Martin Rhees - Director

Music educator and active Los Angeles freelance hornist, Martin Rhees has been Director of Bands at Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Eastvale, California) since 2019. Mr. Rhees holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education from the California State University, Fullerton. Mr. Rhees completed postgraduate work at the University of Southern California, earning a Master of Music degree in Horn Performance.  His principal teachers were Todd Miller, Vincent DeRosa, and Dale Clevenger.

As a music educator, Mr. Rhees began coaching brass chamber music in public schools in 1982. He was one of only four brass staff of the world-renowned Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps of Santa Clara, California. In his first year teaching the corps, Mr. Rhees helped the Vanguard to win the 1989 Drum Corps International World Championship with a record setting high score. He was the Head of Brass Instruction for the Tenrikyo Aimachi Band of Nagoya, Japan where the band won six All Japan National Championships- and tied on score for another- in only one decade. At that point, these were the first such titles in the group’s 60-year history. Prior to arriving at ERHS, Mr. Rhees was the Director of Instrumental Music at Herbert Hoover High School of Glendale, CA., a program of only 100 total musicians populating two concert bands, jazz, string orchestra, marching band, basketball band, winter drumline, and color guard. In his ten years leading the program, the Hoover Tornado Marching Band won the California State Band Championships four consecutive years, topping bands many times their size, and maintaining a winning streak within their division of nearly five years.
As an active freelance hornist, Mr. Rhees has toured around the world and has performed with many renowned ensembles. Among these are the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Grant Park Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, Millar Brass Ensemble, Dallas Brass, and additionally has recorded in every major studio in Los Angeles.  He is currently the Principal Horn of the San Bernardino Symphony, a position he has held since being appointed in by the music director in the orchestra’s 2009 season.

Mr. Fritz is an outstanding educator with over 15 years’ experience as a Band Director in the Southern California area. Currently Director of Bands at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, CA., Mr. Fritz has most recently taught at Vista Murrieta High School & Azusa High School, where his students consistently receive high marks at festivals and parades and are frequent participants in honor bands throughout the state.
As Staff Director and Brass Caption Head at Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Bill leads a talented group of music educators who are committed to performance excellence! Bill has taught at Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps and Academy Drum & Bugle Corps and has performed with Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps and as a member of the 2007 World Champion Blue Devils. Mr. Fritz obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education along with a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance from California State University, Fullerton, studying under the direction of Mr. James Rotter. He earned his Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from California State University Fullerton, under the mentorship of Dr. Mitch Fennell. Bill currently resides in Pomona, CA with his conductor wife, Dr. Christine Lundahl and their pitbull, Xena.