Newport Harbor Instrumental Music
Newport Harbor Instrumental Department
Music Director
For the 2019-2020 school year, Andy Julian is the new Instrumental Music Director at Newport Harbor High school. He was the Instrumental Music Director at Trabuco Hills High School for 5 years. An Orange County native, Andy Julian is in an alumnus of Mater Dei High School (1996); the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A. Music, 2001), and California State University, Long Beach (Teaching Credential, 2005). Andrew is completing his master’s degree in Conducting at the American Band College of Central Washington University. Andrew has been teaching high school instrumental music since 2001. He has taught at Mater Dei, Long Beach Poly, Northwood in Irvine, and Laguna Hills High Schools. As Instrumental Music Director at Trabuco Hills High School, Andy oversaw all instrumental music: the award-winning Thundering Mustangs Marching Unit, Winter Percussion Ensemble, Color Guards, and conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensembles, String Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra. In 2007, Andrew was nominated for the distinguished Orange County Department of Education’s Art Teacher of the Year Award.
Percussion Director
Wes Pohlman is our Percussion Director, leading NHHS Drumline Winterline to the highest level ever this past 2019 season as ADLA Finalists!
Color Guard Director
Jesse Rivera is a color guard instructor who was born in Whittier, California.
Rivera has dedicated the past twenty years teaching and spreading his passion of the art of colorguard. Jesse’s passion and enthusiasm for this sport has enabled him to expand his horizons as an instructor. Jesse has taught in various high schools in the past years such as Sierra Vista High School, Anaheim High School, California High School, La Serna High School, Pioneer High School, and is currently teaching at Newport Harbor High School. Jesse’s experience extends beyond teaching high school guards. Jesse has participated in various Drum Corps as well. This instructor was the Equinox winter guard director/instructor in the year 2005, the Impulse Drum Corps tech in 2007, and the Dream Drum Corps in 2004. Other Drum Corps Jesse has taught include the Enora winter guard, Incognito Drum Corps, as well as being the flag tech for Kennedy. However, in order to gain his knowledge for everything in the spectrum of guard, from equipment manipulation to dance techniques, Jesse has to experience it firsthand before beginning his journey as an instructor. Jesse participated as a performer in the SoCal Coop Winterguard as well as in the Dream Drum Corps. Overall, Jesse is an understanding and passionate instructor who commits himself to transmitting his love for guard to his students.
