Colony High School Concert Festival

Ticket Information

A few reminders for the event:

1. PLEASE, do not wander around campus. Stick to the area near the theatre. 

2. Make sure to bring 3 copies or original scores for all your pieces

3. We will provide the following percussion instruments for use:
   4 tympani
   Chimes
   Bass Drum
   Bells
   Marimba
   Gong
   Xylophone
   Vibraphone
   Piano
   WE CAN NOT SUPPLY SMALL PERCUSSION EQUIPMENT, CYMBALS, STICKS, OR MALLETS--PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN

4. All groups are to watch at least 2 other groups. You may choose whether it is before or after your performance, but please honor the spirit of this festival.

5. Light concessions (snacks/candy/chips) will be available--please support the Colony Boosters for hosting this event!

6. Please see the attached map for parking areas, event flow, etc.

7. HAVE A GREAT DAY. This festival was designed to be a POSITIVE experience for all. We hope you and your students truly enjoy the event.

Judging Information

JAMES ROCILLO

James Rocillo is widely recognized and highly sought after for his exceptional expertise as a clinician, particularly within concert bands, jazz bands, and various ensembles. His reputation extends across the region, with frequent invitations to participate in prestigious events and honor groups facilitated by organizations such as the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) and similar festivals.

Over the years, Mr. Rocillo has conducted notable honors bands, including the SCSBOA Jazz Honor Band in 2018, the San Bernardino Junior High District Honor Band in 2016, and the Santa Ana Unified District Honor Band in 2017. And the Chaffey Joint Union High School Jazz Honor Band in 2024. Under his leadership, his bands have consistently garnered acclaim and accolades at festivals and competitions, including but not limited to the Western Bands Association, Reno Jazz Festival, Bands of America Grand Nationals, and SCSBOA.

Mr. Rocillo's distinguished achievements include significant recognitions, including being a Semper Fidelis Bowl Winner, a Fox Sports Honoree, and a Grammy Nominee, as part of the esteemed Who's Who in the music industry. Furthermore, his ensembles have graced internationally televised parades, most notably the Rose Bowl and Macy's Day Parades, enriching the cultural experience of audiences worldwide.

In addition to his illustrious career as a clinician, Mr. Rocillo is an Associate Professor at Riverside City College in Riverside, California. Within this capacity, he serves as the director of the Community Concert Band, the Jazz Ensemble, and the renowned Riverside City College Marching Tigers, a testament to his profound commitment to music education.

Notably, Mr. Rocillo has been a member of the Blue Devils A Corps brass staff since 2008, a role that has contributed to an impressive tally of 9 DCI Championships (2009,2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023). His influence and expertise have also resulted in four Jim Ott Awards for outstanding brass performance, specifically in 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2022.

Mr. Rocillo's career has been marked by a diverse range of professional experiences. Before his tenure at Riverside City College, he served as the director of bands at Colony High School for 6 years, overseeing all aspects of the band program. His contributions to the band programs at Ayala High School, Nogales High School, and Valley View High School have also been significant, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability in various musical settings.

Mr. Rocillo's dedication to continuous education is a cornerstone of his professional journey. He began by earning a Bachelor of Science in Business/Marketing from the University of Phoenix in February 2008. He then pursued a Master of Education degree from National University in May 2013. His commitment to honing his craft led him to study conducting with Dr. Mitch Fennell from 2017-2020. In 2024, he graduated with a Master of Music Degree with a concentration on Instrumental Conducting from California Baptist University under the tutelage of Dr. Gene Moon.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Mr. Rocillo resides in the Inland Empire alongside his wife, Sara, their son, Miles, and their cherished canine companions, Aki and Coltrane.

BRENT LEVINE

Brent Levine is the newly appointed Director of Bands at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, as well as teaches classes in advanced conducting and secondary music education methods. He also oversees graduate students studying wind conducting pedagogy and literature in the MM Instrumental Conducting Program.

Prior to his appointment at CBU, Dr. Levine was the Associate Director of Bands at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. In addition, Dr. Levine previously served as the Artistic Director for the Flagstaff Community Band. He has also previously been on the faculty at Riverside City College (CA), Mt. San Jacinto College (CA), and Capital University (OH).

