of BandBridge.