About the Instructors/Admin

Mr. Cavanaugh
Mr. Cavanaugh is a talented musician with an expertise in Strings and Brass.  He began his musical journey on viola before focusing on trombone, performing in high school chamber orchestras, wind ensembles, and jazz bands.  He holds a Bachelor of Music from Central Washington University and a Master of Music from Boston University.  Mr. Cavanaugh's professional experience includes positions with the Mid-Columbia and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestras, and guest appearances with such groups as the Boulder Philharmonic, Wyoming Symphony, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic. In 2015, he won the Central Washington Division I Concerto Competition, leading to a performance of Eric Ewazen's Bass Trombone Concerto in 2016.  He was also a guest artist at the University of Wyoming's Brass and Percussion Day in 2024.pcbasstrombone@gmail.com
Ms. Daly
Video introduction Mrs. Daly has loved music her entire life. She has a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Northern Colorado. She is currently a teacher with the Western Academy of Music, has worked with their orchestras, and performed professionally with them throughout Colorado. Additionally she’s worked with the Midtown Dinner Theater and various other quartets and ensembles. She has taught private strings lessons for the last 20 years in the Denver area and spent the last 4 teaching general music in the Cherry Creek school district. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her four children, reading, hiking, and figure skating. jaclyn.daly83@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 expanded 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 Sand Creek and Bear Canyon Elementaries 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. Henning
Mr. Henning holds a bachelor's degree in double bass performance, and a master's in orchestral conducting, both from Northwestern University. He led the orchestra and bands at Loyola University in Chicago, for 10 years, and conducted musical theatre pit orchestras for 18 productions over an 8-year period. A few favorite productions were Chicago, Damn Yankees, Les Miserables, The Mikado, and Cabaret. Having grown up in Denver, Mr. Henning moved back from his 30-year adventure in Chicago three years ago and joined the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra's bass section in January of 2019. Mr. Henning has two grown sons who are busy pursuing music careers of their own. He has also been running his own piano tuning business for 20 years and has been a Navy Reservist for the past 17 years as an aviation mechanic.kurtthetuner@gmail.com
Mr. Ricard
Video introduction 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
Mr. Sapp
Mr. Sapp has been a music enjoyer for as long as he can remember. Raised in a very musical family, he always wanted to become a musician. He has his Bachelor's in Music Education and a Master's degree in Education with a music emphasis, both from California Baptist University. Mr. Sapp, with his wife and two-year-old son, has recently moved back to Colorado after living in California for over 10 years. He is excited to be back and will be working at SkyView Academy this school year. He has been teaching and playing band and orchestra music for over 20 years, and is excited to get to work with new students. He has done many clinics and camps, and looks forward to being a part of an after-school program like the Douglas County Youth Orchestra. In Mr. Sapp's spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing board games, and snowboarding. mr.bradensapp@gmail.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
Ms. Watkins
Video introductionMs. Watkins is excited to continue teaching band at Northridge. She retired from full-time band teaching in the Colorado public schools in 2020 after 31 years. Her Bachelor of Music Education degree is from Wichita State University in Wichita, KS, and her Master of Music Education is from the University of Northern Colorado. In addition to teaching at Northridge, Ms. Watkins is the director of the Concert Band and is the woodwind specialist for for the four middle schools in the Littleton Public Schools district. Ms. Watkins also maintains a private woodwind lesson studio and performs as a professional clarinetist in the Denver area. mariedwatkins1111@gmail.com