Staff
Director of Bands - Alan McFarlane
Alan McFarlane was named the director of bands at Golden West High School in June of 2011. Before moving back to his home town of Visalia, Mr. McFarlane was living in Los Angeles teaching and performing music. As an educator, Mr. McFarlane was on staff with both The Santa Monica High School Band Program and The UCLA Music Department. As a performer, Mr. McFarlane was busy performing in local orchestras, jazz bands, and other chamber ensembles.
As an undergraduate student, Mr. McFarlane double majored in music education and music performance at UCLA. Upon graduation, he received his California Teaching Credential from the UCLA Graduate School of Education. Immediately following, he returned to UCLA and earned a Masters of Music degree.
At GW, Mr. McFarlane’s duties include Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair, AP Music Theory, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Class, and Color Guard Class.
Percussion Caption Head-Craig Cory
Craig Cory is a great percussionist with a long history of teaching and performing at high levels. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa and his Masters Degree from Truman University in Kirksville Missouri, Cory moved back to California and began studying with the famed percussionists Anthony Cirone and Jack VanGeem of The San Francisco Symphony. In 1986, he won a percussion job in The Fresno Philharmonic.
As an educator, Cory has been teaching percussion at the high school and college level since 1984 and he has taught as an adjunct professor at College of the Sequoias. He currently serves as the director of bands at Valley Oak Middle School in Visalia, California.
Battery Technician-Austin Ballard
Austin Ballard is currently attending Fresno State University with a major in Liberal Arts and a minor in Music.
Austin graduated from Tulare Western Highschool in 2014 where he was a member of the marching band, concert band, and the world class indoor percussion ensemble for four years. He played Bass Drums, Tenors, Timpani and Snare Drum. He was captain of the drumline for two years. Austin started his DCI career as a member of the world class "Academy Drum and Bugle Corps" of Tempe, Arizona in 2014 as a member of their snare line and he plans on continuing marching DCI until he ages out in 2017.
Outside of performing, Austin has spent two years assisting as a battery tech for Tulare Western High School and teaches percussion for Cherry Avenue Junior High. He also teaches private music lessons to students of all ages.
Throughout the years Austin has learned so much from so many great educators and is very passionate about giving back to the community the education he has received.
Color Guard Caption Head–Monica Requejo
Color Guard Weapons Specialist Technician– Staci Haynes
Visual Technician-Marcus Zellous
Marcus is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Music Education. Throughout his tenure at Fresno State, he performed as the Principle Saxophonist for the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, and was the Lead Alto Saxophonist for the Jazz Band 'B' Ensemble. His performance experience also includes the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band (Drum Major - 2002, 2003, & 2004), as well as the Fever Drum and Bugle Corps (Drum Major - 2005) based out of Modesto, California.
Upon graduation from Fresno State, he was a Band & Choir Director for Liberty Middle School of Lemoore, as well as the local elementary schools. Prior to his time there, he was the Assistant Band Director and Visual Caption Head for Bullard High School of Fresno.
Marcus also taught with the United Spirit Association Drum Major Staff for five seasons as a spinning and field conducting clinician for students in California, Oregon, Washington, and London, England.
Marcus currently lives in his hometown of Lemoore, California. After recently serving as the Children's Pastor at South Valley Community Church, Marcus has returned to full time music eduation as a band director at Liberty Middle School. He is also the Visual Caption Head for the Lemoore High School Winter Percussion Ensemble, and the Visual Director for Valley Independent Percussion, based out of Tulare. He serves as a consultant for local ensembles in the Central Valley.
Visual Design-Nicholas Monzi
Nick Monzi currently serves as COO/Director of Programs for Learn Fresh Education Co., in Denver, Colorado. In this position, he develops and directs NBA Math Hoops community initiatives, working in association with NBA Cares and NBA teams around the United States.
In addition to his work in the nonprofit sector, Monzi is an active visual designer for fall and winter marching programs in Texas, California, New York and beyond. He also continues to teach, entering his 5th season on the visual staff of the Madison Scouts. During his performance career, Monzi held positions in The Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, and Carolina Crown.
He is an alumnus of Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management and he completed a Masters in Education at The Harvard Graduate School of Education.