A 1984 Coolidge High School graduate, Mr. Anderson returned to Coolidge High School as Director of Bands in mid-September of 1991. He also taught class piano, high school choir, junior high choir, and beginning band classes. Over the course of the next 11 school years, the Coolidge High School Band program grew to include a symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Pep Band. Over time, the number of students involved in the music programs at Coolidge High School grew to over 200 students and over 400 from the 5th grade beginning program through 12th grade. By the fall of 1998, the Coolidge High School Marching Band reached 130 winds, percussion, drum majors, and auxiliaries.
From 1991-2002, the band program earned numerous Superior, Excellent, and Good ratings in Symphonic and Marching Band Festivals, including 8 consecutive appearances at the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association State Marching Band Festival. The marching band also won ‘caption awards’ for outstanding musical performance, marching performance, auxiliary performance, and drum major performance. In the fall of 1997, Mr. Anderson was awarded the “Director’s Award for Outstanding Overall Musical Performance” at the Flowing Wells Invitational Marching Band Festival. In addition, the Coolidge High School Marching Band earned only one of 5 “Outstanding Musical Performance” caption awards in Division I at the State Marching Band Festival in 1998. Over the course of Mr. Anderson’s years as director, numerous students earned individual “Superior” and “Excellent” ratings in solo and ensemble competitions. Many Coolidge High School students, through difficult audition processes, also earned acceptance into the Regional Honor Bands and All-State Honor Bands.
During his tenure at Coolidge High School, Mr. Anderson led Coolidge High School Band students in over 500 performances, including concerts, parades, marching band competitions, concert festivals, Jazz festivals, half-time shows, pre-game shows, commencement ceremonies, solo competitions, individual auditions, pep bands, and pep assemblies – including a performance on Main Street USA at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1999.
In addition, Mr. Anderson directed the Coolidge High School and Junior High School Choirs, taught class piano, beginning band, and the color guard.
Mr. Anderson co-founded, with other graduates, the Coolidge High School Alumni Band and has maintained it on a semi-annual basis since 1984.
Over the years, Mr. Anderson taught in the Scottsdale Unified School District, Gilbert Public Schools, Central Arizona College, and Brighton-Hove, England.
