Staff

Instrumental Music Teacher  Daniel Pracher

Mr. Pracher is in his fifth year working at Simi Valley High School.  An alumnus of Van Nuys High School, Mr. Pracher earned his BA in Music Performance on Trumpet at UCLA in 2004, studying with Calvin Price, Jens Lindemann, and Bobby Rodriguez.  He also studied with Greg Adams formerly of Tower of Power.  He received his teaching credential in 2009 from California State University, Northridge and was most recently the Assistant Director at Mesa Verde Middle School.  He has also worked with several Los Angeles and Ventura area high school music programs. 

He has been a performer with several jazz, pop and funk bands, both in the Los Angeles area and in Seoul, South Korea.  During his time at UCLA, Mr. Pracher performed with the Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Brass Choir/Quintet, the Bruin Marching Band, and several Jazz Combos.  He was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1999 - 2002 including two years as section leader and soloist.   

Mr. Pracher enjoys mountain biking and exploring the mountains of beautiful southern California. 

Colorguard/Winter Guard Instructor Juan Gonzalez

Juan Gonzalez is in his seventh year teaching here at Simi Valley High School. Graduated from Granada Hills High School and then went on to California State University Northridge and studied Sociology and was trained in contemporary dance by Dr. Paulette Shafranski. He has been teaching color guard/winter guard since 1999 and has taught several award winning groups throughout Southern California. He has choreographed and designed for high school marching bands, winter guards, drum lines, independent winter guards, and drum corps. He currently works for Color Guard USA Camps which are held in Southern California and Nevada. He is also an independent field marching band adjudicator a judge for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California.

He has been trained by Mark Metzger, Sal Salas, and Christine Clayton. He has performed with Classic Image Winter Guard, The Black Knights Winter Guard and The Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps.

Percussion Instructor Jordan Lewis

Marching Band Instructor Sean Suarez

Colorguard Coach Manmeet Kaur

Percussion Coach John Dawson

Visual Coach Aidan Toner

Jazz Set Coach Tyler Hammond

Jazz Bass Coach Danny Connell 

Upper Strings Instructor Diane Gilbert 

Cello Coach Alec Glass