Staff
Heather Luck, Band Director
Heather Luck is originally from the greater Los Angeles County where she studied flute privately from Tamera Chadima. It was through her high school education and involvement with several music programs that she decided to become a high school band director. It is her passion to bring a sense of "home" to students like her musical experience brought her. She moved to the lovely and far superior county of San Diego in 2003.
Ms. Luck graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Music Education from San Diego State University. She studied flute from Lori Bell and September Payne, and conducting from Harold Warmen. She also participated in the Marching Aztecs for four years and served as drumline section leader for two years. It was through this ensemble that she performed with Shania Twain, Keith Urban, and for Travis Barker.
Ms. Luck has been teaching at the high school level since 2003. She started her career in music as a percussion coach and as a flute technician. Some of these schools included Rancho Buena Vista High School, Eastlake High School, Patrick Henry High School, and Clairemont High School. As percussion Captain Head she coached two drumlines to taking first place at The American Drumline Association Championships.
Heather Luck is originally from the greater Los Angeles County where she studied flute privately from Tamera Chadima. It was through her high school education and involvement with several music programs that she decided to become a high school band director. It is her passion to bring a sense of "home" to students like her musical experience brought her. She moved to the lovely and far superior county of San Diego in 2003.
Ms. Luck graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Music Education from San Diego State University. She studied flute from Lori Bell and September Payne, and conducting from Harold Warmen. She also participated in the Marching Aztecs for four years and served as drumline section leader for two years. It was through this ensemble that she performed with Shania Twain, Keith Urban, and for Travis Barker.
Ms. Luck has been teaching at the high school level since 2003. She started her career in music as a percussion coach and as a flute technician. Some of these schools included Rancho Buena Vista High School, Eastlake High School, Patrick Henry High School, and Clairemont High School. As percussion Captain Head she coached two drumlines to taking first place at The American Drumline Association Championships.
Daniel Pate
Daniel Pate, Percussion Caption Head
Daniel Pate, percussionist, performs newly commissioned works and standard repertoire in concerts throughout the United States. As a soloist, Mr. Pate has been featured in several concert series throughout the U.S and has garnered top marks in many competitions. In 2002 he was the winner of the San Diego Symphony’s “Hot Shots” competition where he was featured as a soloist performing Paul Creston’s “Concertino for Marimba” with the symphony. In 2003 he won the UC Davis Summerarts Festival Soloist Competition where he received a full scholarship and performed a solo concert of new and commissioned music at the famous Mondavi Center. He was named, “Most Promising Performer” in the 2003 La Jolla Music Society Competition and the 2002 Goodlin Scholarship Competition. He was also named the winner of the University of Massachusetts Concerto Competition where he performed Keiko Abe’s “Prism Rhapsody for Marimba” With the UMass Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Lanfranco Marcelletti Jr. Most recently, Daniel received third place in the International Jefferson Symphony Young Artists Competition where he performed a solo concert at the Denver Metropolitan University.
Mr. Pate has performed with such chamber groups as the UMass Advanced percussion ensemble “Talking Drum” and San Diego State University’s “Fulcrum” and is a founding member of the “Duplexx” percussion duo along with friend Jason Blaquiere. He has been a guest performer of the “Red Fish, Blue Fish” percussion ensemble at UCSD. Currently he serves as a percussionist for the “San Diego Winds” Winds Ensemble under the direction of Gregg Hanson.
Daniel is an advocate for music education and has conducted several master classes in middle and high Schools in California and New England. In 2005, though a collaboration between the San Diego Youth Symphony and the Composers Today organization, Mr. Pate performed works by the composer William Kraft in several master classes with the famed composer himself there to describe it to the audience. Currently Mr. Pate is a percussion instructor for Eastlake High School as well as, Steel Canyon High School, Patrick Henry High School and Point Loma High School. He is also the front ensemble instructor for the San Diego State University Winter Drumline, which competes in the Winter Guard International drumline circuit.
Mr. Pate received his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Massachusetts in Amherst under the instruction of Eduardo Leandro and Thom Hannum. As well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from San Diego State University. During his studies, Mr. Pate has worked with such performers as marimbists, Robert Van Sice, Gordon Stout, Christopher Norton, Nancy Zeltsman, and Michael Burritt. As well as percussionists, Steven Schick, Jack Van Geem, principal percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony and Raynor Carrol, principal percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Pate endorses Vic Firth drumsticks and mallets and is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 325.
Daniel Pate, percussionist, performs newly commissioned works and standard repertoire in concerts throughout the United States. As a soloist, Mr. Pate has been featured in several concert series throughout the U.S and has garnered top marks in many competitions. In 2002 he was the winner of the San Diego Symphony’s “Hot Shots” competition where he was featured as a soloist performing Paul Creston’s “Concertino for Marimba” with the symphony. In 2003 he won the UC Davis Summerarts Festival Soloist Competition where he received a full scholarship and performed a solo concert of new and commissioned music at the famous Mondavi Center. He was named, “Most Promising Performer” in the 2003 La Jolla Music Society Competition and the 2002 Goodlin Scholarship Competition. He was also named the winner of the University of Massachusetts Concerto Competition where he performed Keiko Abe’s “Prism Rhapsody for Marimba” With the UMass Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Lanfranco Marcelletti Jr. Most recently, Daniel received third place in the International Jefferson Symphony Young Artists Competition where he performed a solo concert at the Denver Metropolitan University.
Mr. Pate has performed with such chamber groups as the UMass Advanced percussion ensemble “Talking Drum” and San Diego State University’s “Fulcrum” and is a founding member of the “Duplexx” percussion duo along with friend Jason Blaquiere. He has been a guest performer of the “Red Fish, Blue Fish” percussion ensemble at UCSD. Currently he serves as a percussionist for the “San Diego Winds” Winds Ensemble under the direction of Gregg Hanson.
