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ADAM R. WILKE
DIRECTOR OF BANDS Adam R. Wilke is the Director of Bands at James Logan High School and conductor of the James Logan Wind Symphony. In addition to the Wind Symphony, he is also Department Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department. The band program at James Logan has been very successful in recent years winning 2014, 2016, and 2017 WBA 4A/5A Grand Championship; 2021, 2022 WBA North Regional Championship; 2014, 2015, and 2017 WGI World Class Color Guard Bronze Medal; 2013 WBA 5A Class Champion; and 2013 WGI World Class Concert Percussion Gold Medal. The James Logan Wind Symphony performed at the 2015 and 2020 California All-State Music Education Conference and was a featured performer at the 2016 WASBE Regional Conference in Prague, The Czech Republic. The Wind Symphony consistently receives high praise from adjudicators at various wind band festivals throughout the state.
This is Dr. Wilke’s twelfth year as Director of Bands at James Logan. Prior to this appointment, Wilke spent thirteen years as a high school band director at both Arroyo Grande High School and Clovis East High School, and one year as the Interim-Associate Director of Bands at Fresno State where he was the director of the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band. Dr. Wilke is an alumnus of Fresno State having received his B.A. and teaching credential in 1998 and his M.A. in conducting in 2009. In 2019, Wilke completed his D.M.A. in music education from Boston University. His dissertation research is on composition and creativity in a band setting. As a composer, Wilke has written numerous original marching band shows. Wilke is currently published by GPG Music. Additionally, Wilke is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator. Dr. Wilke is happy to have served the music education profession as a Past President of the California Band Directors Association. Dr. Wilke also served two years as the President and seven years as the Bulletin Editor of CBDA. Wilke has been a member of CBDA since 1999. Dr. Wilke is currently the graphic designer for the CMEA Magazine, CBDA Bulletin, and CASMEC. Wilke resides in the East Bay Area with his wife Jessica, a math teacher at James Logan, and children Vanessa, Braydon and Amber. |
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PATRICK REFSNIDER
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BANDS Patrick Refsnider received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Charles Menghini. Refsnider went on to study with John Bruce Yeh, Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and received his Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame he served as a graduate assistant, leading the undergraduate clarinet studio, directing the clarinet choir, and assisting Dr. Kenneth Dye with the concert and athletic bands. Refsnider was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award by the Knaeb Center for Teaching and Learning for his work with the undergraduate clarinet students.
After completing his studies, Refsnider began his teaching career as Director of Bands at Roseburg High School in Roseburg, Oregon. He returned to Chicago, accepting the positions of Director of Continuing Education and Associate Professor of Clarinet at VanderCook College of Music. Refsnider’s passion for wind band and pageantry eventually drew him back to the classroom where he worked as an elementary music specialist and assistant high school band director in the Salem-Keizer Public School District before accepting the position of Director of Bands at Aloha High School in Beaverton, Oregon. Unfortunately, Refsnider’s work at Aloha was cut short when the Great Recession caused deep budget cuts and the elimination of many teaching positions. Refsnider became Associate Director of Bands at James Logan High School in Union City, California, in August of 2012. Since his appointment, his responsibilities have included conducting the Concert and Symphonic Bands, assisting with the Wind Symphony, and serving as woodwind specialist during marching band season. In addition to his duties at James Logan, Refsnider was Assistant Corps Director of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013 and 2014. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Western Band Association (WBA). |
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CHRISTOPHER CARRASCO
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BANDS Chris Carrasco is a full time designer, choreographer, and teacher, that has been working in the marching arts for over 15 years. He is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at James Logan High School where he oversees the design and teaching of the percussion programs, the top of which is a six-time WGI scholastic world finalist. In addition to his school responsibilities, Carrasco works as a visual technician for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Program Coordinator and drill designer for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps and the Blue Devils B Corps. He started these jobs after leaving a three year tenure with the Santa Clara Vanguard, where he worked as the movement specialist and choreographer for the Drum Corps and the Visual Designer for the Winter Percussion. Carrsaco has also worked as a Choreographer for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and is currently the choreographer for the DCJ Champion Yokohama Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in Yokohama, Japan.
Chris Carrasco grew up in Concord, CA, where he was a member of his school’s Winterguard program. During his summers he performed with the Blue Devils B Corps on Baritone, and then later in the Front Ensemble. In 2010 he was the drumset player for the Sacramento Freelancers Indoor Percussion Ensemble, before he moved into a DCI teaching position with Blue Devils B in 2011. In 2013 Carrasco graduated from San Jose State University with a B.M. in percussion performance, and a minor in dance, and in 2018 added to his education with a master’s degree in education. Carrasco’s unique situation of having been a performer in every section of the marching arts gives him a very holistic approach to design. This experience makes him a highly sought after designer, both in drill design, choreography, and show programing. |
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Jazz Legaspi
Guard Director Jazz Legaspi is a Bay Area native currently residing in Santa Clara, CA. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology (Emphasis: Exercise and Movement Science) from San Francisco State University. Jazz began his color guard career in 2009 at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, California. An alumnus performer of the California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC), he has been awarded the “2013 Outstanding Performer” and “2014 Performer of the Year” awards. Legaspi has trained and performed with Dynasty (2014), the Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard (2015), and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2013, 2015-2017). His performance career with the Blue Devils led him to become a 2-time silver medalist (2013, 2016) and 2-time gold medalist (2015, 2017); he was also humbly awarded the “2016 Rifle of the Year” and “2017 Performer of the Year” accolades from the Blue Devils Color Guard. Under the 2015 Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard, he was a recipient of the Winter Guard International Independent World Class gold medal.
Legaspi’s professional affiliations are diverse. He is a freelance choreographer, soundtrack designer, clinician, and consultant. He has collaborated with numerous color guard programs including Westmont, Fremont, Amador Valley, Foothill, Oak Grove, Monta Vista, Timber Creek (Florida), Redwood, Lynbrook, CCGC (SpinFest), Santa Clara Vanguard (equipment clinic), and the Blue Devils. In 2019, Legaspi steered Saratoga to win the CCGC Scholastic Open Championship title. He currently serves as the Color Guard Director at James Logan High School. Outside of the marching arts, Legaspi works in the law as a Civil Litigation Paralegal. He will be entering law school in the 2024 cycle. |