"To play a wrong note is insignificant, to play without passion is inexcusable." - Beethoven

Hi and thanks for checking out my portfolio! My name is Jesse and I have been passionate (and busy) since 14-years old studying and performing music in diverse environments. Although I started playing the flute and tuba my main instruments are piano and guitar. I graduated UC Irvine with both my Bachelor's in Music and Masters in Fine Arts in composition along with orchestral conducting. Recently I served as Music Director for School of Rock in Temecula and was the music teacher at Ajo High School in Arizona. I am currently a student at CSULB in progress to obtain my Single Subject credential in Music.

Teaching Experience

  • Music Director (Full Time) at School of Rock Temecula 2021-2023
  • Music Teacher (Full Time) at Ajo High School 2017-2021
    • Concert Band (Beginning and Advanced)
    • Pop/Rock Ensemble
    • Music & Audio Production
    • General Music (PreK-6)
  • Teaching Assistant at UC Irvine 2009-2011
    • Music Theory
    • The Beatles and the 60s
    • Orchestra Manager
  • Substitute Teacher at Bear Valley USD 2007-2008

Elementary Music class at Ajo Unified

Ajo Concert Band Christmas Show

Ajo Elementary Christmas Show

Thesis Project: "Parallax"

Licenses, Certificates, Training

  • Subject Matter Expert in Music, Arizona
  • 30-Day Emergency Substitute Permit, California
  • MFA in Composition from UC Irvine
  • B.Mus. in Composition from UC Irvine
  • Certificate in Mixing & Mastering from Dubspot LA

Grieg's Piano Concerto at St. Margaret's Music Festival

Performance Highlights

  • Performed “Mama Mia” (Guitars, 2022)
  • “Performing With the Pros with Jared Gertner” for Orange County School of the Arts (Electric and Acoustic Guitars, 2022)
  • Recorded, mixed, and mastered audio for online presentation of the Broadway musical “Now. Here. This.” for Orange County School of the Arts (2020)
  • Semi-Finalist in the Wilson Center Guitar Competition, Rock Category (2019)
  • Faculty member for St. Margaret’s Summer Music Festival. Conducted orchestra and soloists feat. works by Mozart, Grieg, Lalo, and others (2019)
  • Performed in “Evita” for Orange County School of the Arts (Guitars, 2019)
  • Performed in “As You Like It” for Orange County School of the Arts (Guitars, Feb. 2019)
  • Performed public solo piano recital feat. works by Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, Holst, and Debussy (2018)
  • Producer and recording engineer at Castle Row Studios, OK (2017)
  • Conductor for St. Margaret’s Summer Music Festival. Conducted orchestral works “Requiem” by Mozart, “Tragic Overture” by Brahms, and others (2014)
  • Other musicals performed include "RENT", "American Idiot", "Spring Awakening", and "Cabaret" with various production houses


951.591.0913
jesse@beethovenboy.com