Albert Grijalva received his Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Performance in 1995 and a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting in 1999 from Northern Arizona University.  After several years with The Phoenix Symphony as Education Manager he accepted a role in developing a new music education program for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Through a project he designed called One Nation, in collaboration between The Phoenix Symphony and the Indian community, he continues to teach and consult for the music program at the Indian community’s elementary, junior high and high school. In addition, he is an active educator, lecturer, clinician, adjudicator and private clarinet/saxophone instructor.
    
As a musician, Mr. Grijalva has studied clarinet with Nannett Lindsey, Dr. Charles Aurand and Anna Carney as well as saxophone studies with Anita Handelsman, Michael Hester and Wildy Zumwalt. He also participated in saxophone workshops with such renowned saxophonists as James Houlik, Steven Mauk, and Lawrence Gwozdz.  He is honored to have performed under the batons of such renowned conductors as Dr. Patricia Hoy, Dr. Gregg Hanson, John Paynter and Colonel John Bourgeois, retired conductor of The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band.  He has performed as principle saxophonist on four compact discs produced by Northern Arizona University with two of the recordings in collaboration with The William Grant Still Foundation.  This collaboration led to a principal saxophone position for a special orchestra celebrating a Multi-Cultural program promoting African-American composers that is occasionally broadcasted during NPR's African-American History month.

 

Founder and Music Director John Thrasher still has a strong passion for music and music education. After his retirement from Glendale Community College in 1999, he continues to work with young musicians in the Deer Valley Unified School District as Band Director for Mountain Shadows and Legend Springs Elementary Schools.  Thrasher is active as a guest conductor, clinician and trumpet instructor, working with students from elementary school through college. He also is the director of the over 300 member "Play It Again Band", founded in 1987 for the Fiesta Bowl Parade.

Throughout his career, John Thrasher has been a part of many music professional and educational organizations in the US. He is past president of the College Band Directors National Association (C.B.D.N.A.), Western Division. He is also a member of the Arizona Music Educators Association and Music Educators National Conference, and is a life member of the C.B.D.N.A.

Prior to his retirement, he taught for the Northern Arizona University Summer Music Camp, his alma mater, for 23 years. He also played trumpet for the duration of the Festival Symphony and the Festival Brass Quintet. In 1997, he received the "Distinguished Alumni Award" from Northern Arizona University.