Director of Instrumental Music

Gabriel Velasco was in raised in Albuquerque New Mexico. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with degrees in Performance and Education. He later attended the University of Utah as graduate Teaching Assistant with the athletic bands.

After his completion of school in Utah, Mr. Velasco moved to Los Angeles, CA where he was an active freelance musician and educator. He was the Assistant Director of Instrumental Music at Moorpark High School (Moorpark, CA) from 2013-2016 and the Director of Instrumental Music at Moorpark High School from 2016-2018. In his time at Moorpark HS, the program expanded and grew. The top ensembles at Moorpark earned Superior ratings under his direction at various SCSBOA festivals. The Marching Band placed 3rd in SCSBOA 3A Championships in 2016 before moving up to 4A in 2017.

In 2019, Mr. Velasco began studies at the University of Washington to earn a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance with an emphasis in Wind Band Conducting. He is currently working on his dissertation focusing on L’Histore Du Soldat by Igor Stravinsky. While in Seattle, Mr. Velasco sat as Principal Trumpet of the UW Wind Ensemble and UW Symphony Orchestra.

As a performer Mr. Velasco has had an active career playing the the Westlake Village Symphony, Utah Philharmonia, and was Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Wind Ensemble from 2014-2018. He has performed with various ensembles in Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and Seattle. He is also an alumni of the Blue Knights and Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.