Kristen Pallas, Director of Bands
Miss Kristen Pallas is a 2009 graduate of Fresno State, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. While at Fresno State, Miss Pallas studied conducting with Dr. Gary P. Gilroy and flute with Dr. Teresa Beaman, and performed with a variety of ensembles including the Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Flute Ensemble, and the Bulldog Marching Band. Most recently, Miss Pallas taught at Ceres High School where her groups consistently earned Superior ratings at CMEA festivals and her marching band was a top three contender in competitions affiliated with WBA. As a performer, Miss Pallas has performed in venues throughout the state, most notably the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Fresno State Wind Orchestra. A strong believer in serving music education, she was recently elected as Secretary of the California Band Directors Association and Vice President of the South Valley Winter Arts Association and also served as Treasurer of the Central Valley Guard and Percussion Circuit and as a manager of the Fresno County Youth Choir. In the summer of 2017, Miss Pallas completed her Master's Degree in Band Conducting through the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. She is excited to be at El Diamante, a program she has long admired, and looks forward to making her own mark on the program. Go Miners!
Miss Kristen Pallas is a 2009 graduate of Fresno State, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. While at Fresno State, Miss Pallas studied conducting with Dr. Gary P. Gilroy and flute with Dr. Teresa Beaman, and performed with a variety of ensembles including the Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Flute Ensemble, and the Bulldog Marching Band. Most recently, Miss Pallas taught at Ceres High School where her groups consistently earned Superior ratings at CMEA festivals and her marching band was a top three contender in competitions affiliated with WBA. As a performer, Miss Pallas has performed in venues throughout the state, most notably the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Fresno State Wind Orchestra. A strong believer in serving music education, she was recently elected as Secretary of the California Band Directors Association and Vice President of the South Valley Winter Arts Association and also served as Treasurer of the Central Valley Guard and Percussion Circuit and as a manager of the Fresno County Youth Choir. In the summer of 2017, Miss Pallas completed her Master's Degree in Band Conducting through the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. She is excited to be at El Diamante, a program she has long admired, and looks forward to making her own mark on the program. Go Miners!
Michael Hipp, Program Coordinator and Advisor
Mike Hipp recently retired as Director of Music from Washington Union High School after completing 40 years of teaching. His programs have received consistent Superior ratings at festivals for over 25 years. Prior to accepting his current position, Mr. Hipp was Director of Bands at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Bullard High School in Fresno, and prior to coming to the Fresno area he taught in Southern California, primarily in the San Bernardino/Riverside area. In past years, Mr. Hipp's bands have performed for the California Music Education Association conferences and the California Band Directors Association All-State Band Convention.
In 2014, Mr. Hipp was inducted into the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago for his service to music education. Mr. Hipp is a past president of the CMEA Central Section and was honored by FMCMEA in 2009 as Band Director of the Year. He has also served as host/manager for the FMCMEA Honor Bands and the CBDA All-State Symphonic Band for James Barnes and Craig Kirchhoff. As an adjudicator, Mr. Hipp is in demand to judge concert, parade, and field events all over central and northern California.
Mr. Hipp earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Notre Dame in French Horn performance, where he studied with Richard Oldberg and Dale Clevenger of the Chicago Symphony. Over the years he has studied conducting with Robert Halseth, Jack Stamp, H. Robert Reynolds, Allen McMurray, Larry Curtis, and Richard Floyd.
Mike Hipp recently retired as Director of Music from Washington Union High School after completing 40 years of teaching. His programs have received consistent Superior ratings at festivals for over 25 years. Prior to accepting his current position, Mr. Hipp was Director of Bands at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Bullard High School in Fresno, and prior to coming to the Fresno area he taught in Southern California, primarily in the San Bernardino/Riverside area. In past years, Mr. Hipp's bands have performed for the California Music Education Association conferences and the California Band Directors Association All-State Band Convention.
In 2014, Mr. Hipp was inducted into the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago for his service to music education. Mr. Hipp is a past president of the CMEA Central Section and was honored by FMCMEA in 2009 as Band Director of the Year. He has also served as host/manager for the FMCMEA Honor Bands and the CBDA All-State Symphonic Band for James Barnes and Craig Kirchhoff. As an adjudicator, Mr. Hipp is in demand to judge concert, parade, and field events all over central and northern California.
