Chris Estrada

Christopher J. Estrada has been a part of The Spirit of Troy since the fall of 2007 and has been a fan of it even longer. He marched in the sousaphone section from 2007 – 2010 and became a Teaching Assistant for the section during second semester first year. Since then, he has helped to shape the sound of the section into what it is today and hopes to continue to refine and strengthen it. In 2016, Estrada was appointed to an Assistant Director position where he helps to plan the curriculum and overall operation of the band each season. He is also the current Reserves Coordinator whose main responsibility is the fundamental development, training, and eventual inclusion into the field shows for younger/inexperienced marchers/instrumentalists of every section. Estrada earned the Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Art Studies from East Los Angeles College (2003), his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Cal State Los Angeles (CSULA, 2006). He completed the single subject teaching credential program at Cal Poly Pomona (2013), and most recently earned a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from CSULA (2018). He is currently planning on applying to Doctoral programs in Music to further his career. Estrada has been the Director of Bands at George Washington Preparatory High School (WPHS) in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) since 2013. Under his direction the program has received many awards and accolades in parades and field show competition, as well as in jazz and concert festivals around Southern California. He teaches multiple Instrumental Techniques courses where students learn how to read music and play a band instrument. He also teaches advanced ensembles (Concert, Jazz) where students learn about ensemble dynamics and musicianship. Most recently Estrada began to teach a Music Technology course where students learn how to use various platforms online to produce, record, edit, and create digital music. He continues to work with various bands in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions as a conductor, clinician, and guest instrumentalist.