meet our Band Directors

San Luis Obispo High School 

Many of the current statistics in support of music education measure the value of music education in terms of its effect on student performance in school. These statistics focus on how the study of music will help students in other subjects such as math and reading, or generally help students to succeed in school and reduce the dropout rate. Other studies have shown greater GPA and higher SAT scores of music students. Though these attributes are commendable, the value of music education must not rely on them solely. Music making is a unique and special experience that intrinsically justifies it as its own academic subject.

Musical skill can best be developed if study is begun at an early age and continued through adolescence. As an expressive art, instrumental music requires growth in physical, intellectual, emotional and aesthetic areas. Through its study/performance, we are able to discover, share, express, and know about aspects of the human experience that we cannot know through any other means.

Music is a unique mode of knowing and a universal language. Musical potential is one of the basic abilities/instincts that exist in every human being. Music exalts the human spirit and enhances the quality of life. The vast and unique ability of music to improve the quality of life has too often been underemphasized or overlooked entirely in discussions of the value of music study. It brings joy, pleasure, and solace to men, women, and children in every society and every culture. That’s why it has played such an important role in every known civilization. And that’s why it will continue to do so far into the future.

Thank you for supporting and defending music education in your community.

Sharon Jeskey sjeskey@slcusd.org

Director of Bands

San Luis Obispo High School 

Laguna Middle School

Mr. Kutch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Education from UCLA. He received Magna Cum Laude honors at UCLA. He holds  a Master's of Education from ASU, he specialized in learning design and applied behavior analysis. Mr. Kutch holds a Single Subject California Teaching Credential (music). Mr. Kutch privately studied trumpet under Jonathan Dane, Jim Mooy, and Jens Lindemann. Mr. Kutch marched lead trumpet in the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, marched on scholarship for the UCLA marching band. 

Mr. Kutch has played with many award winning ensembles, such as the lunch break jazz band, the UCLA trumpet and brass ensembles, and the UCLA wind ensemble. Mr Kutch has been teaching in SLCUSD since 2019. In his first four years, Mr. Kutch taught at four elementaries, Pacheco, Baywood, Monarch Grove, and Del Mar. Mr. Kutch has taught as Laguna and Los Osos since the 23-24 school year. Thus far, the middle schools have participated in competitions at Cal Poly, worked with many clinicians from around the state, performed at Universal Studios, and has performed at Knott's Berry Farm. 

When Mr. Kutch is not busy, he likes to hike, rock climb, play video games, and spend time with his son Jack, his wife Hailey, and his dog Odin.

​Making the world a better place is his mission, and music is the tool he uses in hopes to accomplish that. 

Troy Kutch: tkutch@slcusd.org

Band Director

Laguna Middle School