Al Nelson: Director of Instrumental Music
Our new music teacher is named Al Nelson. Al Nelson graduated from California State University Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and completed his credential in Music Education. During that time he served as assistant director at Granada Hills, Newbury Park and Royal H.S. Mr. Nelson then served as Co-Director of the CSUN Mighty Matador Marching Band. He is also a graduate of 1000 Oaks H.S.
Al comes from a recent assignment as assistant director at Fountain Valley High School where he taught marching band, concert band, orchestra, and jazz band, and assisted with color guard and percussion ensemble. Before that, he served an extended time as Director of Bands at Granada Hills High School and then Granada Hills CHARTER High School, where he taught marching, concert, and jazz bands. He also judges and clinics extensively for marching, concert, jazz, guard, and percussion ensembles and associations.
Al marched competitively with the Sacramento Freelancers Drum and Bugle Corps as a DCI Finalist, soloist, and instructor. He continues to compete and instruct nationally with the Sacramento Freelancers as part of their Brass Choir, Senior Alumni Corps and Mini Corps, recently taking gold and silver medals at DCA championships. Al also gigs regularly with the Conejo Valley Concert and Jazz Bands, the Angel City and Clyde Resinger Jazz Big Bands, and the Splendido All-stars Jam Band on L.A.s West Side.
Al is very excited to be a part of the El Rancho High School Performing Arts Department, after years of observing, enjoying, judging, and competing with their legendary groups………….