Meet the directors

Jordan Sayre, Director of Bands

jordan.sayre@aps.edu

Jordan Sayre (left) is the Head Band Director at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with over 20 years of music education experience in the state. Originally from Aztec, NM, he has called Albuquerque home since 2002, when he started at the University of New Mexico (Go Lobos!). A tuba player, he was the first student in the tuba studio of Dr. Richard White at UNM. During his time at UNM, he was a marching band staff member at several schools, including Eldorado High School.

Mr. Sayre holds a degree in Music Education from UNM and has taught General Elementary Music, Middle School Band, Middle School Orchestra, High School Band, and High School Orchestra throughout New Mexico. He started his professional teaching career at Valencia High School and the adjoining cluster programs, then taught at Las Cruces High School as the Head Band Director. He returned to Albuquerque to open the Tres Volcanes band program and married Josephine Gonzales (Ms. G), the band director at Highland High School and a prominent advocate for music education in the community.

In addition to his extensive teaching experience, Mr. Sayre has served NMMEA as Middle School Vice President for District 7 and is a vocalist, having performed in choirs and as a featured soloist in jazz and concert settings and a Yacht Rock cover band. At Eldorado, he leads the Concert, Jazz, and Marching Bands, and is dedicated to strengthening the music community in Albuquerque.

Together with his wife, Josephine, they have three dogs named Beans, Peanut, and Tater, each with unique personalities. Outside of music, he enjoys woodworking, camping, and memorizing trivia about movies and 90s pop songs.

Steve Snowden, Assistant Director

snowden@aps.edu

Education: Bachelor of Music Education, University of New Mexico; Master of Music Education, University of New Mexico

Years of Experience: In his 23rd year of teaching band in APS. Music clinician and drill instructor at area schools for more than 30 years; past member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps; taught at Cibola HS, and Polk Middle School. 10+ years of teaching elementary music during summer school. Current Band Director in his 21st year at Jackson Middle School and also Assistant Band Director at EHS for the past 22 years.

FROM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Dear Students and Parents,

Welcome, or welcome back as the case may be, to another exciting year in the Eldorado Band Program. We are looking forward to another great year in band at Eldorado! 

Marching band is unlike anything that any of the Freshmen have ever experienced before. You might feel overwhelmed at first. Don’t worry! It is normal and completely expected for some of you to have those feelings. Remember that everyone, including your fellow section members, section leaders, staff, and even your directors were once in your position and that we are all here to help you and the entire band improve and succeed!

I have had many performance and teaching experiences directly related to marching groups outside of the public-school setting: including marching with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and being on staff with the UNM Spirit Marching Band. I look forward to sharing those experiences with the group. While earning my undergraduate degree at UNM, I performed in the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz band 1, Jazz band 2 and Soundpack Basketball Band. With the Spirit Marching Band, I served as section leader for 4 years and also as a drill writer and staff member for one. In addition to those duties, I ran the Soundpack Basketball Band for the Lady Lobo Basketball games. I earned my Master’s degree in music with an emphasis in education in December of 2008 from the University of New Mexico.

We will gauge the success of the marching band by looking for improvement with every performance. This goal can be achieved by carefully evaluating each performance and having focused, efficient rehearsals to address concerns.

I am excited for another year at EHS! I am starting my twenty-second year of being the Assistant Band Director here at Eldorado High School, and my twenty-third year of teaching overall. In addition to my duties as the Assistant Band Director at EHS, I am also the band director at Jackson Middle School.

Remember to bring the following very important things to band camp: Lots of water, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, good athletic shoes, athletic clothing, an open mind, energy, and most importantly, A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. (of course, your instrument and supplies as well)

See you at Band Camp!

Mr. Snowden