About the Spirit of Sunnyvale Marching Band

About | Staff | Advisory Board

About the Band

The Spirit of Sunnyvale Marching Band is an independent, all-age marching band, locally-based in Sunnyvale, California.

"Spirit", formed in 2010, was created as an outlet for the Spirit of Sunnyvale Marching Youth Band alumni, family, friends and anyone else interested, to march and perform in a casual yet professional atmosphere.

The marching band primarily participates in parades with the occasional standstill performance. The schedule is kept light to not interfere with other committments. Spirit generally has one performance every few months, with a few Saturday rehearsals leading up to the parade or standstill performance.

About Staff

Current Staff Members
Director & Music Instructor - Mickey Helms
Mickey is a Spirit alumni, marching 1986-92 (clarinet 3 years, baritone 4 years). He was also a Spirit instructor for part of the 1992 season. Mickey has a Masters degree in music composition, and taught private music lessons for five years on woodwinds, brass, guitar and mandolin. Mickey has done numerous arrangements and transcriptions for various clients and students.


Marching Instructor & Drum Major - Dave Watrous
Dave is a Spirit alumni, marching 1986-91 (trombone 2 years, drum major 4 years). After aging out of Spirit, he marched Blue Devils drum & bugle corps1992-95. Dave was a Spirit instructor for the 1991, 93, 94, 96, and 97 seasons. He has instructed at many high schools, including Homestead, Los Altos, Saratoga, Lynbrook, Santa Teresa. Dave was on staff at Blue Devils for the 1996 and 97 seasons, and has worked with the Renegades drum & bugle corps from 1999 to the present (brass staff, drill design, visual caption head, and now program coordinator).


Past Staff Members
Music Instructor & Drum Major - Thor Strombom
Thor is a Spirit alumni, marching 1984-86 (trombone 2 years, tuba 1 year). He went on to march Santa Clara Vanguard drum & bugle corps 1989-92. Thor's teaching experience includes two years with the Mountain View HS marching band, two years as band teacher in the Alum Rock School District, and one year as band in the Sac City Unified School District. Currently, Thor is currently band director at Del Campo HS in Fair Oaks.


Guard Instructor - Teddy Chagoya
Teddy is a Spirit alumni, marching 1980-84 (trombone 4 years, guard 1 year). He also had extensive winter guard experience, being a member of several groups after aging out of Spirit. Teddy was a guard instructor for Spirit for the 1990 and 91 seasons. He also has instructed winter guards from 1990-2006, including James Lick HS, Ventura, Sailorettes, and others.


Percussion Instructor - Doug Mendoza
Doug is a Spirit alumni, marching 1980-84 (drum line 5 years).

 

About the Advisory Board

Below is the list of founding advisory board members: