About the Instructors/Admin

Ms. Davidson-Stanfill
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill is a veteran teacher with an expertise in beginning instrumental instruction. She has been teaching for over 25 years in various combinations of subjects, always including beginning instrumental instruction. Ms. Davidson-Stanfill started this program, originally in the Rock Canyon feeder area in 2009, in response to District budget cuts and in response to many people requesting that a band and orchestra program continue. Her program grew to include the Castle View and Chaparral feeder areas in 2010, won the Macaroni Kids Best Music Lessons Award in 2014, expanded to include the Ponderosa, ThunderRidge and Mountain Vista areas in 2014, and won the Macaroni Kids Best Music Lessons Award in 2016 and again in 2019. This year, the program expands to include the Douglas County HS feeder area as well. She is excited to continue her collaboration with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra and to bring a quality program into the Mountain Vista feeder area again this year. Keeping the opportunity to play an instrument available to our kids is her top priority.d.davidsonstanfill@comcast.net
Mr. Freeman
Video introduction Mr. Freeman serves as Principal Trombone of the Denver Philharmonic and is a busy freelancer in the Colorado, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming areas. He has played with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Wyoming Symphony, the Greeley Philharmonic, South Dakota Symphony and many others in various states. In addition, he holds an associate spot with the Chicago Civic Orchestra. He has played under the baton of notable conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Ken-David Masur performing in Carnegie hall as well as David Geffen Hall. Mr. Freeman earned a Bachelors degree from Northern Illinois University. He has a Masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Performers Certificate from the University of Denver. When not playing music Darian enjoys following and playing sports as well as staying healthy and active. darian153@yahoo.com
Mr. Furlow
Video introductionMr. Furlow, a native of Southern Illinois, began his career as Director of Bands in Vandalia, Illinois, after completing his Bachelor of Music Education Degree, with a Secondary Concentration in Music Theory/Composition, from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has taught band and private studio music for over twenty years. Mr. Furlow is an accomplished pianist and low brass performer, primarily focusing on tuba and euphonium/baritone, performing regularly as the Principal Tubist with the Denver Concert Band and Aurora Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a seasoned educator, Mr. Furlow is a practicing composer for band, orchestra, piano, and chamber groups. He enjoys writing in classical and film music styles. When not teaching or performing, Mr. Furlow enjoys traveling (he has visited 35 States so far), motorcycles, playing with his Siberian Huskies, and watching movies. Mr. Furlow will be working with Band and Orchestra students at Larkspur Elementary.bfurlowmusic@gmail.com
Mr. Goldman
Video introduction Mr. Goldman is a native South Floridian raised in a musical family. Playing in a variety of sitations throughout childhood contributed to his extensive familiarity in most genres of music. This gave him an appreciation for performing on mutiple instruments, including saxophones, flute, clarinet, piano, bass, and drums. While Mr. Goldman attended the presitgious Frost School of Music at the Univeristy of Miami on scholarship, he was able to participate in masterclasses and play alongside many notables in the Jazz world, including Joshua Redman, Benny Golson, Maria Schnieder, Jim Snidero, John Fedchock, Jeff Coffin, Troy Roberts, and many more. Recently relocated to Douglas County, Mr. Goldman is continuing his career as an in-demand freelance musicain performing for private events and sitting in with the top Jazz/Salsa orchestras in town, while also maintaining his career as a music educator. In his tenure at Pace High School in Miami Gardens, he created the cuurculum for the music program, and is a co-founder of the schools Academy of Performing/Visual Arts, providing a platform for his students to pursue their own careers in music. Mr. Goldman looks forward to new career opportunities in Douglas County Schools at Rock Ridge Elementay and teaching through the Douglas County Instrumental Music Program! rgoldman@dcsdk12.org
Ms. Khalil
