Our Directors

DR. RUSSEL GAVIN has served as Director of Bands at Stanford University since 2017. His previous professional experiences include teaching middle and high school band, serving on the music faculty of Baylor University, serving as Corps Director for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and cofounding the music tech startup JackTrip Labs. Dr. Gavin has demonstrated a commitment to understanding and utilizing the power of music to improve the lives of students and audiences alike, with a special focus on accessibility and trying new things.

In addition to his role as the Dr. Arthur P. Barnes Director of Bands at Stanford University, Russ currently serves as CEO of Vanguard Music and Performing Arts (Santa Clara Vanguard) and maintains an active schedule as a researcher and clinician. He holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University, a Master of Music in Euphonium Performance from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University. He has presented educational clinics at dozens of state, regional, national, and international conferences, and his publications have appeared in the Journal of Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Music Education, Psychology of Music, the Journal of Music Teacher Education, the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Southwestern Musician, and the Florida Music Director.
 
Russ lives in Saratoga, California with his wife Erin, their four children, three cats, and two dogs.

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RACHAEL VEGA is the Associate Director of Bands at Stanford University. She holds Master of Music Education and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Florida State University. Prior to her appointment at Stanford, she served as the Director of Bands for Wakulla Middle School in Crawfordville, FL, and as the Primary Years and Middle Years International Baccalaureate Program Music Instructor (K-8) and Band Director (4-12) for Alto International School in Menlo Park, CA. During her time at Alto, she also served as the Department Head of the Arts and IB Self-Study Committee Chair. Rachael has presented at the California All State Music Educators Conference, and is an active member of Women Band Directors International, California Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. In addition to her role with the LSJUMB, Rachael is an appointed lecturer at the Graduate School of Education in support of the Peer Bridge Counseling Center at Stanford University.