Composer(s) / Arranger(s):
Gary P. Gilroy
Performance Time: 3:40 | Grade: 3 | Style: Contemporary
The Explorers was commissioned by the La Joya Middle School (Visalia, California) Advanced Band, Steve Sprague, Conductor, to commemorate the school’s twentieth anniversary.
La Joya Middle School first opened its doors to students in the fall of 1994. Currently, La Joya Middle School is home to about 1,000 7th and 8th grade students, with approximately 60 staff members. La Joya was named a California Distinguished School in 1996. The school has embraced a space theme and in recent years has welcomed visitors from the National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Rockwell. Those visitors include NASA astronaut and commander of Apollo 13 Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., USN; Dr. Sally K. Ride, the first woman in space; former Calif. Congressman Cal Dooley; and Malian astrophysicist Dr. Cheick M. Diarra
Mr. Sprague is a graduate of California State University, Fresno where he studied euphonium and conducting with Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland. He has enjoyed a successful career as a California music educator as Director of Bands at Dinuba High School and La Joya Middle School where he currently teaches the Advanced Band, Intermediate Band, Beginning Band and Jazz Band.
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