Director of Bands, Jay Posteraro, is currently in his 25th year as band director at Mesa Verde Middle School in the Poway Unified School District. He is originally from New York and has been in California 25+ years. Mr. Posteraro earned music degrees from the State University of New York Potsdam (Crane School of Music) and the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.
Mr. Posteraro’s bands at Mesa Verde consistently receive outstanding ratings at music festivals throughout California. In March 2011, The Mesa Verde Select Ensemble won the Chicago Festival of Gold, the first time in the thirty-year history of the festival a middle school group has gained such distinction. Jay has conducted the Escondido Middle School Honor Band twice, the San Diego Unified School District Honor Band, the Anaheim Union School District Honor Band, and for the past three years was a director at the San Diego Summer Music Institute. He is also the former director of the University of San Diego Pep Band.
Mr. Posteraro is an active trumpet player, performing throughout the country, most notably as a member of the All-American College Orchestra in Disney World and as a musician at Busch Gardens, VA. In addition, he performs regularly in San Diego as a member/owner of Select Brass and as an in demand musician/clinician. Mr. Posteraro’s professional memberships include MENC, CMEA, SCSBOA, and the International Trumpet Guild. Jay was one of the Poway Unified School District Teachers of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year. Additionally, he was named California Music Educators Association-Southern Border Section Educator of the Year for 2013. He has also been named a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Educator of the Year Award.
Music Assistant, Robert Resto, has directed and worked with an elite group of musicians in workshops, performances, or in music production. The list includes international sensations such as legendary bassist-Abraham Laboriel (George Benson), woodwind player-Justo Almario (J Lo), percussionist-Luis Conte(Phil Collins), guitarist-Blake Aaron, percussionist-Richie Gajate Garcia (Diana Ross), Woodwind player-Pedro Eustache (Yanni), pianist-Andre Alexander, pianist-Alberto Salas(Andy Garcia), bassist-Eddie Resto (Eddie Palmeri), pianist-Fabian Otero (Tito Puente Jr.), pianist-Adlan Cruz, singer-Alejandro Alonso, percussionist-Ruben Diaz, Drummer/Professor, Dr. Jeremy Brown, Saxophonist-Lawrence Tamez, bassist-James East(Eric Clapton), Drummer-Deon Hairston, pianist-Milton Fletcher (Christian Scott), bassist-Javy Bojorquez (Jon Sebastian), Alvaro Lopez (Luis Miguel) and many other notable Grammy winning musicians, including in the Rock & Roll genre and has collaborated in music conferences with legendary worship leaders, song writers, & producers such as Eddie Espinoza (Change My Heart O God), Rick Founds (Lord I Lift Your Name On High), Joey Arreguin (Love & Laughter Studios), Frank Giraldo, and Rick Muchow (of Saddleback Church). He's arranged music everywhere from children's worship to jazz, pop, gospel styles and held workshops on music education in other countries and in Southern California. Including special music programs for kids.
Currently, Robert continues his trumpet studies under the direction of multi Grammy winning trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval. Robert has been a guest music instructor at public and private elementary schools and has done workshops & performances in several colleges.
He has also produced a series of play along books called "The Gospel According to Smooth Latin Jazz" combining the styles of Latin, jazz , and R&B rhythms together, to create a unique way for instrumentalists to enjoy worship songs with more freedom.
Robert is Music Director for the Southern Pacific District of the Assemblies of God and Director of Music & Worship, along with his wife Carmen in Riverside, CA. In addition, he works for the Poway Unified School District as Assistant Director of Bands, conducting Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra.