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Mr.
Fox: Band Director
by Katherine Wittig, Managing Editor
Though not new to the halls of El Segundo High this school year, Mr.
Steven Allen Fox is beginning the school year as the ESHS Band's
director. He took this position last November as a temporary fill-in
for the position, and is fortunately with us still. In the time he
has been here, already Mr. Fox has been a great help to the band,
and his experience in music and directing certainly qualify him to
be the best possible leader for the band at this point.
In a short period of time, Mr. Fox has already
significantly improved the performance and effort of the band.
During the few weeks immediately after he came to ESHS, he pushed
the band to work hard to improve its musicality and marching style
for El Segundo's Annual Christmas Parade. He was able to leap right
in and help the band improve without delay. Only a few months after
he arrived, the band was able to achieve a gold rating at the Forum
Music Festival which it attended in March. A stunning achievement,
this award is due as much to Mr. Fox's direction as to the students'
hard work. In March 2007 the band will compete against other bands
that have earned gold ratings.
Mr. Fox is an incredibly skilled conductor, and has had
a very broad experience with conducting and directing various
musical groups. He is the Founding CEO, Conductor, and Director of
the Golden State Pops Orchestra, as well as the Director and
Conductor of the El Segundo Concert Band. Guest-conducting with the
City of Prague Philharmonic, the USC Symphony Orchestra and Wind
Ensemble, and several other musical groups around the South Bay, Mr.
Fox certainly reached many achievements.
Before coming to California, Mr. Steven Fox also worked
in Illinois to accomplish his musical goals. Born and raised in
suburbs of Chicago, he began studying music at the age of ten. This
conductor-to-be began his musical studies with trombone and piano,
and through increasing interest in these instruments he was able to
cultivate a deep passion for music. At Illinois State University,
Mr. Fox continued to work with music and earned a degree in Music
Composition and Theory. At this point he went on to study music at
the University of Southern California for an Advance Studies
Certificate in Film and Television Scoring.
His music career thus includes composition with a
specialty in film and television scores. Mr. Fox's major works
include scores to "The Artist" and "The Clever Barber." He has also
scored music for the feature length films "Damnation of Souls,"
"Children of the Road," "Urban Nightmare," and "Wally Sitch Jr.,
Private Dick." He composed a television promo for the show "Alias."
Aside from film music, Mr. Fox's other compositions include a piece
called "Vertigo" for solo piano, which was inspired by the 1989
tornados in Illinois. Another piece is "Love is…" which was
dedicated to his wife. Mr. Fox performed this piece at his wedding.
In addition to composing these pieces, Mr. Fox has also conducted
some of them. He has recorded at the Paramount Studios "Stage M" as
well as George Lucas' legendary "Skywalker Sound."
So what if he writes music? What does that have to do
with directing and conducting the HS Band? He also professionally
conducts and plays both trombone and piano. Immediately following
his graduation from high school, Mr. Fox played in Drum Corps
International (essentially, professional marching band) in a corps
called the Cavaliers. His experience in marching is extensive, and
his knowledge and skill is greatly helping the band. Mr. Fox
actually wrote the marching drill sets (the cool patterns) that the
band is doing this year.
Mr. Fox is involved in and connected to many performing
groups within the area, including directing and conducting GSPO (of
which he is the Founding CEO), El Segundo Concert Band, the Sharp
Sounds Big Band, as well as our beloved High School Band director.
He also served as Associate Conductor to the "Illegitimate Symphony
Orchestra," an orchestra in Illinois.
The ESHS Band is very happy to have Mr. Fox here
directing, leading, helping, and guiding us to success, fun, and
good music. His wide range of musical experience, his skill and
dedication, and his leadership all make Mr. Fox a wonderful band
director. We are happy he decided to continue work with the HS Band
this year.
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