About the Instructors/Admin
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill is a veteran teacher with an expertise in beginning instrumental instruction. She taught for 27 years in various combinations of subjects, always including beginning instrumental instruction. Ms. Davidson-Stanfill started this program, originally in the Rock Canyon feeder area in 2009, in response to the District budget cuts and in response to many people requesting that a band and orchestra program continue. Her program grew to include the Castle View and Chaparral feeder in 2010, won the Macaroni Kids Best Music Lessons Award in 2014, expanded to include the Ponderosa, ThunderRidge and Mountain Vista areas in 2014, and won the Macaroni Kids Best Music Lessons Award in 2016 and again in 2019. In 2023, the program expanded to include the Douglas County HS feeder area as well. Keeping the opportunity to play an instrument available to our kids is her top priority.d.davidsonstanfill@comcast.net
Ms. Ellsworth
Video introductionMs. Ellsworth is thrilled to be teaching orchestra at Pine Grove Elementary this year! She has been studying and performing the piano, violin and voice for 35 years. Ms. Ellsworth has been teaching privately for the past 25 years across the country - including violin, viola, cello and piano to students of all ages. She is also the Conductor of the Douglas County Youth Orchestra (DCYO), and has been working with the DCYO youth for the past four years. Ms. Ellsworth has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Arizona State University, and has been especially invited to further study the violin post-Grad and to participate in the orchestras at the University of Notre Dame. When not making or teaching music, Ms. Ellsworth enjoys the great outdoors, including skiing and hiking, and spending time with her husband and children (who currently attend the Chaparral feeder schools - Pine Grove, Sierra, and Chaparral). kariellsworthstudio@gmail.com
Mr. Freeman
Video introductionMr. Freeman serves as Principal Trombone of the Denver Philharmonic and is a busy freelancer in the Colorado, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming areas. He has played with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Wyoming Symphony, the Greeley Philharmonic, South Dakota Symphony and many others in various states. In addition, he holds an associate spot with the Chicago Civic Orchestra. He has played under the baton of notable conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Ken-David Masur performing in Carnegie hall as well as David Geffen Hall.Mr. Freeman earned a Bachelors degree from Northern Illinois University. He has a Masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Performers Certificate from the University of Denver. When not playing music Darian enjoys following and playing sports as well as staying healthy and active.darian153@yahoo.com
Mr. Furlow
Video introductionMr. Furlow, a native of Southern Illinois, began his career as Director of Bands in Vandalia, Illinois, after completing his Bachelor of music Degree, with a Secondary Concentration in Music Theory/Composition, from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has taught band and private studio music for over twenty years. Mr. Furlow is an accomplished pianist and low brass performer, primarily focused on tuba and euphonium/baritone, performing regularly as the Principal Tubist with the Denver Concert Band and Aurora Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a seasoned educator, Mr. Furlow is a practicing composer for band, orchestra, piano, and chamber groups. He enjoys writing in classical and film music styles. When not teaching or performing, Mr. Furlow enjoys traveling (he has visited 35 States so far), motorcycles, playing with his Siberian Huskies, and watching movies. Mr. Furlow will be working with Band students at Cherokee Trail Elementary.bfurlowmusic@gmail.com
Mr. Goin
Video introduction
Mr Goin graduated from Mesa Community College in December 2021 with an AA in Music Education and an AA in General Education. Mr Goin has served an assistant band director at several schools in CA and AZ, with last school being Blue Ridge High School in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ. Mr Goin also plays tuba in the Denver Concert Band. Mr Goin has been married for 33 years to his wife Lea and they have 3 adult children.
larry.goin65@gmail.com
Mr. Letts
Video introductionMr. Letts grew up in a musical family. He continued that tradition with his daughters, who both learned cello and piano and became accomplished vocalists. Mr. Letts has a Bachelor's in Music Education, and decades of experience in: education, music production, conducting, studio work, and performance. His graduate degree is related to adolescent development. When Mr. Letts was in 5th Grade, his Band Teacher handed him a trombone (they were out of trumpets), so he began to practice the lower brass instruments (trombone, baritone, bass trombone and tuba). By 9th Grade, he was studying with Arthur P. Barnes (Director of Music at Stanford University). Many professional and school-related musical opportunities followed."I LOVE music...all kinds of music, and all kinds of instruments! And I LOVE working with young musicians. We've so much to learn, and do, and play. I started playing upright bass just for the fun of it. Stringed instruments are AWESOME. They make beautiful music. The wood is rich and wonderful. I can't wait to start creating music together with MHE musicians!"tcletts@gmail.com
Ms. Petersen
Video introductionMs. Petersen is excited about being a part of the CHEIM program. She has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Masters Degree in Creative Arts in Education from Lesley University. She has taught private violin, viola and cello lessons for thirty years, and recently retired from Northeast and Mountain View Elementary Schools, where she taught for 23 years, teaching General Music, Orchestra and Choir. Her passion is the viola and playing in the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra. When not working with wonderful students, Ms. Petersen loves to spend time in the mountains and traveling with her husband and her two grown children.dianjpetersen@gmail.com
Mr. Tano
Mr. Tano is excited to be teaching band at Copper Mesa, Bear Canyon, and Sage Canyon Elementary Schools this year! He plays a variety of instruments, but the ones he has been playing for the longest are piano (~22 years) and trumpet (~16 years). Throughout his time in music, he has had the opportunity to perform with some fantastic groups—whether jazz, marching, concert, or symphonic—such as The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Brubeck Brothers, The Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps, learning as much as he could along the way. Although educated in the Culinary Arts at Emily Griffith, music is his true passion. He is excited to share that passion and enthusiasm with the kids and grow and learn alongside them!
When not teaching private lessons or helping his wife, the Chaparral band director, with the marching band, Mr. Tano enjoys gardening (as much as you can on an apartment balcony), building LEGO, playing video games, experimenting with new recipes, or hanging out with his cats: Ahsoka and Basil.tanoteaches@gmail.com
When not teaching private lessons or helping his wife, the Chaparral band director, with the marching band, Mr. Tano enjoys gardening (as much as you can on an apartment balcony), building LEGO, playing video games, experimenting with new recipes, or hanging out with his cats: Ahsoka and Basil.tanoteaches@gmail.com
Mr. Wilkinson
Video introductionMr. Wilkinson is excited to be teaching band at Mammoth Heights Elementary in Parker, CO for the Chaparral Elementary Instrumental Music Program. Mr. Wilkinson has been studying and performing with percussion instruments for over 40 years. He currently is the General Music & Choir teacher at Mammoth Heights Elementary and has enjoyed that position for the past 7 1/2 years. Over the past 30 years, Mr. Wilkinson has maintained a private percussion lessons clientele, been involved in Denver area bands and drumlines, and has been performing in our community. Mr. Wilkinson was awarded the Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Jazz Musician for Lewis Palmer High School in 1984 and was a member of the 1991 PAS Collegiate Champion Percussion Ensemble at the University of Utah, his alma mater. He enjoys everything Colorado including skiing, camping, fishing and traveling with family.jdwilkinson@dcsdk12.org