Curtis Gaesser
Curtis Gaesser retired in 2023 after 39 years of teaching. He started teaching in the Folsom/Cordova School District in 1984 and taught at Folsom High School from 1987 to 2023. He taught Marching Band, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Choir, three Jazz Bands, Concert Band, Color Guard, and Drumline. Curtis received the Folsom Cordova School District “Teacher of the Year” in 1990 and 2011. He was the ‘California State Jazz Educator’ of the Year in 2003. In 2008, he was awarded the “Annual National Achievement Award in Jazz Education” by Downbeat Magazine, and in 2008 the “Music Achievement Award” by Sacramento News and Review. The city of Folsom presented him with the “Person of the Year” award in 2001. In 2016 he was awarded the ‘Most Outstanding” Teacher award from the city of Folsom, and the Northern California Band Directors Association ‘Most Outstanding Educator Award’. In 2017 he was awarded best “Music Educator” for Northern California by the California Music Educators Association.
Curtis Gaesser was a top 10 finalist nominee for the Grammy Educator Award in 2018 and was the recipient of the Jazz Education Network John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year Award in 2023. He was recently inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Education Hall of Fame and the California Alliance for Jazz Hall of Fame.
Curtis started the Folsom Jazz Festival in 1989 and it is now the largest educational Jazz Festival in California.
Under Curtis’ direction, the Folsom HS Jazz Band A has been awarded ‘Best High School Jazz Band’ 17 times by Downbeat Magazine since 1993, including the last 16 of 18 years. The Folsom HS Jazz Choir I have won “Best High School Vocal Jazz Group” 26 times since 1994, including the last 24 years in a row.
The Jazz Band also won sweepstakes as the best Instrumental group at the Reno Jazz Festival 7 times and the last 6 years in a row. The Folsom High School Jazz Choir has won sweepstakes at the Reno Jazz Festival 13 times as the best Vocal group.
The Jazz Band has won the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival twice as the best Jazz Band in 2013 and 2020. The group has made the finals as the top three thirteen times since 1990. The Band has performed as an artist at the Monterey Jazz Festival 13 times since 1992.
The Jazz Choir has won the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival 16 times since 1993. They have performed as an artist at the Monterey Jazz Festival 23 times.
The Jazz Band and Jazz Choir have been a part of the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival from 1997 until 2020 when the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival came to an end.
The Folsom High School Jazz groups have performed throughout Europe 5 times since 1997.
Gaesser’s Final Folsom High School Concert
Curtis Gaesser was the recipient for the Jazz Education Network
2023 John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year Award
The Jazz Education Network and Berklee College of Music collaborate to present the John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year award. The award is named after the legendary jazz educator, John LaPorta, and recognizes an outstanding elementary, middle, or high school educator with a focus on jazz education, who represents the highest standards of teaching and whose results in the classroom have brought distinction to their institution and their students. Curtis Gaesser was presented with this award at the 2023 Jazz Education Network Conference.
Curtis Gaesser was nominated as one of 10 finalists for the
2018 Grammy Music Educator Award
Selected from over 2,300 nominees from across the country, to say we are beyond proud is an understatement. Mr. Gaesser has dedicated over 33 years of teaching excellence in music education and has mentored thousands of music students who win at the highest levels year after year -- in 3 Jazz Bands and Jazz Choir, Marching Bands, Concert Bands, Orchestra, and Jazz Combo groups. Setting winning aside, and straight from the mouths of current and former students, Mr. Gaesser changes lives. Thank you to Mr. Gaesser for his continued dedication to the students and to excellence in music education. Congratulations!