Mount Vernon School District Band Directors
Lourdes Aguilar - Madison Elementary (General Music & Beginning Band)
Lourdes Aguilar grew up in Los Angeles, California and moved to Washington during the Summer of 2021. She received her Bachelors in Music Education from Cal State University - Dominguez Hills, and Masters of Arts in Clarinet Performance from Cal State University - Northridge. Lourdes has several years of teaching experience; serving as a coach for several high schools throughout Southern California, as well as a music teacher assistant at an elementary school. She also taught at Reseda Charter High School for five years, where she built the award winning marching band program. She marched in Pasadena’s Rose Parade in 2006 with the Los Angeles Unified All-CityHonor Band. She also marched in 2007 with the Pasadena City College Honor Band. This year, she plans to march again by representing Washington in the Pasadena’s Rose Parade as a member of the Saluting America’s Band Directors Marching Band. Lourdes is excited to teach the young musicians of the Mount Vernon School District! Outside of work, she likes hiking, traveling, and weightlifting.
Scott Rittenhouse - Jefferson Elementary (General Music & Beginning Band)
EXPERIENCE: Mr. Rittenhouse began teaching music at Jefferson in 1993 and has remained here ever since. Prior to that, he substitute taught for two years. Mr. Rittenhouse has been the Director of Choral Music at Salem Lutheran Church since 1994. Mr. Rittenhouse has also sang leading roles with the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society and has performed with the Seattle Opera chorus. He also has performed with the Skagit Opera and has been Musical Director for three Skagit Opera productions.
EDUCATION: Scott Rittenhouse hold a Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music from Western Washington University in Music Performance and has earned teaching endorsements in:
K-12 General Music
K-12 Vocal Music
K-12 Instrumental Music
K-8 General Education
PASSION/INTERESTS: Family, singing opera, learning new instruments, woodworking, stained glass, baking, computers.
EDUCATION: Scott Rittenhouse hold a Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music from Western Washington University in Music Performance and has earned teaching endorsements in:
K-12 General Music
K-12 Vocal Music
K-12 Instrumental Music
K-8 General Education
PASSION/INTERESTS: Family, singing opera, learning new instruments, woodworking, stained glass, baking, computers.
Rene Godina - Centennial Elementary (General Music & Beginning Band)
Rene Godina earned his Associate of Arts in Wind Studies from Moorpark College under the direction of Roger Mason. He then attended California State University, Northridge and received his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, where he studied under Jon Lewis. For over 20 years, Mr. Godina has been playing Trumpet professionally alongside Mariachi Camarillo. He has played for numerous private venues throughout California. Mr. Godina's vast repertoire is a result of studying under renowned Mariachi Maestros including Jose Luis Salinas, Juan Manuel Cortez, Jose Hernandez of Mariachi Sol de México, and Jesus “Chuy” Guzman of Mariachi Los Camperos. For the last 13 years, he has helped build multiple music programs: Band, Mariachi, and Strings for the Pleasant Valley School District. He is thrilled to join the Mount Vernon family. Go Bulldogs!
Jennifer Rubio - Washington Elementary (General Music & Beginning Band)
I am an Eastern Washington native, having graduated from EWU with a BA in K-8 General Education and endorsements in K-12 Reading and K-12 Instrumental Music Education. Spending 4 years in Germany gave me the opportunity to earn my MA from the OU Abroad program in Teaching Instruction. Eventually I made my way over to Western Washington and currently live in Bellingham with my son Bradley. I have been teaching K-5 General Music and 5th grade Development Band with MVSD since 2005.
Nicole Dayton Van Patten - Harriet Rowley Elementary
Ms. Dayton-Van Patten has worked in the Mount Vernon School District as a Music Educator and Special Education Specialist since 2015. She is currently the Music Specialist at Harriet Rowley Elementary. Ms. Dayton-Van Patten graduated from Central Washington University in 2013 with a Bachelors in Music Education and Double Bass Performance. While at Central Washington University Ms. Dayton-Van Patten studied double bass with Professor Jon Hamar, voice with Professor Mia Spencer, and conducting with Dr. Nikolas Caoile. Ms. Dayton-Van Patten also studied Jazz and Choral music with Professor Chris Bruya, Professor Vijay Singh, and Professor Kirk Marcy.
Andrea Brannman - Mt. Baker Middle School Bands & Mariachi
A Seattle native and current Mt. Vernon resident, Andrea Brannman is a graduate of Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. While at Central, she studied classical clarinet with Professor Joseph Brooks and conducting under Professor Larry Gookin. Ms. Brannman has taught wind bands, orchestra, choir, and marimba ensembles. She has served as an adjudicator for the Northshore School District's solo and ensemble festival and will be serving as the 2013 Washington Jr. All-State clarinet screener. During the summers, Ms. Brannman enjoys teaching music at The American School In Switzerland (TASIS) in Lugano, Switzerland. She continues to play clarinet with The Seattle Wind Symphony, conducted under Larry Gookin.
Rober Pitzer - LaVenture Middle School Bands
Robert Pitzer has been teaching music at all levels from kindergarten through graduate school in Washington for nearly 40 years, and holds a Masters in Music Education from the University of Washington. Mr. Pitzer is a published author, performer, adjudicator and clinician, and has presented at music education and ethnomusicology conferences throughout the United States. In addition to being the director of bands at LaVenture Middle School, he also is founder and director of the Seattle-based Jazz Underground, and is the host of “The Convergence Zone,” a weekly jazz program on public radio. Mr. Pitzer has been a member of the Mount Vernon School District music department since 2013.
Ramon Rivera - Mount Vernon School District Mariachi (Secondary)
From handwritten thank you notes from parents and students to being honored by the Speaker of the House, Ramon Rivera has been recognized as being an innovative leader and pioneer in cultural arts and has received numerous awards and accolades during his teaching career.
He is currently the Mount Vernon School District Mariachi Program Director in Mount Vernon, in Washington state currently teaching 6 Mariachi and Folklorico classes with a total enrollment of over 200 students grades 6-12. Mr. Rivera also has written five published blogs for NAFME about Mariachi Education. Mr. Rivera has led Mariachi Education workshops for KHS Music, VH1 Save the Music, H.Jimenez Guitars, Eastern Washington University, University of Iowa Northern, Napa Valley College, International Music Education Summit, Berklee Plus, and for the Give A Note Foundation.
Mr. Rivera has also been honored with
2012 Washington State Golden Apple Award
2013 NFL Seattle Seahawk Latino Leader of the Year
2014 Washington Jefferson Award
2016 MLB Seattle Mariners Teacher of the Week
2016 Honored by Speaker of House Paul Ryan Hispanic Heritage Month
2017 Radio Disney Give a Note Foundation Winner
2017 Country Music Association Teacher of Excellence Nashville TN
2018 Wenatchee Valley Community Hero of the Year Award
2019 Univision Seattle Mariachi Song of the year
2019 Univision Seattle Latin Music Award Hall of Fame
Mr. Rivera has had his student perform for Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Ramon Ayala, Los Tigres del Norte, Lupillo Rivera, Ana Bárbara, Christian Nodal, Joan Sebastian, Dolores Huerta, and George Lopez. Mr.Rivera Mariachi groups under his direction have traveled and headline Mariachi Festivals in Montana, Idaho, Washington State, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Washington DC.
Twitter: @riverateacher Facebook: @riverateacher
Instagram & Facebook@mariachimv
He is currently the Mount Vernon School District Mariachi Program Director in Mount Vernon, in Washington state currently teaching 6 Mariachi and Folklorico classes with a total enrollment of over 200 students grades 6-12. Mr. Rivera also has written five published blogs for NAFME about Mariachi Education. Mr. Rivera has led Mariachi Education workshops for KHS Music, VH1 Save the Music, H.Jimenez Guitars, Eastern Washington University, University of Iowa Northern, Napa Valley College, International Music Education Summit, Berklee Plus, and for the Give A Note Foundation.
