Desert Ridge High School Band
Home of the Jaguars marching band, proudly serving the Mesa, Arizona community since 2002. Our award-winning program is ranked among Arizona's top marching bands, consistently placing in the top 5 Division III bands statewide and competing at the highest levels in AZMBA and ABODA circuits.
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Meet our Staff
Alyssa Lambert-Garcia is a colorguard choreographer, technician, and clinician in the Phoenix area. After performing with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, The Academy Winterguard, The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, and Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band, Alyssa returned to colorguard as an instructor. Over the past 15 years, Alyssa has taught at high schools across Arizona, as well as The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, and Fenix Independent Winterguard. She currently serves as the Desert Ridge High School Colorguard Caption Head. In 2023, Alyssa was named the WGAZ Director of the Year.
Alyssa graduated from Arizona State University with both a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting and works as a Certified Public Accountant. As a graduate of Desert Ridge, she is excited to continue to work with the team that gave her a start in colorguard!
Brandon Clark (he/him) started his music journey at 8 years old, taking piano lessons from a local teacher. It wasn’t until experiencing middle school band as a trombone player when his love for the performing arts really took off. Brandon switched to tuba his freshman year of high school and has since taken off as a performer and musician. He currently resides in Mesa, Arizona as he starts his first year as a band teacher for Kerr and Eisenhower Elementary Schools.
Brandon has been lucky enough to receive a wide variety of performance opportunities. While in high school, he performed with the school’s top concert band, jazz band, and marching band, earning superior ratings as well as a championship title and multiple music caption awards. He recently ended his marching career, having been a performing member with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from 2020 to 2023, with the group being Drum Corps International World Championship Finalist both competitive seasons that he was a member. During his time with the Blue Stars, Brandon acted as section leader for his last season and was a performing member when the organization received its highest score in corps history. Brandon also performed frequently with the ASU Wind Symphony and Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble.
As a young music educator, Brandon aims to make the performing arts as valuable and enriching for his students as it was for him. He has had the privilege of teaching for multiple award-winning schools/groups in and around Phoenix, including Foreword Indoor Winds, Millennium High School, Sandra Day O’Connor High School and Desert Ridge High School (2023 State Champions and Music Caption winners). In 2024, Brandon was invited back to the Blue Stars as a tuba technician where he continues to teach at the world class level.
When not busy teaching or working, Brandon loves to read, attend live music and performances, and spend time with his friends and family.
J.J. likes to be on the bleeding edge of technology, and tries to find ways to adapt them for any group he is involved with, making sure it enhances the performance of the ensemble.
He is the audio engineer for Vision Percussion, Carolina Crown, and high schools around the valley.
J.J. is currently a music educator in the Mesa Public Schools system in Arizona. J.J. earned his Bachelors’ degree in Music Education from Arizona State (2009), and a Masters in Conducting from Colorado State (2016).
Travis Larson believes in the power of music to change lives. His passion for music can be traced back to his earliest childhood, when he listened to records non-stop — eager for the day he could finally sign up for band class and learn to play an instrument himself. He first caught the marching arts bug in 1989 as a member of the Velvet Knights, later aging out with the Blue Devils in 1996.
For over 30 years, Travis has worked with many band programs, encouraging young people to pursue music. He serves as brass instructor, program coordinator, wind composer/arranger and consultant for several high-profile band programs in Arizona, including Millennium, Mountain View, Williams Field, Red Mountain, Peoria and Desert Ridge high schools. His ultimate goal is to provide a high-quality marching band experience, promoting musical values and arts education.
Born and raised in Mission Viejo, California, Travis was a member, then brass instructor for the Mission Viejo High School Marching Band from 1992-2005. In that time, the ensemble achieved great success, winning two state championships and multiple high music trophies.
In 1998, Travis was a brass staff member of the Jim Ott Brass trophy-winning Blue Devils. He later joined the brass team for The Cadets from 2014-2016, winning the high brass trophy at the 2015 DCI World Championships. From 2017-2019 Travis joined the new brass team at the Boston Crusaders and helped build some of the most successful horn lines in their history.
Travis received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Grand Canyon University in 2016. He is currently the band director at Mendoza Elementary and Shepherd Junior High School in Mesa, Arizona.
Travis resides in San Tan Valley, Arizona with his wife, Ann, their two children, TJ and Ava, and their Chihuahua Axl.
**Wardell King** is a seasoned independent music educator, arranger, consultant, and performer, with over 30 years of expertise, particularly in marching percussion. He currently serves as the percussion caption head and arranger for Desert Ridge, Red Mountain, Campo Verde, Mountain View, and Millennium High Schools in Arizona. In addition, he is the Founder and Executive Director/Caption Head of Vision Percussion Indoor Drumline, which has achieved finalist status at the Winter Guard International (WGI) Independent Open Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Wardell also holds the position of Percussion Liaison on the Winter Guard Arizona (WGAZ) Board of Directors.
A versatile educator, Wardell has previously served as a percussion caption head, arranger, and clinician for numerous Arizona high schools. He extends his expertise to concert percussion and jazz band rhythm sections, helping students achieve success at regional and All-State levels. Wardell has also worked as a marching percussion specialist at Northern Arizona University and with The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.
As the owner of King Percussion LLC, "Championship Concepts For Percussion," Wardell has collaborated with various groups locally and nationally, offering his expertise in both marching and indoor percussion. His career, spanning over three decades, includes working with more than 25 different programs at the high school, collegiate, and drum corps levels. His percussion arrangements are celebrated for seamlessly blending concert and marching techniques to elevate the overall musical score.
Wardell’s teaching philosophy focuses on instilling life lessons through the discipline of music and dedicated practice. His influence reaches beyond the classroom, making him a sought-after adjudicator on both local and national levels.
In addition to his educational endeavors, Wardell is a skilled performer with a strong foundation in jazz, performing regularly as a member of the W Quartet in the Phoenix area. He also offers private lessons in rudimental drumming and drum set performance for students of all ages and skill levels.
In 2022, Wardell, alongside his wife Brandy, was inducted into the Winter Guard Arizona (WGAZ) Hall of Fame.
Wardell proudly endorses Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals, Pearl Drums, Remo Drumheads, and PreSonus Audio. He resides in Gilbert, AZ, with his wife, Brandy, and their son, Miles.
Luz Riviera has been involved with the Arizona color guard circuit since 2015, and teaching at high schools across the valley since 2020. She is now a professional dancer as well as an advocate for youth via Winter Guard International and in-state nonprofits. While Luz keeps a busy life, in her downtime she enjoys reading, antiquing, sewing, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and cuddling with her cat, Bert.
David Larkins is an Arizona native, a Gilbert Public Schools student, and has been an educator since 2019. He has been serving the marching band as the Assistant Marching Band Director since 2022, while also being the Band Director at Desert Ridge Junior High School. Mr. Larkins holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Arizona State University, and also attended Mesa Community College. He has worked with many marching bands around the valley, serving as a brass instructor, visual instructor, choreographer, assistant band director, music arranger, and drill designer. Mr. Larkins has also worked with the following independent organizations: The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, Vision Percussion, and Linea Percussion.
Mr. Larkins was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014-2015, the SCV International Taiwan Tour in 2015, and the Phoenix Suns Drumline 2015-2016.
2024 DRHS Mystery on the Ridge
Our marching band had an outstanding 2024 season, earning top honors at regional competitions and festival performances. The dedication of our students and staff paid off with multiple first-place trophies and superior ratings. We're incredibly proud of how our musicians, color guard, and drumline came together to deliver championship-level performances throughout the year.