Who We Are

Dr. Jeff de Seriere

Dr. Jeff de Seriere is the Director of Large Instrumental Ensembles at Cabrillo College, where he conducts the Symphonic Winds & Symphonic Orchestra, and teaches courses in music theory, music history, and chamber music. He also serves as the Music Director of the San Francisco Brass Band and the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony.

Prior to moving to the Central Coast, de Seriere served as Interim Director of Bands and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Wartburg College (IA). From 2012-2016 he served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, CA where he assisted in running the award-winning Monsoon Marching Corps, Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. In 2014, he began teaching at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA leading the Symphonic Band, coaching chamber ensembles, teaching music theory, and eventually becoming the coordinator of the nationally recognized Frederick Fennell Wind Studies Program. From 2017-2020 he served as Director of Instrumental Music at the newly-established California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) in Duarte, CA. During his tenure as Director of Instrumental Music at CSArts-SGV, he conducted the Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Strings, and Musical Theatre Ensemble. Under his direction, the ensembles at CSArts-SGV gained recognition as “Superior” ensembles at local and regional music festivals. The Musical Theatre Ensemble was also nominated for the “Best Student Orchestra” award for their 2018 production of Pippin and 2020 production of In the Heights by the John Raitt Awards for Youth. While teaching at CSArts-SGV, de Seriere was also a lecturer in music education at California State University, Long Beach from 2018-2020. In 2021, de Seriere was recognized with the “Rising Star” award in music education by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association. As an adjudicator and clinician, de Seriere has adjudicated for the California State Band Championships, CMEA Concert Festivals, and numerous middle and high school ensembles throughout California, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. A passionate enthusiast of the wind band repertoire, de Seriere has presented sessions for music educators on repertoire and programming at SCSBOA and CMEA conferences.

In 2014, de Seriere was named one of seven finalists in the National Band Association’s Young Conductors Mentor Project. In that same year, he made his international conducting debut with the CSULB Wind Symphony in Seoul, South Korea. In the summer of 2015, de Seriere was chosen as one of six conductors to conduct The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”. In 2016, de Seriere, and his professional brass ensemble, True Brass Choir, performed as a featured ensemble at the California All-State Music Education Conference in San Jose, CA. From 2018-2021, he served as the Music Director of the Symphonic Winds of the Pacific. In 2021, Jeffrey was chosen as one of 12 Conducting Fellows in the Midwest Clinic’s Reynolds Conducting Institute where he worked with H. Robert Reynolds and Craig Kirchhoff and conducted members of the United States Army Field Band. A strong advocate for new wind band repertoire, Jeffrey has commissioned/co-commissioned numerous works for winds, and considers his collaborations with composers to be some of the most meaningful musical relationships he’s been fortunate to create.

Dr. de Seriere received the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach where he studied conducting with John Alan Carnahan and saxophone with James Barrera. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Dr. Mallory Thompson.

Dr. de Seriere holds active memberships in the College Band Directors National Association and California Band Directors Association where he currently serves on the Executive Board.