Instrumental Music Department
San Clemente High School
Antonio
Soto Bio
Antonio
E. Soto, instrumental Music Director, holds a Bachelor of
the Arts degree in Music Education from California State
University, Fullerton. Soto completed his credential work
at Savanna High School (Anaheim, CA), under director Brian
Belski, and at Brookhurst Junior High, under director Steven
Kraus.
Percussion is Soto’s main instrument and has studied under
Tom Miller (Principal Timpanist with the Pacific Symphony
and an active Hollywood movie studio musician), Paul Kreibich
(Cannonball Adderley Project, active LA and OC jazz musician),
Jeff Ellwood (Alan Pasqua Jazz Collective, Jazz Director,
Mt. San Antonio College), Luther Hughes (Cannonball Adderley
Project, active LA and OC jazz musician), Charles Tumlinson
(Jazz Director at CSU, Fullerton), and Jim Lorbeer (Opera
Pacific Orchestra and Director of Music at Portola Middle
School, Orange,CA).
Mr.
Soto grew up in Norwalk, CA and played tenor saxophone,
marimba, and snare drum in the marching band. One of his
high school friends was the son of famous Latin musician
Pancho Sanchez, who became his favorite jazz artist. Though
his father wanted him to become a mechanic like himself,
Mr. Soto chose music as his career.
Soto has a wide range of performance experience, performing
with CSUF’s Symphonic Band, Jazz band I and II, percussion
ensemble, various jazz combos, varsity band, and guitar
ensembles. Outside of CSUF, he has been part of a 12 piece
Latin Dance Ensemble which played all over north Orange
County. He is also fluent in other genres of music such
as jazz, Latin jazz, salsa, and pop music. He has performed
alongside many famous jazz musicians such as Poncho Sanchez,
Andy Marin, Conrad Herwig, Buster Williams, Francisco Torres,
and Allen Vizutti and is currently being mentored by Dio
Saucedo (George Benson band, professor at CSUF) in the area
of performance.
At
home, Mr. Soto is an avid magician, wonderful cook, and
is addicted to the Food Network. Soto also is a DJ at weddings
and other formal gatherings and has worked at a music shop
in Yorba Linda repairing saxophones and clarinets (and the
occasional drum or two). Music is his favorite hobby (obviously).
He is the possessor of several Latin percussion instruments
including a well loved set of timbales.
While
student teaching in north county, Mr. Soto was informed
of an opportunity in San Clemente. Interviewed by Barbara
Scholl, the district’s music department head, and Pete Jackson,
SCHS’s former music
director, Soto became Jackson’s assistant.
Mr.
Soto became SCHS’s full time music director starting in
the 2009-2010 school year. He teaches Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble,
Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Marching
Band, and IB Music.
Antonio
E. Soto, instrumental Music Director, holds a Bachelor of
the Arts degree in Music Education from California State
University, Fullerton. Soto completed his credential work
at Savanna High School (Anaheim, CA), under director Brian
Belski, and at Brookhurst Junior High, under director Steven
Kraus.
Mr.
Soto grew up in Norwalk, CA and played tenor saxophone,
marimba, and snare drum in the marching band. One of his
high school friends was the son of famous Latin musician
Pancho Sanchez, who became his favorite jazz artist. Though
his father wanted him to become a mechanic like himself,
Mr. Soto chose music as his career.
Sanchez,
Andy Marin, Conrad Herwig, Buster Williams, Francisco Torres,
and Allen Vizutti and is currently being mentored by Dio
Saucedo (George Benson band, professor at CSUF) in the area
of performance.
music
director, Soto became Jackson’s assistant.