chris stevens
Mr. Stevens began teaching at Poly in 1996 after many years as a full-time professional drummer and percussionist. He has recorded and/or performed with Frankie Avalon, Tony Bennett, The Coasters, Dance Theater of Harlem, Jose Feliciano, Steve & Eydie Gorme, Robert Goulet, Merv Griffin, Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Tom Kubis, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Little Anthony, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Presidents Ford, Reagan & Clinton, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, San Gabriel Civic Light Opera, Sesame Street, Keith Byron’s New Sousa Band, Andy Williams and many more. Chris was named KKJZ 88.1fm Jazz Educator of the Year in 2014. Each summer Chris co-directs the jazz session at Arrowbear Music Camp. He recently finished an extensive service on the board of the California Alliance for Jazz in various capacities including President. He has directed SCSBOA All-Southern Junior High Jazz All-Stars twice, in 2007 and 2018. He directed the Orange USD Middle School Honor Band in 2016. Chris is looking forward to conducting the Fresno-Madera Music Educator’s Association Honor Jazz Band in 2020. He has presented clinics on various topics at SCSBOA, CASMEC and NAfME Conferences, as well as adjudicated many jazz festivals. Chris currently plays vibraphone and percussion in the Tom Kubis Big Band, drums in the Patrick Sheng Quartet and continues to freelance, as well as maintain a private teaching studio at his home in Lakewood.
Mr. Stevens can be reached via email at cstevens@lbschools.net.
Tom Terrell
Tom Terrell is the music director at Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California. He received a B.A. in Music Performance from UCLA in 2008, and earned his Music Teaching credential from CSU Long Beach in 2019. Prior to teaching, Tom worked as a professional musician, having had the good fortunate to travel and perform in 46 countries with hip-hop legends Nas and Lauryn Hill, the Broadway magic show The Illusionists, and Man in the Mirror, a Michael Jackson tribute show, at notable venues such as the Sydney Opera House, London’s 02 Arena, and Radio City Music Hall. His teaching philosophy:
It is my belief that the ultimate experience for a creative individual is to be completely and utterly in the moment, free of doubt or reservation. As someone who has felt such a state of transcendence through music, my goal as an educator is to illuminate and guide this experience to future generations. Thus, my teaching philosophy is to empower my students to achieve creative fulfillment, to service their identity, and to be able to collaborate flexibly in the extensive scope of music throughout their lifetime.