Ms. Khalil is a passionate violinist and teacher. She began her violin career at the age of 9! She was a member of the Kansas City Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 12. Ms. Khalil was awarded a full scholarship for the University of Kansas's Midwestern Music Camp for 4 consecutive years. In 2003, she became an active teacher of the Missouri String Project under the guidance of Ms. Leslie Perna, where she was awarded the String Project Teaching Award, subsequently starting her own private violin studio. In 2007, Ms. Khalil earnered her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Violin Performance from the Univerisy of Missouri-Columbia, where she studied with Eva D. Szekely. She has performed with the University of Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra, Missouri University Chamber Orchestra, and the Missouri All-Collegiate Orchestra. In 2008, she began her Suzuki Violin Teacher Training at the Unviersity of Denver's Lamont School of Music, under the instruction of James Maurer and Kathleen Spring, where she received her Suzuki Violin Pedagogy Certificate for Books 1-8. Ms. Khalil has taught as a violin and viola teacher for the Augustana Arts City Strings Program, as a violin quartet coach for the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, as a music instructor for the Cherry Creek Elementary instrumental Music Program, and has performed with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Ms. Khalil belives every child has unique talents and the ability to learn and develop those talents when provided with the right tools, instruction, and a heathly supportive environment. nasihak.musicpedagogy@gmail.com
Ms. Nielsen
Video introduction Ms. Nielsen is origianlly from Arizona and has played violin for over 18 years in various orchestras and symphonies in the United States. While violin is her primary instrument, Ms. Nielsen also enjoys playing piano and guitar. Her primary career has been as a Recreational Therapist for inpatient Behavioral Health hospitals teaching a variety of coping and life skills. Ms. Nielsen also enjoys teaching private music lessons to beginning students. When not teaching, Ms. Nielsen enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, running, painting, playing games and going on adventures with her family. chantelle.nielsen16@gmail.com
Ms. Owsley
Video introduction Lois Owsley has been playing the violin since fourth grade, played in orchestras growing up, studied privately from great teachers, received a BA in Violin Performance from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and an MA in Music Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She has played in symphony orchestras and other musical events as well as taught hundreds of students on stringed instruments and piano in her home-based Personal Notes Music in Louisiana, Utah, California and Colorado. She is a lifetime learner and loves attending workshops and conferences. She has created music enrichment classes in several schools and daycares. After serving as string orchestra director in the Douglas County Band/Orchestra Program through Colorado Chamber Orchestra for 6 years (2014-2020) she is returning this fall to the program at Castle Rock Elementary. Her dream is to have a large group of students who will learn to love music and share with each other, their family, friends and the community.personalnotesmusic@gmail.com
Mr. Petersen
Mr. Petersen will be teaching band at Castle Rock Elementary and South Ridge Elementary this year. He is a recent graduate of Colorado Mesa University with a degree in French Horn Performance. Mr. Petersen has played French Horn and Trumpet for 15 years. He was an active performer throughout his time in school playing in marching bands, jazz bands, concert bands, and orchestras. This will be Mr. Petersen’s first year teaching and he cannot wait to share his enthusiasm for music with his new band kids. He is passionate about helping to grow the love of music in Colorado, his home state. brianp1997@hotmail.com
Mr. Tano
Mr. Tano is excited to be teaching band at Copper Mesa, Bear Canyon, and Sage Canyon Elementary Schools this year! He plays a variety of instruments, but the ones he has been playing for the longest are piano (~22 years) and trumpet (~16 years). Throughout his time in music, he has had the opportunity to perform with some fantastic groups—whether jazz, marching, concert, or symphonic—such as The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Brubeck Brothers, The Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps, learning as much as he could along the way. Although educated in the Culinary Arts at Emily Griffith, music is his true passion. He is excited to share that passion and enthusiasm with the kids and grow and learn alongside them!
When not teaching private lessons or helping his wife, the Chaparral band director, with the marching band, Mr. Tano enjoys gardening (as much as you can on an apartment balcony), building LEGO, playing video games, experimenting with new recipes, or hanging out with his cats: Ahsoka and Basil. tanoteaches@gmail.com