Mr. Hipp earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Notre Dame in French Horn performance, where he studied with Richard Oldberg and Dale Clevenger of the Chicago Symphony. Over the years he has studied conducting with Robert Halseth, Jack Stamp, H. Robert Reynolds, Allen McMurray, Larry Curtis, and Richard Floyd.
Andrew Ziehm, Percussion Writer
Andrew is an instructor and arranger in the Central Valley and worked with Miss Pallas for five years at both Ceres and El Diamante High Schools. He is the percussion caption head at James C. Enochs High School in Modesto, CA. As a performer, Andrew marched snare with Blue Devils B in 2012-2013, Blue Devils from 2014-2015, and Pulse Percussion in 2016. He was recently hired on staff with POW Percussion.
Andrew is an instructor and arranger in the Central Valley and worked with Miss Pallas for five years at both Ceres and El Diamante High Schools. He is the percussion caption head at James C. Enochs High School in Modesto, CA. As a performer, Andrew marched snare with Blue Devils B in 2012-2013, Blue Devils from 2014-2015, and Pulse Percussion in 2016. He was recently hired on staff with POW Percussion.
Paul Lujan, Visual and Brass Caption Head
Paul is an alumni of Fresno State, where he earned a Bachelor's in Music Education. He performed with Santa Clara Vanguard in 2012-2013. He has taught at Clovis North High School and is on staff with Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets.
Paul is an alumni of Fresno State, where he earned a Bachelor's in Music Education. He performed with Santa Clara Vanguard in 2012-2013. He has taught at Clovis North High School and is on staff with Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets.
Marc Porras, Percussion Caption Head
Marc is a graduate of Clovis High School and previously taught at Edison High. He has performed with VIP, POW, Pacific Crest and Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Marc is a graduate of Clovis High School and previously taught at Edison High. He has performed with VIP, POW, Pacific Crest and Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Shane Nagatani, Front Ensemble Technician
Shane is a performer and instructor in the city of Visalia. As a performer, he has involved in various musical productions with College of the Sequoias, El Diamante High School, and the Tulare County Office of Education. During his time as a student at El Diamante, Shane served as the front ensemble section leader for two years and is now on his second year on the instructional side. In addition to instructing the front ensemble, he gives private lessons on both cello and double bass.
Shane is a performer and instructor in the city of Visalia. As a performer, he has involved in various musical productions with College of the Sequoias, El Diamante High School, and the Tulare County Office of Education. During his time as a student at El Diamante, Shane served as the front ensemble section leader for two years and is now on his second year on the instructional side. In addition to instructing the front ensemble, he gives private lessons on both cello and double bass.
Victoria Lewis, Front Ensemble Technician
Victoria is a graduate of Buchanan High School and previously taught at Clovis East High. She has performed with VIP and Blue Devils B and is currently studying at COS.
Victoria is a graduate of Buchanan High School and previously taught at Clovis East High. She has performed with VIP and Blue Devils B and is currently studying at COS.
Brandon Gladden, Color Guard Caption Head
Brandon has been a color guard coach for the past decade and produced award winning groups at Bullard, Buchanan, and Washington Union High Schools. As a performer, he has performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard, Santa Clara Vanguard Winterguard, and performed with the Japanese tour of Blast! the musical.
Brandon has been a color guard coach for the past decade and produced award winning groups at Bullard, Buchanan, and Washington Union High Schools. As a performer, he has performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard, Santa Clara Vanguard Winterguard, and performed with the Japanese tour of Blast! the musical.
Meghyn Torabi, Color Guard Technician
Meghyn Torabi graduated from El Diamante High School with the class of 2017. She spun with the color guard for her entire four years, and was captain for her senior year. In addition to being the tech for El Diamante's guard, she is the caption head for the La Joya Middle School Color Guard. Meghyn looks forward to growing as a performer and plans to audition for independent color guards.
Meghyn Torabi graduated from El Diamante High School with the class of 2017. She spun with the color guard for her entire four years, and was captain for her senior year. In addition to being the tech for El Diamante's guard, she is the caption head for the La Joya Middle School Color Guard. Meghyn looks forward to growing as a performer and plans to audition for independent color guards.