Riverton High School
Jason Weimer - Director of Orchestra and Band
Jason Weimer is the Director of Instrumental Music at Riverton High School in Riverton, UT. He teaches two curricular symphonic bands, three orchestras, and AP Music Theory. As director he oversees the extra-curricular activities in the instrumental music department including the marching band and the winter colorguard. In addition he collaborates and coordinates program functions with the Director of Percussion and Jazz including concerts, fundraisers, tour/ travel and all other activities.
Over the past 7 years Riverton has seen remarkable success, qualifying for State Festivals in Band, Orchestra, Jazz, and Solo and Ensemble, in addition to winning a State Championship in marching band in 2013 and taking 3rd place in 2016, 2nd place in 2017, and 2nd place in 2019.
Jason serves on the Show Host Committee for the Utah Music Educators Association Marching Band Committee where he works with his peers on developing policy for the marching band circuit. He is a licensed adjudicator in the state of Utah for music festivals in addition to adjudicating for other extra-curricular marching arts events.
Jason's teaching experience extends to his graduation from high school when he began helping out with his alma mater. Since then he has taught at West Jordan, Copper Hills, Jordan, and Riverton High Schools as well as the University of Utah - Marching Utes and Weber State University Indoor Percussion.
Jason holds his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Utah and a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan. He has presented at the Utah Music Educators conference for three years as well as the Instrumental Music Teachers Educators conference in 2019 and the National Association for Music Education conference in November of 2020.
In his free time Jason's biggest passion is cooking for his wife Kari, he also enjoys playing flag football each spring, watching football in the fall, writing and arranging music, playing video games, and spending quality time with Kari and their dogs Sabine and Tillie.
Over the past 7 years Riverton has seen remarkable success, qualifying for State Festivals in Band, Orchestra, Jazz, and Solo and Ensemble, in addition to winning a State Championship in marching band in 2013 and taking 3rd place in 2016, 2nd place in 2017, and 2nd place in 2019.
Jason serves on the Show Host Committee for the Utah Music Educators Association Marching Band Committee where he works with his peers on developing policy for the marching band circuit. He is a licensed adjudicator in the state of Utah for music festivals in addition to adjudicating for other extra-curricular marching arts events.
Jason's teaching experience extends to his graduation from high school when he began helping out with his alma mater. Since then he has taught at West Jordan, Copper Hills, Jordan, and Riverton High Schools as well as the University of Utah - Marching Utes and Weber State University Indoor Percussion.
Jason holds his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Utah and a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan. He has presented at the Utah Music Educators conference for three years as well as the Instrumental Music Teachers Educators conference in 2019 and the National Association for Music Education conference in November of 2020.
In his free time Jason's biggest passion is cooking for his wife Kari, he also enjoys playing flag football each spring, watching football in the fall, writing and arranging music, playing video games, and spending quality time with Kari and their dogs Sabine and Tillie.
Chris Jessee - Director of Percussion and Jazz
Chris Jessee is the new Director of Percussion and Jazz at Riverton High School in Riverton, UT where
he teaches Percussion Ensembles 1-3, Junior Varsity Jazz Ensemble, Varsity Jazz Ensemble, and Guitar.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Utah State University. While at USU, Chris was
the Drum Captain for the Aggie Marching Band, Principal Percussionist for the USU Wind Orchestra,
and the Rhythm Section Leader for the Downbeat Award-Winning USU Jazz Orchestra.
As a private drum teacher, Chris has taught at Utah State University and KSM Music. He has taught as a Drumline Instructor at Sky View High School, Utah State University, and Riverton High School. While teaching at SVHS and USU, he arranged the percussion parts for the marching shows. He has adjudicated for the Utah Music Educators Association Region Solo and Ensemble in the northern Utah region.
As a percussionist and jazz drummer he has performed with Corey Christiansen, David Halliday, Jon
Gudmundson, Alex Heitlinger, Yi-Jan Rachel Liu, Mark Ford, Jason Nicholson, Salt Lake Symphonic
Winds, American Festival Chorus, Larry Smith Kicks Band, and Weber State Indoor Percussion. He has
performed around the states as well as Italy, Switzerland, and France.
Chris has received multiple awards from performing in the Utah Day of Percussion Solo Competitions. Those include: 1st place Drum Set (2019), 2nd place Orchestral Snare Drum (2019), 1st place Orchestral Snare Drum (2018), and 1st place Drum Set (2017). In his free time, Chris enjoys camping, fishing, hiking, snowboarding, and reading. He loves spending time with his wife, son, and dogs.
he teaches Percussion Ensembles 1-3, Junior Varsity Jazz Ensemble, Varsity Jazz Ensemble, and Guitar.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Utah State University. While at USU, Chris was
the Drum Captain for the Aggie Marching Band, Principal Percussionist for the USU Wind Orchestra,
and the Rhythm Section Leader for the Downbeat Award-Winning USU Jazz Orchestra.
As a private drum teacher, Chris has taught at Utah State University and KSM Music. He has taught as a Drumline Instructor at Sky View High School, Utah State University, and Riverton High School. While teaching at SVHS and USU, he arranged the percussion parts for the marching shows. He has adjudicated for the Utah Music Educators Association Region Solo and Ensemble in the northern Utah region.
