About our program
The Quail Lake Environmental Charter School Instrumental Music Program has earned its reputation in Sanger Unified School District for its achievement of excellence. Students in our instrumental music program uphold a high standard of musical performance and proper rehearsal and performance etiquette. Our top band, the Wind Ensemble, marked their place in local CMEA band festivals here in the Central Valley in the spring of 2023. They have received Excellent and Superior performance ratings which are the top two ratings that bands can receive.
Our instrumental music program is not only known for its standards of excellence, but for its sense of community within our school. Since 2017, the instrumental music program has grown from 65 members to nearly 100 members and we anticipate to have more growth every year. Since Quail Lake is a K-8 charter school, we have the unique opportunity to nurture our students, starting in kindergarten, to cultivate a love and appreciation of music from a young age. Students in our instrumental music program make up the largest co-curricular community here at Quail Lake Environmental Charter School.
About the Director
Joshua Witrado was born and raised in Fresno. He attended Clovis West High School, where he was involved in the Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Winter Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Witrado graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. While at Fresno State, he was the principal percussionist for the Wind Orchestra, assistant principal percussionist for the Symphony Orchestra, and principal percussionist for the Symphonic Band. He was also the president of the New Music Ensemble and the vice president of the Percussion Organization.
Throughout his time at Clovis West High School and Fresno State, Mr. Witrado performed in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Hawaii, and Indiana. During his senior year of high school, the Clovis West Wind Symphony was 1 of 16 high school concert bands in the country that was invited to the Music For All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. From 2019-2022, Mr. Witrado performed in the Wind Symphony of Clovis, a professional concert band that is comprised of some of the top musicians and music educators in the Central Valley.
While he was working on his teaching credential, Mr. Witrado was the percussion coach for the Youth Orchestras of Fresno and he was the interim band director at Sanger Academy Charter School. He is now currently in his seventh year as the 4th-6th grade music teacher and 5th-8th grade band director at Quail Lake Environmental Charter School.