Daniel is an advocate for music education and has conducted several master classes in middle and high Schools in California and New England. In 2005, though a collaboration between the San Diego Youth Symphony and the Composers Today organization, Mr. Pate performed works by the composer William Kraft in several master classes with the famed composer himself there to describe it to the audience. Currently Mr. Pate is a percussion instructor for Eastlake High School as well as, Steel Canyon High School, Patrick Henry High School and Point Loma High School. He is also the front ensemble instructor for the San Diego State University Winter Drumline, which competes in the Winter Guard International drumline circuit.
Mr. Pate received his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Massachusetts in Amherst under the instruction of Eduardo Leandro and Thom Hannum. As well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from San Diego State University. During his studies, Mr. Pate has worked with such performers as marimbists, Robert Van Sice, Gordon Stout, Christopher Norton, Nancy Zeltsman, and Michael Burritt. As well as percussionists, Steven Schick, Jack Van Geem, principal percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony and Raynor Carrol, principal percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Pate endorses Vic Firth drumsticks and mallets and is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 325.
Emily Fletcher
Emily Fletcher, Colorguard Caption Head
Emily grew up in a small town in central Alabama. In 1998, she began playing flute and joined her school's junior high winterguard in 1999. She continued playing flute, participating in many honor bands and ensemble festivals, and also performed flag, rifle, sabre and dance in colorguard and winterguard until she graduated in 2004. She moved to San Diego in 2005 with her husband Cameron, who is in the Navy, and their son Jaxon was born in July 2006. In February 2010, she "accidentally" became the colorguard instructor at Steele Canyon. She enjoys teaching and watching the students grow up and become a family through their band experiences.
Emily grew up in a small town in central Alabama. In 1998, she began playing flute and joined her school's junior high winterguard in 1999. She continued playing flute, participating in many honor bands and ensemble festivals, and also performed flag, rifle, sabre and dance in colorguard and winterguard until she graduated in 2004. She moved to San Diego in 2005 with her husband Cameron, who is in the Navy, and their son Jaxon was born in July 2006. In February 2010, she "accidentally" became the colorguard instructor at Steele Canyon. She enjoys teaching and watching the students grow up and become a family through their band experiences.
Cameron Fletcher
Cameron Fletcher, Marching Coach
Cameron studied percussion performance from the summer of 1994 through the fall of 2003. In the fall of 1999 he began studying marching techniques for marching band and military style marching. On October 9, 2004 he married his wife Emily, who is the Colorguard instructor at Steele, and their son Jaxon was born on July 5, 2006. Cameron joined the U.S. Navy and went to boot camp in January 2005. He has been no stranger to success in his music and military careers, and now he is in a program of study at SDSU where he is majoring in Physics. Upon completion of his studies at SDSU, Cameron will be commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy.
Cameron studied percussion performance from the summer of 1994 through the fall of 2003. In the fall of 1999 he began studying marching techniques for marching band and military style marching. On October 9, 2004 he married his wife Emily, who is the Colorguard instructor at Steele, and their son Jaxon was born on July 5, 2006. Cameron joined the U.S. Navy and went to boot camp in January 2005. He has been no stranger to success in his music and military careers, and now he is in a program of study at SDSU where he is majoring in Physics. Upon completion of his studies at SDSU, Cameron will be commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy.
Zachary Christy
Zachary Christy, Visual Instructor
Currently pursing a Bachelor's degree in Music Education at Point Loma Nazarene University, Zachary has spent several years actively involved in the marching arts. Beginning in his freshman year of high school, he was a member of the three-time gold medalist West Ranch High School marching band. He has marched in three separate Rose Parades, and recently completed his third tour with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle A-Corps. In addition to his marching experience, he is also an accomplished tubist and has received many accolades, including principal chair in the CMEA All-State honor band and command performance awards in solo festivals. Zachary plans on becoming a high school band director after completing a master's degree in conducting. He would like to eventually complete a doctoral degree.
Currently pursing a Bachelor's degree in Music Education at Point Loma Nazarene University, Zachary has spent several years actively involved in the marching arts. Beginning in his freshman year of high school, he was a member of the three-time gold medalist West Ranch High School marching band. He has marched in three separate Rose Parades, and recently completed his third tour with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle A-Corps. In addition to his marching experience, he is also an accomplished tubist and has received many accolades, including principal chair in the CMEA All-State honor band and command performance awards in solo festivals. Zachary plans on becoming a high school band director after completing a master's degree in conducting. He would like to eventually complete a doctoral degree.
Dylan Nielsen
Dylan Nielsen, Visual Instructor
Dylan was born and raised in San Diego where he participated in various bands for 8 years and played French Horn and Saxophone. Dylan recently graduated from Point Loma High School where he was heavily involved in band performing as a featured soloist in Point Loma's 2009 production "Fiesta". Currently Dylan marches with the Santa Clara Vanguard, a premiere drum and bugle corps. Dylan has been a member of Vanguard for 2 years and prior to that, marched with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets. With the Vanguard, Dylan has had the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of people and tour nationally over the summer. Currently Dylan is a visual instructor for Steele Canyon High School and Point Loma High School.
Dylan was born and raised in San Diego where he participated in various bands for 8 years and played French Horn and Saxophone. Dylan recently graduated from Point Loma High School where he was heavily involved in band performing as a featured soloist in Point Loma's 2009 production "Fiesta". Currently Dylan marches with the Santa Clara Vanguard, a premiere drum and bugle corps. Dylan has been a member of Vanguard for 2 years and prior to that, marched with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets. With the Vanguard, Dylan has had the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of people and tour nationally over the summer. Currently Dylan is a visual instructor for Steele Canyon High School and Point Loma High School.
