Ashton Bowles - SHS Band Director & District Band
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Ashton Bowles has taught for five years at Thompson High School and Thompson Middle School in Alabaster, Alabama. During her time at the University of Alabama, she was principal tuba in both the UA Wind Ensemble and Huxford Symphony Orchestra. She also marched with the Million Dollar Band and was section leader of the sousaphones, playing the Crimson Tide to numerous victories. In 2020, Ashton graduated with a Master's of Music in Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University. During her time there her project, “Switching to Horn for the Intermediate Player” was published in Bandworld Magazine. When she’s not teaching, she loves spending time with her dog, Uno. ​

Jake Gabriszeski - District Percussion 
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Originally from Maryland, Jake Gabriszeski or Mr. G. (as most of his students call him) grew up in a musical household and took after his father by falling in love with drums at an early age. He attended Berklee College of Music to continue his music passion where he studied with a plethora of world class musicians such as Dave DiCenso, Mike Mangini, Casey Scheuerell, and Larry Finn.

An active educator, performer, and composer in the Boston Metro Area, Jake strives for excellence in his craft and is excited to cultivate his students' proficiency as a percussionists, develop their overall musicianship, and inspire them to be lifelong learners. Jake teaches district band/percussion at AFAS, ESCS, Healey, JFK, and WSNS schools and serves as the director of the Somerville High School Drumline and Drum Set Lab program.

Rosemary Sears - District Band
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​Ms. Sears has been teaching music in the Somerville Public Schools since September 2002.  While her primary instrument is soprano clarinet, Ms. Sears enjoys playing bass clarinet with the Chelmsford Community Band, alto saxophone with the Jazzabelles, and flute with her church's music ministry. Performing music brings such joy to life, and Ms. Sears is enthusiastic about sharing her love of music with hundreds of students a year in Somerville.

Ms. Sears holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, a Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance from UMASS Lowell, and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration, also from UMASS Lowell.

Patrick Charles - District Percussion
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Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, Patrick Charles owes his musical awakening during middle school to the trumpet. But the drums quickly chose him, fueled by the love and respect for all genres and styles of music and the emerging culture of Hip-Hop. Music became Patrick's calling card; Patrick Charles started to work professionally during high school as the regular drummer for the famous Peppermint Lounge in his hometown of East Orange, NJ. Nightly guest artist appearances include the legendary Lou Rawls, Chaka Khan, Berry White, and renowned Hip Hop artists Naughty by Nature and Queen Latifah. After high school, Patrick set his eyes on the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Composition and a Master's in Music production. In Los Angeles, his work as a freelance drummer has brought him acclaim from the studio and live performances with blues legend Linda Hopkins, funk and soul songstress Maxayn Lewis and Tina Marie, and with Jazz artists such as Saxophonist Everette Harp, Keyboardist Wayne Linsey, two-time Grammy Nominated pianist, composer Kevin Toney of the Black Byrds band, trumpeter Johnny Britt and Bassist extraordinaire Alex Al, of Michael Jackson's This Is It Band. As a Composer and Producer, Patrick Charles's debut CD, Cite Soleil, presents an artist of far-reaching vision and versatility.

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