Concert Band Director

Jeff Chariker is currently the Creative Arts Pastor at Faith Bible Church in Glendale, AZ. He has held this position for 23 years and served as the primary worship leader for 18 of those years. He now oversees the worship arts ministry and all areas of communication for the church. Jeff received his B.S. degree in Music Education from Grand Canyon University in 1990 where he sat principal horn in the Wind Ensemble for four years and was a tenor section leader in the university’s choral groups. Following graduation, he taught choral and instrumental music in the public school system. In addition, Jeff spent 6 years as a professional musician in the Valley gigging as an accompanist for all-state choral events and local high school groups, maintained a private piano studio, served as a choral and instrumental clinician and co-wrote/performed an original show funded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts. He has also been invited as a tenor soloist for orchestrated classical masterworks as well as been the lead singer of a rock and roll cover band. He is comfortable playing/singing Chopin to Coltrane to Chicago. Jeff lives in Peoria with his wife Samantha (a public school fine arts administrator) and have adult twin sons. Jeff is an avid woodworker in his free time and generally loves to create using his hands.

Jazz Band Director

Kristen Brock grew up in Glendale, Arizona, and received a Bachelor of Music Performance from Northern Arizona University. During middle school and high school, Brock studied for 7 years with saxophonist and clarinetist, Anita Handelsman, as well as 2 years with saxophonist, Tony Vaca. During college, Brock studied for 5 years with renowned saxophonist, Dr. Jonathan Bergeron and took a private baritone saxophone lesson with baritone specialist, Noah Bedrin. Brock performed baritone saxophone in the NAU Jazz ensemble I for 7 years, under the direction of Joel DiBartolo and Chris Finet. Throughout high school and college, Kristen was also a member of the Arizona Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. for 6 years.

Ms. Brock has over 15 years of experience teaching private lessons on saxophone, flute, clarinet, French horn, and trumpet and has put on various woodwind clinics and masterclasses in Flagstaff and the Greater Phoenix Area. Brock is currently the Woodwind Technician for Verrado High School in Buckeye, AZ, under the direction of Tracy Meldrum. Kristen has also taught for 9 years as a Marching Instructor and Saxophone Technician for the Rincon/University High School Summer Marching Band Camps, under the direction of Jeff Marchant and 1 year with the Deer Valley HS Marching Band under the direction of Evan Dixon. During the 2017-2018 school year, Brock was also the K-5 General Music Teacher for Palms Christian School in Surprise, AZ.

Kristen has performed with many famous musicians, such as The Temptations, The Brubeck Brothers, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Bobby Shew, Dave Pietro, Conrad Herwig, Jim McNeely, Andy Martin, and Brice Winston.