2012 Senior Camp Staff

Camp Director

Dr. Andrew Heglund is an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he teaches percussion, directs the University Percussion Ensemble and coaches jazz small groups. He earned a doctor of arts degree in music from the University of Northern Colorado and a master of music degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. Dr. Heglund performs with faculty jazz quintet The Collective, with Christin Schillinger in a bassoon/percussion duo, and with the Ed Corey Trio, Reno Jazz Orchestra and Discover Music Percussion Ensemble. Also a composer, he has had several solo percussion works choreographed and performed with the Sierra Nevada Ballet.

Assistant Camp Director

Nichole Heglund is a music teacher in the Washoe County School District and is in her seventh year as the music department chair at Swope Middle School in Reno. She currently directs beginning, intermediate, advanced and jazz bands. In addition, she is a private saxophone instructor at the University of Nevada, Reno and in the community. She coaches the University Saxophone Quartet and is a member of the Reno Wind Symphony. An active clinician and adjudicator in northern Nevada, Heglund earned a bachelor of music education degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., and is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Symphonic Band Director

Douglas Akey has been teaching junior high school band in the Phoenix, Ariz., area since 1979 and was recently appointed music director of the Tempe Symphony Orchestra. He earned a bachelor of music degree in instrumental music and a master of music degree in solo performance from Arizona State University. His school ensembles have been invited to perform at numerous education conferences, including the 1998 Music Educators National Conference. In 1985, he received the Stanbury Award of the American School Band Directors Association as the outstanding young junior high school band director in the United States. Since that time he has become recognized as an accomplished composer of school band music with works performed by bands throughout the world.

Jazz Ensemble Director

Mike Smukal is band director at Charles A. Silvestri Junior High School in Las Vegas. He earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Smukal is past state president of the International Association of Jazz Educators and has published several jazz arrangements through Creative Jazz Composers. Among other accomplishments, Smukal toured with Elvis Presley for two years, performed as a member of the house bands at the Desert Inn and Caesar’s Palace, and served as assistant conductor at the Tropicana.

Concert Band Director

Jose Flores has been teaching in the Washoe County School District for 14 years, and started the only public school mariachi program in northern Nevada. He has won numerous teaching awards, including a distinguished performance award from the Washoe County Teachers Association, and teacher of the year awards and commendations in 2002 from KRNV News Channel 4, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Sierra Schools Credit Union and the U.S. Senate. He has served as the Reno Philharmonic Youth Concert Orchestra music director and was selected as a teacher fellow for 2006 by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. A saxophonist, Flores is also active as a private instructor and adjudicator at festivals throughout northern Nevada. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Jazz Instructor

Vernon Scarbrough worked for 18 years as a band director with the Washoe County School District. He is co-founder of the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra, a nonprofit organization that provides jazz education through performance opportunities for young musicians in northern Nevada. Scarbrough earned a bachelor of music degree from North Texas State University and a master of music degree from the University of Southern Oregon’s American Band College. In addition to serving as a senior staff member of Lake Tahoe Music Camp, he pursues musical interests as a saxophonist with the Reno Wind Symphony and as a guest director and adjudicator.

Dan Barthel
DePaoli Middle School
Reno, Nevada

Ben Benson
Private Woodwind Instructor
Reno, Nevada

Lauren Bishop
Bennett Elementary
Sparks, Nevada

Jon Brill
Eagle Valley Middle School
Carson City, Nevada

Lisa Castro
Traner Middle School
Reno, Nevada

Jennifer Day
Private Woodwind Instructor
Reno, Nevada

Josh Dunlap
Private Brass Instructor
Reno, Nevada

Kris Engstrom
Billinghurst Middle School
Reno, Nevada

Eric Fassbender
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada

José Flores
Vaughn Middle School
Reno, Nevada

Cody Forcier
Reno High School
Reno, Nevada

Jonathan Phillips
Wooster High School
Reno, Nevada

Kevin Sady
Galena High School
Reno, Nevada

Bryan Smith
Washoe County School District
Reno, Nevada

Andrew Yeats-Patrick
Sparks High School
Sparks, Nevada