Staff

Ben Hunter - Director

Ben Hunter is an award-winning music teacher who has both taught and played trumpet professionally in the local Orange County area. Mr. Hunter was a recipient of OC Parenting Magazine’s Top 10 Teachers in Orange County award in 2020. Mr. Hunter has also received the Orange County Music and Arts Administrator award.

Mr. Hunter held the trumpet chair and served on the Board of Directors for Newgate Music and Arts non-profit organization that promoted new music composed specifically for each performance. Mr. Hunter has also conducted and facilitated different honor bands in the Orange County area.

Greeting from Mr. Hunter!

My name is Ben Hunter and I am honored and excited to introduce myself as the new Instrumental Music Director at Foothill High School.

I come to Foothill from down the street at Red Hill Lutheran School where I founded the Instrumental Music program 12 years ago and fostered its growth into the program it is today.

I grew up in southern Orange County and picked up the trumpet for the first time in 5th grade. I played trumpet in any ensemble I could get myself into throughout middle school, high school, and college. From Concert Bands, Marching Band, and Orchestras to Brass Quintets, Pit Orchestras, and contemporary music groups, I took my trumpet everywhere! Music played a key role in my upbringing and I am excited to help Foothill students foster a love for music and experience all that Instrumental Music has to offer. I believe in holding a high bar but having fun while doing it!

Apart from teaching music I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three kids as well as our two pugs! I like to grill and smoke meat and I love the community building that goes along with a good meal! I am a self-proclaimed “nerd” and enjoy different genres of fun. I may be a Hufflepuff, Alliance Main, and Star Wars fan, but Lord of the Rings played a large part in our wedding and my wife and I cut our cake with a replica of Sting! Luckily it was not glowing blue.

Ali Stanley - Colorguard Instructor

Ali Stanley was a member of Color Guard and Winter Guard teams throughout high school, and now serves as the Foothill High School Color Guard and Winter Guard artistic advisor. When not directing the art of tossing flags, rifles, and sabres, Ali volunteer ushers at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a fun way to see her favorite musicals.

Brady Nguyen - Battery Tech/Show Composer

Brady Nguyen serves as the battery coach, percussion caption head, and composer for the FHS Marching Band and Indoor Drumline. He brings over a decade of experience performing and teaching across Southern and Central California, from high school marching bands to acclaimed big bands, musical pit orchestras, percussion ensembles, and more.

As a composer, his works have been recognized and awarded at local, regional, state, and national levels, including first place in California for music composition and fan favorite with the American Drum Line Association.

Shannon Moore - Front Ensemble Tech

Shannon Moore is a Foothill alumni pursuing Music Education at Cal State Fullerton. With an associates degree in music from Riverside City College, he has had a multitude of experience performing with different ensembles such as their concert band, wind ensemble, jazz band, pep band, percussion ensembles, and the RCC Marching Tigers, serving as a member of their front ensemble for three years.

Shannon has taught private percussion and drumset lessons for 7 years and works at School of Rock Tustin. When he is not teaching, he likes hanging out with his cats and drinking Diet Coke.

Branden Gu - Drum Major/Visual/Drillwriter

An alumni of FHS, Branden is a professional drum major who has been coaching drum majors in all disciplines at various high schools for the past 6 years. They are currently a drum major adjudicator and COO for the Student Academy of Musical Leaders.

In addition to coaching for multiple marching band programs, Branden is also a full time math teacher and is an avid rock climber.

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