As a percussionist and jazz drummer he has performed with Corey Christiansen, David Halliday, Jon
Gudmundson, Alex Heitlinger, Yi-Jan Rachel Liu, Mark Ford, Jason Nicholson, Salt Lake Symphonic
Winds, American Festival Chorus, Larry Smith Kicks Band, and Weber State Indoor Percussion. He has
performed around the states as well as Italy, Switzerland, and France.
Chris has received multiple awards from performing in the Utah Day of Percussion Solo Competitions. Those include: 1st place Drum Set (2019), 2nd place Orchestral Snare Drum (2019), 1st place Orchestral Snare Drum (2018), and 1st place Drum Set (2017). In his free time, Chris enjoys camping, fishing, hiking, snowboarding, and reading. He loves spending time with his wife, son, and dogs.
Hidden Valley Middle School
Taylor Ashcraft - Director of Instrumental Music
Taylor Ashcraft is the Director of Instrumental Music at Hidden Valley Middle School in Bluffdale, Utah. He is very excited to have the opportunity to open a brand new school alongside Max Meyer. Taylor is primarily a Trombone player, but has performing experience with Trumpet, Tuba, Euphonium, Percussion, and Choir.
Formerly, Taylor was the Director of Bands at West Jordan High School from 2017-2020. While at WJHS, he taught 2 levels of concert bands, jazz band, percussion ensemble, beginning percussion, marching band, and AP music theory. Under his direction, the program was able to qualify for State Band and State Jazz festivals for the first time in over 15 years, place 4 students in the Utah All-State Band, grow the marching band by 20% in 2 years, and won a state championship in UCGC Winterguard (2018-19 school year). He is proud to have been the director of the students of West Jordan and they will always hold a special place in his heart.
Taylor currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University. In his free time, Taylor enjoys Utah Jazz basketball, playing video games, riding his motorcycle, hiking, snowshoeing, camping and generally getting outdoors. He is married to his wonderful wife, Sabrina. Together, they have three dogs, Sophie, Milo, and Millie.
Formerly, Taylor was the Director of Bands at West Jordan High School from 2017-2020. While at WJHS, he taught 2 levels of concert bands, jazz band, percussion ensemble, beginning percussion, marching band, and AP music theory. Under his direction, the program was able to qualify for State Band and State Jazz festivals for the first time in over 15 years, place 4 students in the Utah All-State Band, grow the marching band by 20% in 2 years, and won a state championship in UCGC Winterguard (2018-19 school year). He is proud to have been the director of the students of West Jordan and they will always hold a special place in his heart.
Taylor currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University. In his free time, Taylor enjoys Utah Jazz basketball, playing video games, riding his motorcycle, hiking, snowshoeing, camping and generally getting outdoors. He is married to his wonderful wife, Sabrina. Together, they have three dogs, Sophie, Milo, and Millie.
Oquirrh Hills Middle School
Eric Perkins - Director of Band
James Eric Perkins is a product of the Granite School System, where he attended Churchill Junior High and Skyline High School. He was an avid member of the band programs at both schools. Eric attended the University of Utah where he met his wife in the Marching Band. In his time at the U of U he participated in numerous musical ensembles including the Olympic Spirit Band during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Eric earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2002, immediately followed by earning his Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting in 2004.
In 2004, Eric began teaching at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. Since starting at Oquirrh Eric has been granted the Riverton City Choice Award in 2008, and was named one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine in December 2011. Eric was a recipient of the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence In Arts Education in 2018. Enrollment in the instrumental music classes has continually grown under his instruction.
Eric is also an advocate for Technology in the classroom. In 2017, he earned his Google Level 1 and Level 2 Certifications. In 2018, Eric earned an endorsement in Educational Technology because he wanted to show that technology could be effectively included in the 21st century music classroom. In 2019, Eric was asked to be the Digital Teacher Leader at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. He is currently working on his ISTE Certification and Adobe Campus Leader.
Professional organization memberships include the National Association For Music Education (NAfME), National Band Association, Utah Music Educators Association (UMEA), the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and a membership with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Eric currently lives in Kearns, with his loving and talented wife Jenni, and their three amazing children Micah, Hyrum and Alyce. Eric would like to thank his previous teachers for their instruction and support. Eric would also like to thank his administrators for their continued support of music education.
In 2004, Eric began teaching at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. Since starting at Oquirrh Eric has been granted the Riverton City Choice Award in 2008, and was named one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine in December 2011. Eric was a recipient of the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence In Arts Education in 2018. Enrollment in the instrumental music classes has continually grown under his instruction.
Eric is also an advocate for Technology in the classroom. In 2017, he earned his Google Level 1 and Level 2 Certifications. In 2018, Eric earned an endorsement in Educational Technology because he wanted to show that technology could be effectively included in the 21st century music classroom. In 2019, Eric was asked to be the Digital Teacher Leader at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. He is currently working on his ISTE Certification and Adobe Campus Leader.
Professional organization memberships include the National Association For Music Education (NAfME), National Band Association, Utah Music Educators Association (UMEA), the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and a membership with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Eric currently lives in Kearns, with his loving and talented wife Jenni, and their three amazing children Micah, Hyrum and Alyce. Eric would like to thank his previous teachers for their instruction and support. Eric would also like to thank his administrators for their continued support of music education.
