John Theisen (Band Director) (sounds like ‘Tyson’)

John is originally from Central Minnesota where he graduated from Rocori High School in 1989. In 1990 He moved to California to join the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps where he played snare drum. He was Blue Devil of the Year in 1992.

After aging out of Blue Devils, John began his teaching career with several drum corps including the Blue Devils B Corp, Blue Knights Winter Drumline, Nite Express (IA), and Black Gold Winter Drumline (OK). He has taught with many successful band programs including Rosemount High School, The University of Tulsa, Broken Arrow High School, Moore Public Schools, Collinsville Public Schools, and consulted, arranged, and judged for many programs around the country.

John completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa and is currently finishing his masters degree with the American Band College in Ashland, OR. The groups he has worked with have enjoyed much success and great experiences including 9 Bands of America Regional Finalist appearances, 2 Grand National Finalist appearances, 8 State Championships, many superior ratings at Concert Band Contests, Band Trips to several states, Hawaii, and China!

John has lived in Minnesota, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, is moving back to California to be with loved ones and is looking forward to great new opportunities. The Buena High School Music Program is an exciting new step for John, and he looks forward to sharing his skills with the community to foster great musical and life enhancing experiences.

Paul Curci (Percussion Coach)

Paul Curci has been a percussion educator in Ventura County since 2003.  He has had the pleasure of working with such established high school programs as Newbury Park and Moorpark, and began working with Buena High School in the fall of 2006.

Paul has been fortunate to march in such independent ensembles as the Black Knights Drum Corps, Pulse Percussion Ensemble, Mystikal D&B Corps, Impulse D&B Corps, and the Santa Clara Vanguard D&B Corps.  Throughout his marching career, Paul had the honor of learning from such instructors as Mike Jackson, Micah Hardawick, Bill Garcia, Dawn Garcia, Scott Quintana, Eric Shriver, Ken McGrath, Ike Jackson, Caleb Rothe, Ian Grom, and John Mapes.

Paul finished his Bachelors in Liberal Studies (Teaching and Education) at CSU Channel Islands in the spring of 2008.

As an alumni of Buena High School, Paul is honored and excited to be given the opportunity to pass on his experience to a new generation of growing Buena musicians.

Lauren DeOliveira (Percussion Coach)

Lauren DeOliveira graduated Newbury Park High School in 2006. Her passion for music started in sixth grade when she began playing the tenor saxophone. She was involved in wind ensembles, and jazz bands through out middle school and high school. She was in marching band for all four years of high school and played cymbals in drumline for her junior and senior year. In 2005, she also marched cymbals in Mystikal Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2008, Lauren was very excited to start teaching cymbals for Buena High School and in 2009 she was the marching instructor for the marching band season. Lauren currently teaches at Buena and Camarillo High Schools.

Lauren currently attends Cal State Channel Islands and is graduating in the Fall of 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Anthropology. Lauren plans to continue on with graduate school and get her PhD in Archaeology.

Tim Wyckoff (Color Guard Coach)

Tim is a distinguished coach at many local high school guard programs.