Heather Walkover currently teaches orchestra, piano, and mariachi at Stiern Middle School, in Bakersfield California. She has been with the Bakersfield City School District since 2018 and is currently in her 14th year of teaching music. She currently teaches Cello at California State University Bakersfield, plays cello with the Bakersfield Symphony, and serves as the first vice president of the Kern County Music Educators Association (KCMEA). She received a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance and Music Education from the University of the Pacific, and her Masters in Educational Administration from California State University Bakersfield. She has taught instrumental and general music with El Sistema in Salinas California, and elementary through high school band in Amador County Schools, where she also served as the conductor of the Mother Lode Youth Symphony Orchestra. Heather has served as cello faculty and conductor during the summers at Cazadero Music Camp, Bakersfield City School District Summer Music Academy, and University of the Pacific summer music camp. Heather lives in Bakersfield with her wife Daniela, and two children. When not teaching or making music, she enjoys traveling, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family. 

Alexandra Gilroy Golden began her tenure at the Reagan Educational Center in the fall of 2013 where she directed the Reyburn Marching Band & Guard, the Concert and Symphonic Bands, String and Chamber Orchestras as well as the Clovis East Orchestra. Since 2013 the strings program has grown tremendously and has expanded to three full Reyburn string ensembles, three full Clovis East string ensembles and a Clovis East Orchestra, serving over 250 students and 7 periods of ensembles. Due to this growth, in 2018, Ms. Gilroy Golden was appointed Director of Orchestras and began teaching string ensembles full time, regularly earning Unanimous Superior ratings at festivals throughout the state. In the Spring of 2023 Ms. Gilroy Golden was proud to perform and earn both the Gold Rating and Adjudicator Awards with the Clovis East Orchestras for their performance in Honolulu, HI with Heritage Festivals. In April of 2024 the Clovis East Chamber Orchestra was chosen as one of a select few orchestras in the state of California to perform at the CMEA Large Ensemble Festival in Norwalk, CA. In April of 2025, under Ms. Gilroy Golden’s baton, the Clovis East Orchestra had their debut performance on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City with World Projects and were awarded a Gold Rating by the adjudicators. Students in the Reagan Educational Center Orchestras are also well represented in the county Honor Orchestras and Solo & Ensemble Festivals. In the Fall of 2019 Ms. Gilroy Golden received Teacher of the Year for her work at Clovis East High School and again, in the Fall of 2024 she was awarded Teacher of the Year for Reyburn Intermediate School.  Ali has dedicated several years of volunteer service to her community through her work for over a decade with the Fresno-Madera Counties Music Educators Association (FMCMEA) Board, as the Orchestra Representative on the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Central Section Board, and as the Convention Host on the California Band Directors Association (CBDA) Board working to plan and coordinate for the California State Convention, CASMEC.  Ms. Gilroy Golden holds a B.A. in Oboe Performance and Music Education from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a M.M. in Oboe Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She continues to freelance and teach private oboe lessons in the central valley. Ali currently resides in Clovis, CA with her husband Chris, their daughters Julia, Jane and Jordan and their cocker spaniels Max & Maple Golden. 

Dr. Leo Sakomoto is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies at California State University, Bakersfield. He conducts the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, the Bakersfield College/CSUB Orchestra, directs the Pep Band, and teaches courses in music education and conducting. Under his leadership, the CSUB instrumental area has received several honors, including recognition from the College Band Directors National Association. Dr. Sakomoto was recently appointed as Conductor of the Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra, beginning his tenure with the 2023-2024 concert season. He was a guest conductor with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra in 2025, conducting their Young Peoples’ Concerts and Family Matinee concert. He previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Inland Valley Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Sakomoto maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in band and orchestra settings. Guest conducting engagements include ensembles in California, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Ecuador, most recently with the Orquesta Filarmónica Municipal de Guayaquil. He has been an invited participant of conducting competitions in Finland and Poland. Dr. Sakomoto is active as a conference presenter, previously lecturing on wind band repertoire, conducting, and rehearsal efficiency. Awards received include Outstanding College/University Music Educator and Music Educator of the Year, both from the Kern County Music Educators Association.

Dr. Sakomoto received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Conducting from UCLA, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from California State University, Los Angeles. In addition to his degrees, Dr. Sakomoto is certified in the Kodály Methodology through the Organization of American Kodály Educators.