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 for the Jazz Education Network John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year Award in 2023.
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 in a row. 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.
