About the Instructors/Admin

Mr. Andrews
Video introduction Mr. Andrews is a composer, music teacher, and performer living in the heart of Colorado Springs. In his experience, instrumental performance was a catalyst for substantive change; it developed his patience, stamina, emotional intelligence, and ability to capture an audience. More importantly, music provided a means by which he could impart the beauty and goodness of the fine arts with new and unlikely audiences. He found learning an instrument and collaborating with others in an orchestra or band to be a formative and unforgettable experience. In high school, Mr. Andrews was selected to be concertmaster for one of Texas’ All-State Orchestras (TMEA) and then finished high school at Interlochen Arts Academy. He received my master’s degree in violin performance and pedagogy from the University of Colorado Boulder (2023) and had the privilege of studying with the late Charles Wetherbee, whose guidance helped pave the way for a musical life. I was also given the chance to play for and study under many great recording artists and teachers, including David Korevaar, the Takács Quartet, and the Orion String Quartet. It has been Mr. Andrews's joy to teach and perform for those of every age, ability, and background and he hopes you consider joining in with instrumental music and a generation of students who urgently need it. paytonandrews@gmail.com
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill is a veteran teacher with an expertise in beginning instrumental instruction. She taught for 27 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. Last year, the program expands to include the Douglas County HS feeder area as well. Keeping the opportunity to play an instrument available to our kids is her top priority.d.davidsonstanfill@comcast.net
Mr. Fowler
Video introduction Mr. Fowler is excited to be teaching at Rock Ridge Elementary and Renaissance Elementary Magnet School this year! He has been involved in music his whole life, primarily playing saxophone, but also enjoys playing guitar, piano, trombone, among a few others in his free time. Mr. Fowler got his undergraduate degree from The New School in jazz studies and recently got his Masters in Music Education and teaching certification from CU Boulder. In addition to music, Mr. Fowler enjoys spending his time hiking, playing video games, and reading with his partner and cat, Poppy. lewisfowler2121@gmail.com
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
Mr. Mirandi
Mr. Mirandi is super excited to be a part of the DCEIM staff for the second year as well as the General Music teacher at Flagstone Elementary! Originally from New York where he got his Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from SUNY Potsdam. He taught for the first two years of his career in several different elementary schools in the Long Island area eventually moving here to Colorado for family and the mountains! He teaches both the band and orchestra programs as well as the choir program at Flagstone Elementary and looks forward to continuing teaching instruments to students. smirandi@dcsdk12.org
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. Ricard
Mr. Ricard holds bachelor's degrees in jazz composition and film scoring from Berklee College of Music, a master's degree in jazz composition, and a certificate in Music Education from New England Conservatory, and is currently completing a doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado in Jazz Studies. Before moving to Colorado, he spent 4 years as the Band Director at Bentley Univeristy in Waltham, MA, in addition to leading a large low brass studio. Although he plays many instruments like bass and piano, his primary horn is the trombone, which he has played in such groups as the 8-Bit Big Band and The Plain White T's, among many others.joericardmusic@gmail.com