Last Spring, John Burn retired from being Director of Bands and Orchestra and Music Department Lead at Homestead High School in Cupertino, CA, where he had taught since 1991. John is a Past-president of: California Music Educators Association, California Band Directors Association, California Music Educators Association Bay Section, Santa Clara County Band Directors Association, and the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival Board of Directors. Currently, John directs the Stanford Jazz Workshop “Giant Steps” Big Band, is the new Associate Conductor of the Foothill Symphonic Winds, a Supervisor of student teachers for San Jose State, and the President-elect for CMEA Central Coast Section.

John has received several significant commendations including: the 2025 CMEA Hall of Fame, the 2024 CMEA Bay Section “Beyond the Baton” Award, the 2023 CASMEC Medal of Honor, a 2019 Grammy Music Educator Award Semi-finalist, the 2015 CBDA Distinguished Service Award, the 2010 CMEA California Band Director of the Year, the 2009-2010 Homestead High School Teacher of the Year, and he is a 2009 Inductee to the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor.

John is active as a guest conductor for honor groups, an adjudicator for band, orchestra and jazz festivals, and  a presenter at regional and state music education conferences. He has conducted numerous honor bands and orchestras, including the 2018 California All-State Honor Junior High Concert Band. He has directed the Jazz Band, Orchestra and the Concert Band multiple times at Cazadero Performing Arts Camp. He is a regular adjudicator for CMEA Bay Section and CMEA Central Section Band, Orchestra and Jazz Festivals, and has also adjudicated concert and/or marching events in Santa Barbara, CA, and Reno, NV. John is a contributing author in the book “Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra,” Volume 4, GIA Publications, 2021, and has presented sessions at state and local conferences in California and Alaska. His presentation topics include: string pedagogy for band directors, incorporating technology in high school music courses, and making high school music programs more inclusive, diverse and equitable.

Bands and orchestras under John’s direction consistently earned high ratings at regional, state, and international festivals, including performances in the Musikverein in Vienna, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Kobe Jazz Festival in Kobe, Japan, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The Homestead Marching Band performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2011, the Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis in 2015 and 2018, and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade in 2018 and 2025.

John plays trumpet in a semi-professional jazz band called The Footnotes and plays first trumpet in the Saluting America’s Band Directors Band Director Marching Band which performed in the 2022 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and will be performing in the 2026 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1.

John holds a B.A. in Music Education from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, and graduated from the high school where he taught, Homestead High. John lives in Santa Cruz, with his patient and supportive wife Allison.

Paul Lucckesi currently holds the Director of Jazz Studies position at Fresno City College, where he oversees various musical endeavors. Paul leads the Fresno City College large and small jazz ensembles within the college, coordinates the City Jazz Festival, teaches applied saxophone, and actively contributes as a music faculty member.

Paul's educational background includes a degree in music education from CSU, Fresno, and a Master of Music Education from Central Washington University. His professional journey led him to the role of Director of Jazz Studies at the Buchanan Educational Center in Clovis, California, where the Buchanan Jazz Band 'A' achieved national accolades at the Downbeat Student Music Awards and performed at multiple editions of the Monterey Jazz Festival under his direction.

Beyond his teaching responsibilities, Paul played a significant role in the Monterey Jazz Festival Education Program staff, directing the County All-Star Middle School and High Schools Jazz Ensembles and teaching at the program's summer camp. He also served as a La Sierra Music Camp staff member for 19 years.

As an active jazz adjudicator and clinician across the Western United States, Paul has presented clinics at the California All-State Music Educators Conference and various state festivals. His involvement includes directing honor groups for the Monterey Jazz Festival Education Program, Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association, Fresno Madera County Music Educators Association, and the Tulare Kings County Music Educators Association. In 2014, Paul directed the inaugural California All-State Middle School Jazz Band, and in 2021, he directed the first (and hopefully only) virtual California All-State Junior High Jazz Ensemble. Paul was awarded Jazz Educator of the Year, now called the Paul Shaghoian Jazz Educator Award, for California in 2013.