STEPHANIE SUGANO, DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Stephanie Sugano was one of the original Cooley teachers that opened Robert C. Cooley Middle School back in 2000-2001. Presently, Ms. Sugano teaches three periods of concert band as well as a before school jazz band at Cooley Middle School. Ms. Sugano also teaches band at Blue Oaks, Diamond Creek, Junction and Kaseberg Elementary Schools. In 2006, she received Placer County's "Teacher's Who Make a Difference" award.
For her undergraduate degree, Ms. Sugano attended UC Davis and was a double major in Music and Sociology. While studying under Professor Deborah Pittman, she was concertmaster of the UC Davis Concert Band for three seasons, Principal Clarinet of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, member of the UC Davis Chorus and participant in numerous chamber ensembles. In 1998 she won the Olga Brose Valente Memorial Prize in Wind Playing
After completing her Bachelor's degree, Ms. Sugano earned her teaching credential from CSU Sacramento and student taught at Sheldon High School and Barrett Middle School. She also served as a long term sub, teaching band, in the Folsom-Cordova Unified School District
Ms. Sugano recently finished her Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting at CSU Sacramento, studying under Dr. Robert Halseth. Other conducting teachers include Mallory Thompson, H. Robert Reynolds, Michael Haithcock, John Whitwell, Jonathan Elkus, D. Kern Holoman and Paul Hillier
Ms. Sugano is currently the conductor and musical director of the Roseville Community Concert Band.
Although her main instrument is the clarinet, she also sings, plays the bass guitar and loves to conduct.