Mr. Rivera has also been honored with
2012 Washington State Golden Apple Award
2013 NFL Seattle Seahawk Latino Leader of the Year
2014 Washington Jefferson Award
2016 MLB Seattle Mariners Teacher of the Week
2016 Honored by Speaker of House Paul Ryan Hispanic Heritage Month
2017 Radio Disney Give a Note Foundation Winner
2017 Country Music Association Teacher of Excellence Nashville TN
2018 Wenatchee Valley Community Hero of the Year Award
2019 Univision Seattle Mariachi Song of the year
2019 Univision Seattle Latin Music Award Hall of Fame
Mr. Rivera has had his student perform for Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Ramon Ayala, Los Tigres del Norte, Lupillo Rivera, Ana Bárbara, Christian Nodal, Joan Sebastian, Dolores Huerta, and George Lopez. Mr.Rivera Mariachi groups under his direction have traveled and headline Mariachi Festivals in Montana, Idaho, Washington State, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Washington DC.
Twitter: @riverateacher Facebook: @riverateacher
Instagram & Facebook@mariachimv
Omar Ordóñez - Mount Vernon High School (Band)
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Mr. Ordóñez is an active performer in many styles and continues to pursue high standards of musicianship both in and out of the classroom. As an active musician in the community, he performs regularly with the Whatcom Wind Ensemble and occasionally with local theatre and jazz groups. Mr. Ordóñez graduated Cum Laude from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. While there he was active in a wide variety of ensembles including the USU Wind Orchestra, symphony orchestra, and the USU Jazz Orchestra which won a Downbeat Magazine award for their album, Europa. He joined the faculty of Mount Vernon High School in the Fall of 2015 where his duties now include conducting the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz II, Bulldog Marching/Pep Band, and MV Mariachi. At home, he enjoys working on his Datsun Z car, discovering new music in many genres, and learning to cook his mother’s best recipes.
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Jacob Scherr - Mount Vernon High School (Band & Orchestra)
A passionate educator, Jacob Scherr has been the director of bands and orchestras at Mount Vernon High School in Washington State since the fall of 2009. Alongside his co-director Omar Ordóñez, Mr. Scherr has been involved in every aspect of Mount Vernon High School's Instrumental Department; in addition to directing the school's bands, jazz bands and orchestras, he has instructed courses in Music Theory, led the Bulldog Marching Band, and founded the MVSD Mariachi program. Mr. Scherr’s ensembles have performed for the KPLU School of Jazz Recording Projects, at Washington Music Educators Conferences, and recently made their Carnegie Hall debut performing at the National Band and Orchestra Festival. Mr. Scherr immensely enjoys his involvement with music organizations having given presentations at the 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 WMEA and NAfME-NW conferences.
Mr. Scherr graduated with a degree in Music Education from Western Washington University in 2009 and later graduated with his Master's in Conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. He is an active performer, currently serving as assistant conductor with the Skagit Symphony. In 2008, Mr. Scherr co-founded the Whatcom Wind Ensemble, a community band located in Bellingham, Washington. In 2019, Mr. Scherr had the honor of being named Music Director for the prestigious Washington Wind Symphony.
Mr. Scherr is the Fine and Performing Arts Department chair at Mount Vernon High School, a 4A school with an enrollment of 2000 students, 60 miles north of Seattle where one third of the school is in the music program. He recently completed his term as president of the San Juan Music Educators Association. Mr. Scherr lives in Mount Vernon with his wife Annie, a private piano teacher and accompanist, and their two children Brennan and Lydia.
Contact:
Phone: (360) 428-6109 ext. 41217 email: jscherr@mvsd320.org
Mr. Scherr graduated with a degree in Music Education from Western Washington University in 2009 and later graduated with his Master's in Conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. He is an active performer, currently serving as assistant conductor with the Skagit Symphony. In 2008, Mr. Scherr co-founded the Whatcom Wind Ensemble, a community band located in Bellingham, Washington. In 2019, Mr. Scherr had the honor of being named Music Director for the prestigious Washington Wind Symphony.
Mr. Scherr is the Fine and Performing Arts Department chair at Mount Vernon High School, a 4A school with an enrollment of 2000 students, 60 miles north of Seattle where one third of the school is in the music program. He recently completed his term as president of the San Juan Music Educators Association. Mr. Scherr lives in Mount Vernon with his wife Annie, a private piano teacher and accompanist, and their two children Brennan and Lydia.
Contact:
Phone: (360) 428-6109 ext. 41217 email: jscherr@mvsd320.org