Sandalwood High School Bands
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Staff
Mara Rose - Director
Mara Rose is currently on the faculty at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, Florida where she teaches Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and Jazz Bands. Prior to her appointment at Sandalwood Ms. Rose was on the faculty at Kernan Middle, Fletcher Middle and Port St. Lucie High School. Mara received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University where she studied conducting with Dr. James Croft, Mr. Robert Sheldon and Dr. Thomas Rohr. She was a flute student of Mr. Charles Delaney and Dr. Carol Dale. Ensembles under Ms. Rose’s direction have consistently received superior ratings and performed all over the country including New York’s Lincoln Centdr, Gatlinburg and a performance with the Glen Miller Orchestra. She is active as an adjudicator throughout Florida and Georgia. Ms. Rose holds a number of professional memberships that include Florida Bandmasters Association where she is district secretary, Florida Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Tau Beta Sigma, and Sigma Alpha Iota.
Robb Van Eck - Brass/Visual
Robb Van Eck has been a volunteer assistant with the Sandalwood bands since 1999. He serves as a marching and maneuvering assistant, is the low brass coordinator, arranges music for the Marching Saints, and has recently added band webmaster to his list of credits. By day Mr. Van Eck is a Systems Analyst in the Information Management department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, who graciously allow him to pursue his band habit in the name of volunteer service to the community. He is also currently on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Tuba X-mas. After graduating from New Smyrna Beach High School (1986), he studied Music Education at Florida State University, where he principled on tuba under Paul Ebbers and string bass under Pam Andrews. He was section leader of the “Royal Flush” during his last year (1990) in the Marching Chiefs, was active in Kappa Kappa Psi, and was a proud member of the FSU “Seminole Gladiators” Basketball Pep Band. Robb performed for a year in the “Das Festhaus” polka band at Busch Gardens, The Old Country in Williamsburg, Virginia (1988). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Studies from Florida State University. Mr. Van Eck also volunteers as a clinician with the Fletcher High School Marching Senators and teaches privately. He has also served as an assistant with the Paxon SAS Marching Eagles (2001 - 02) and worked with the Manor Marching Mustangs at Manor High School in Norfolk, Virginia (1988).
Ben Adams - Color Guard/Woodwinds
Ben Adams is a 2004 graduate of The Florida State University where he studied oboe with Dr. Eric Ohlsson and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Mr. Adams is the current Band Director at Twin LakesMiddle School in Jacksonville, Florida. He has been a member of Paradigm Independent Winter Guard for five years (2001-2005). Mr. Adams was the colorguard instructor for Woodham HS in Pensacola (2001-2003) and Suwannee HS in Live Oak (2002-2004). He has also taught colorguard at his alma mater, Tate HS in Pensacola, Lincoln HS in Tallahassee, and Seacoast Christian Academy in Jacksonville. In addition to teaching at Sandalwood, Mr. Adams is a current instructor for Exaltation Independent Winterguard, Oasis Independent, and Gilbert HS in Phoenix, AZ.
Marsha Sutton - Woodwinds
Marsha Sutton graduated from Florida State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. While in attendance at Florida State, she was in Symphonic Band, Marching Chiefs, and Sigma Alpha Iota. She studied clarinet under Dr. Frank Kowalski. She was an active member in CMENC (Collegiate Music Educators National Conference) and was a volunteer woodwind instructor at Cobb Middle School in Tallahassee.
She attended Jacksonville University in 1992, where she studied under Mr. Peter Wright, the principal clarinetist in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. While at JU, she was also a member of the First Coast Wind Ensemble.
Since graduation, she’s worked primarily with church orchestras
and has taught private clarinet. In 1996, she and her husband moved to
Everett, WA where she became the orchestra director at First Baptist
Church of Everett. In 1998, she and her husband moved back to Jacksonville,
and they became active members at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville
and played in their orchestra. From 2000 to 2002, she was the middle
school orchestra director and an assistant to the adult/high school director
at FBC. Presently, she teaches private clarinet, home schools her three
children and volunteers when time allows.
Jimmy Allen - Percussion
Jimmy Allen is in his second year as a staff member with the Sandalwood marching band. His musical performance background includes playing with the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps, Tarheel Sun Drum and Bugle Corps, and with Grammy award winner Shania Twain during her most stop in Jacksonville. He is also the director of the University of North Florida Drumline. He is a recent graduate from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science.