Simi Valley Music is about creating a place where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged through music education. Our goal is to not just make students better musicians, but to make each student that passes through this program into better people.

Join instrumental music at Simi Valley High.

Be part of something great.

Instructional Staff

Director

Mr. Shea Johnson has been the director of instrumental music at Simi Valley High School since 2024. He graduated first from San Marcos High School in 2017, where he was a member of the renowned Knight Regiment for 4 years. During high school, he was also a member of the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2016 season, where he received the Dr. Martin Rochford award for excellence in a first year member.

After High School, he attended California State University Northridge, from 2017-2024, where he received both his undergraduate degree in Music Education, and his single subject teaching credential in Music. During his time at Northridge, Mr. Johnson was a member of the Wind Symphony, where he was the principal chair of the ensemble’s trumpet section his senior year. He was also a member of the Wind Ensemble, Jazz “B” Band, Studio Ensemble, and was the principal chair of the Symphony Orchestra’s trumpet section for the 2019-2020 school year. Outside of teaching music, Mr. Johnson enjoys spending time outdoors, visiting San Diego, where he grew up, and watching lots of TV and Movies.

Assistant Director

Mr. Daniel Pracher is a socal native and alumnus of Van Nuys High School and UCLA where he earned his B.A. in music performance on trumpet with Jens Lindemann, Calvin Price, Bobby Rodriguez, and Bob Karon. He was a member, section leader and soloist with the 7 time DCI champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from 1997-2002. After spending several years teaching English in South Korea and volunteering in New Zealand, was the music director of the Simi Valley High School music program from 2012-2018. He was the music teacher at Arthur E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas from 2018-2024. He has and loves teaching beginning to advanced wind bands, string orchestras, choirs, jazz ensembles, and marching ensembles. He can most likely be found somewhere in the Santa Monica Mountains with his dog Clara, or on his enduro bike, or onewheel, coming back from the beach or headed to a Dodger game when not making music.

Coaching Staff

SVHS is currently looking for coaching staff for Orchestra, Jazz, and Concert Band.

Marching Band Staff

Visual Caption Head

Brenden Yee is the Hillside Instrumental Music Director and has been involved in the marching arts for 15+ years. He has taught at many high schools throughout Southern California and am currently on the visual staff for the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps. I love teaching students to reach their fullest performative potential through the medium of visual and musical performing arts. Being involved in this activity and craft has been the most transformative experience in his life, and he looks forward to sharing that experience with our students here at Simi High.

Percussion Caption Head

Mr. Andy Greenberg is a world class percussion instructor, hailing from our local Chaminade Preparatory Academy. He has performed with groups such as Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps, the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, and Pulse Percussion, where he was a WGI world champion.

In addition to performance experience, Andy has a bachelor’s degree in Percussion performance from California State University Northridge, where he Aaron Smith.

Colorguard Caption Head

Enya Whitelock has been in the color guard work for 5 years, including being a two time gold medalist with Castaic High School Color guard, once in SCSBOA and once in WGASC. In addition to being the Caption Head here at Simi, Enya is a member of the instructional staff for Saugus High School’s noted program.

Other Staff:

Rie Aoyama is a middle school instrumental music director entering her 10th year of teaching music. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education from UCLA and a Master's in Music Education from American Band College through Central Washington University. While she started as a flute player, Rie has coached various woodwind instruments through music camps, private lessons, and inter-district coaching. As a music director, she can comfortably teach and play all wind, brass, and string instruments. 

Dayanara Azpeitia is a music educator based in Los Angeles, California and is a graduate of Music Education from California State University Northridge. Her main instrument is tenor trombone, however she has experience playing bass trombone, euphonium and violin. She has been a part of the Cal State Northridge National Association for Music Education Collegiate Chapter and served as the brass representative in 2025-26. She has been continuously teaching as a visual and brass coach at Simi Valley High School for the marching band program since Fall 2022. Dayanara’s primary instructor is currently Dillion MacIntyre but has previously studied with Paul Radke. She is continuing her education after recieveing her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, and is in pursuit of her teaching credential.

Throughout her career, Dayanara has been a part of multiple ensembles including Concert Band, Chamber Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Mariachi Ensemble, Choir, Jazz Band, Studio Ensemble and Marching Band. Apart from being in the Cal State Northridge music program, she has also been involved with the Pierce College Symphonic Band. Dayanara has participated in Drum Corps with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets and is a 2022 Open Class Champion. She has performed in the pit orchestra of two Cal State Northridge Spring Musical productions, Matilda(2025) and The Addams Family(2026). Dayanara is currently a part of the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra as a trombonist. 

Mr. Tobe Gragasin

Tobe Gragasin is a visual instructor at Simi High, with experience marching Drum and Bugle corps with Pacific Crest and the Cavaliers of Grossmont Illinois. In addition to teaching at Simi, Tobe works with various students in after school programs in the Santa Clarita area, as well as with Saugus High School’s Marching Band.