Full Time Music Faculty
John Knu
tson
Performing Arts Division Chair
Director of Choral and Vocal Jazz Program
John Knutson is Director of Choral Studies at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA. He is a former member of the professional vocal jazz ensemble Vocalogy, formed by Phil Mattson in 1998. Before moving to California, John taught at Southwestern Community College in Iowa. While at Southwestern, he performed all over the US and Europe with the award-winning vocal jazz group VoicesIowa. Prior to that John lived in New York City, where he taught vocal music at JHS #263 in Brooklyn, and performed with the acappella cabaret group, the QuintEssentials. The Cuesta College ensembles John directs have performed at the Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans in 2017, and in Reno in 2019. They have been headliners at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival several times, and also headlined the 2009 California Music Educators Convention. His classical choir received 2nd place at the Vokal Total Festival in Austria against professional choirs from Europe and Asia. Under his direction, the Cuesta Chamber Singers performed at the Festival International Choral en Provence in four times since 2008. Other prestigious performances include the American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Los Angeles, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the International Association for Jazz Education Convention in Toronto. He directed the California All-State Vocal Jazz Choir, and in was named Cuesta College’s Teacher of the Year. John has served as a clinician at jazz and choral festivals in 18 states, and in five Canadian provinces. John has numerous choral compositions; his vocal jazz arrangements are available through UNC Jazz Press and Anchor Music Publications. John holds a Masters in Conducting degree from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelors in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota. jknutson@cuesta.edu
Jennifer Martin
Director of Instrumental Music, Conducting, Low Brass, Music Theory, Guitar, Cuesta
Wind Ensemble,
Jennifer Martin joined the Music Faculty at Cuesta College in the summer of 2004 as the conductor of the Cuesta Wind Ensemble. In addition to her conducting duties, she coordinates the department's Applied Music program, teaches Beginning and Intermediate Guitar, and Music Theory. She served as the Performing Arts Division Chair from 2008-2016, and has served as the Coordinator of the Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CPAC) since 2009. Ms. Martin is also the Conductor of the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra and Central Coast Gilbert & Sullivan. She has guest conducted wind bands and orchestras, and served as clinician and adjudicator in several states. Previous to her appointment at Cuesta, she was the Music Department Chair at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, NV, where she was the founding faculty of the Music Department. In 2003, she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for the state of Nevada. jmartin@cuesta.edu
Ron McCa
rley
Cuesta Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Jazz Improvisation, Music Theory
Ron McCarley is the Director of Jazz Studies at Cuesta College where he has built
the program up to include two big bands and eight combos. His bands have received
many awards under his direction. He has been teaching college level jazz for 20 years
and has judged at many festivals including the Reno International Jazz Festival and
the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival and presented at CMEA, JEN and NFA about
jazz education. A saxophone player and a doubler, he does studio work, appears as
a featured artist and plays around Central and Southern California. Some of the musicians
he has performed or recorded with are: Diane Schuur, Manhattan Transfer, The Temptations,
Hanson, Adam Benjamin, Larry Koonse, Darek Oles, and Charlie Shoemake. He recently
recorded a CD of Brazilian chore music called Choro de Ouro. He and his wife, Laura,
live in Morro Bay with their four children. rmccarle@cuesta.edu
George Stone
Recording Arts, Music Theory, Jazz Arranging and Composition, Jazz Piano, Jazz Trumpet
George Stone has enjoyed a substantial career in music performance, composition, arranging and education for 36 years. He directs the Audio Technology Program at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA, where he was a recipient of the Cuesta College Outstanding Academic Employee and Teacher of the Year award.
His 30-year career as a festival adjudicator and clinician has included the CMEA, CBDA, SCSBOA organizations, and he has appeared as guest composer/conductor at countless colleges and universities throughout the country. He has conducted jazz honor bands in California, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, and most recently the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He has adjudicated literally hundreds of jazz festivals everywhere and is commissioned regularly by all levels of performing bands to compose new music for jazz ensemble. His compositions and arrangements are published worldwide.
Prior to education, George worked as a musician and composer for live shows and television and has composed for CBS, NBC, HBO, The Tonight Show, Disney, Encompass Productions and Canterbury Productions. He is an in-demand recording engineer and producer and performs regularly as a jazz pianist.