Dr. Levine’s current published research centers around the music of composers Adolphus Hailstork and Edward Kennedy ("Duke") Ellington. He authored a chapter on Ellington’s music in the newly released Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz, Volume III and his DMA dissertation provided an updated critical edition of Hailstork’s American Guernica, which has since been performed over 40 times by various prestigious wind bands throughout the United States.

From 2010-2018, Dr. Levine was the Associate Director of Bands at Vista Murrieta High School (CA), where he conducted multiple wind ensembles, directed the jazz program, taught AP music theory, and co-directed the marching band. During his tenure, the marching band was a two-time Marching Band Open Series Champion, a consistent Bands of America Regional Finalist, and placed 14^th at the 2016 Bands of America Grand National Championships.

Dr. Levine holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Redlands, where he studied with Dr. Eddie Smith. Dr. Levine received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting degree from The Ohio State University, where he was a student of Dr. Russel Mikkelson and Dr. Scott Jones.

PHILLIP HAINES

PHILLIP HAINES, from Las Vegas, Nevada, currently serves as band director at the Pinecrest St. Rose campus in Henderson, Nevada having recently retired as a band director at Foothill High School and Mannion Middle School, two of the largest band programs in the state of Nevada. Prior to these positions, Mr. Haines was the Director of Bands at Sierra Vista High School and Las Vegas High School where his bands garnered acclaim for achievements in all areas. His concert ensembles consistently earn top honors at local and regional events and have been recognized as among the finest in Nevada. His bands have commissioned works by award winning composers Jorge Machain and Philip Sparke and he has conducted work premier performances of these compositions along with world premier performances of works by Johan de Meij.

Mr. Haines is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator. He has conducted Honor Bands in Nevada and Arizona and has adjudicated concert festivals in Nevada, Arizona, and California. Haines adjudicates for numerous organizations including Drum Corps International, Bands of America, Southern California Band Orchestra Association, Western Bands Association, the Michigan Competing Bands Association, the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Northwest Association for Performing Arts, the Intermountain Percussion Association, the percussion and winds portion of the Winterguard Association of Southern California, as well as numerous other state organizations throughout the United States.  He has adjudicated multiple championship competitions for Drum Corps International and over a dozen states.

Mr. Haines was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement award by the Nevada Music Educators Association and is a past recipient of the Nevada Music Educator of the Year award. He has been an invited clinician for the Nevada State Music Educators Conference on six occasions and will be presenting a clinic again at the 2026 conference. He has also served as an associate professor in the music education program at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and as conductor of the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonic Orchestra (the top of the organization’s four ensembles). 

Mr. Haines lives in Henderson, Nevada with his wife and two children all of whom are also teachers.

GIOVANNI SANTOS

Giovanni Santos serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Redlands (CA). Under his direction, his ensembles have achieved national and international acclaim — performing across the United States, making its Carnegie Hall debut, and touring the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and the Republic of San Marino. Dr. Santos’ ensembles have also spearheaded numerous collaborations, leading to over 15 world and regional premieres of new works for wind ensemble.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI-B), he integrates these values into his compositions and educational work. His first symphony, Dolores, AmeriCan:

Symphony for Band, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

In recognition of his artistic contributions, Dr. Santos received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Minority Band Directors National Association for “exceptional contributions to the wind band repertoire with outstanding artistry and achievement.” His music has been performed around the world, with recent highlights at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, and by institutions such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Illinois, University of Texas, Florida State University, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Southern California, among many others.

Dr. Santos holds a Ph.D. in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California

Additional Event Information

Festival Performance

Performing ensembles will be given a 30 minute timeslot on the stage that will include 10 minutes of set-up / tear down and up to 20 minutes of performance time. The clinicians will record audio commentary of the performance in Competition Suite for each ensemble. After each performance, ensembles will receive an in-person clinic. There will be no written commentary or ratings / ranking given.

Music Selection

CSBC will not be issuing a prescribed music list (PML). Instead, Directors are given the opportunity to select compositions that are appropriate for their ensemble and are worthy of the performance opportunity. Directors are further encouraged to select pieces of work from an underrepresented composer. (Underrepresented composers are defined as people of color, women, or other marginalized communities). Directors may choose how to use their performance time (up to 20 minutes) by choosing one of the following methods:

• Perform one large work
• Perform two works
• Perform three works

Registrations will be through Competition Suite. Even existing CSBC groups will need to have a new "Concert" ensemble group created. To have your group set up, e-mail info@calstatebandchamps.org.