SBYO Staff:
Patrick Schulz - Artistic Director/Brass Specialist
Dr. Schulz (DMA, Arizona State University, MM, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, BM, University of Wisconsin - Madison) is a full-time instructor of music theory at El Camino College. Before relocating to the South Bay, he was a visiting assistant professor at Arizona State University and an instructor at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, AZ. He is a composer of a wide range of music, with compositions published by Tuba-Euphonium Press, Encore Music Publishers, and TubaQuartet.com. One of his latest compositions, Agnus Dei, was recently premiered by the El Camino College Chorale. A previous Besson Performing Artist on euphonium and former member of the highly acclaimed Sotto Voce Quartet, Dr. Schulz recorded three CDs for Summit Records (Consequences, Viva Voce!, and Refractions) and toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe with the group. In June of 2008, two excerpts from Dr. Schulz's final performance with the group were aired on National Public Radio's Performance Today.
Cosima Luther - Conductor/String Specialist
Cosima Luther (MM, University of Southern California, BA, Pepperdine University) has been playing violin since the age of five. She began her professional career at the Colorado Renaissance Festival where she performed for seven seasons. During high school, Cosima performed with the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and the Colorado Youth Sinfonia. A versatile musician, she has studied Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, Shetland, Appalachian, Swing, Country, and Bluegrass styles in addition to her classical training. In 1999, with her father and brother, Cosima founded the Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp (RMFC), a popular summer music festival which draws students and artists from around the world. She still teaches and continues in her role as manager at the camp which is entering its ninth successful season. Cosima is currently a freelance teacher and performer in the Los Angeles area.
Amanda Schulz - Manager/Woodwind Specialist
With seven years of elementary and middle school band teaching experience in Scottsdale, AZ, Amanda Schulz (BA, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee) moved to the South Bay with her husband and currently enjoys time at home raising their young daughter, Lilly. During her time as a band director, Amanda co-chaired the South Scottsdale Honor Band and successfully initiated a popular after-school community school percussion class. Her experience as a private clarinet instructor dates back to her high school years. No stranger to the youth orchestra experience, she was a member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble. The highlight of Amanda's young performing career was becoming principal clarinetist with the Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra.
Tonya Lee Jaynes - Percussion Specialist
Tonya Lee Jaynes (BA, University of Nevada - Las Vegas) began working with the young percussion section of the SBYO last semester. She has developed a unique audio "by ear" way to teach and learn the drum set. Her book "Say and Play the drum set with the DRUMPHONICS" is being published by Carl Fischer Publishing and will be released this year. Tonya enjoys performing classical percussion in musicals and orchestras, as well as performing with many styles of bands on drum set. She has taught drum set and percussion for twenty years. Tonya is currently working on her masters degree in Afro-Latin Studies at Cal State L.A. and assists teaching the percussion class at Harbor College.
