Staff

Joe Kelly - Director

Joseph Kelly is a 2000 graduate of San Jose State University with a bachelor’s in French horn performance with an emphasis in music education. In 1998, he was hired to coach the marching band at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale and was hired in 2000 to the full-time staff shortly after receiving his Teaching Credential from SJSU. In his time at Fremont, the instrumental program has expanded from about 34 students to well over 100 students consistently in three Concert Bands, two String Orchestras, Marching Band, Winter Guard, Winter Percussion, and Jazz Band. The groups consistently receive high ratings at festivals, competitions and concerts.

Professionally, Mr. Kelly Currently serves as the Treasurer for the California Music Educators Association Bay Section representing 9+ counties of the greater bay area. He also served as the Vice President (4 years) , President (3 years) and Past-President (4 years) of the Santa Clara County Band Director’s Association helping to run and organize the annual County Honor Band and is the current site host for the annual honor band auditions in January. In 2006, Mr. Kelly Guest conducted the Lake & Mendocino Counties Honor Band up in Ukiah.

Mr. Kelly still performs on a regular basis on both his French Horn and conducting. He is the current Principal Horn player for the Cambrian Symphony Orchestra and a section member of the San Jose Wind Symphony. Additionally, he performs numerous musical theater productions in the south bay, primarily with South Bay Musical Theater, West Valley Light Opera, and Sunnyvale Community Players. He is a two-time TBA (Theater Bay Area) Finalist as “Best Music Director” for his music direction in SBMT’s 2018 production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and SBMT's 2019 production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." He is also a member of the “4+1 Brass Quintet” and “SUITE Woodwind Quintet.”

He lives in Sunnyvale with his wife, Deborah, and his two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Sophia. He remains forever grateful of their unending support.

Jenny Ugale - Music Caption Head

Jenny Ugale (they/them) is a Bay Area native, born and raised in San José, and a product of public education having attended De Anza Community College, Ohlone Community College, and San José State University. They have been a lifelong participant of music and an admirer of the greater world of performing arts, formally introduced to the arts at a young age of five through ballet and piano lessons. Jenny had a solid musical foundation by the time they wanted to learn clarinet and saxophone in middle school and admittedly only learned sax to go on the Disneyland trip with the jazz band. Being a part of a highly competitive marching program in high school, Jenny fell in love with the combination of physical, mental, and musical challenges of the activity. Had Jenny not experienced the level of artistry that was a product of camaraderie, perseverance, and commitment to excellence, Jenny would not have discovered their passion of building community through music.

Although Jenny’s dream to give back to their community as a public school music director has been diverted, their passion for building community has not waned. They hope to inspire students to not only have an unyielding appreciation of the arts, but to become members of their community that are: confident in themselves and the skills they can contribute, mindful and caring of others, critical thinkers who are curious about the world, and people who are willing to learn and grow.

When Jenny is not engrossed in teaching, music administration, performing, or supporting other artists, they can be found hiking in the wilderness (barefoot, depending on the season and company) or basking in the warm California sun at local parks with a book in hand. They also spend their time exploring coffee, milk tea, and mom-n-pop food shops throughout the Bay--Recommendations are always welcome!

Shean Mao - Visual Caption Head

Sam Shi - Percussion Caption Head

Garrett Moya - Color Guard Director

Garrett Moya began his color guard journey as a freshman at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, California, during the 2011 winter season. What started as an opportunity to perform alongside his best friend—someone he has known since the second grade—quickly became a lifelong passion.

After graduating from Fremont High School, Garrett marched with Dynasty Winter Guard in San Jose, California, during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, contributing to back-to-back California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC) Independent Open Class Championships. In the summer of 2016, he joined the Blue Devils B Corps, earning a DCI Open Class Championship. Garrett concluded his marching career by aging out with the Blue Devils A Corps in 2017, helping the organization capture its eighteenth DCI World Class Championship. He later returned to the floor with Imbue Winter Guard during the 2020 winter season.

Garrett's teaching career began in 2014 as a color guard technician at Westmont High School in Campbell, California. In 2016, he returned to his alma mater, Fremont High School, as a color guard technician before becoming Color Guard Director in 2018. During the summer of 2020, he also served as a virtual instructor for the Blue Devils B Corps. Since 2021, Garrett has been a color guard technician at Dublin High School in Dublin, California. In recognition of his dedication to students and the color guard community, he was honored with the California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC) Teresa Moura Director's Award during the 2024 winter season.

Outside of color guard, Garrett earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University in the spring of 2020.

Now entering his eleventh year with the Fremont High School Color Guard program, Garrett is grateful for the opportunity to lead the program where his own journey began. He remains committed to creating a positive, challenging, and rewarding experience for every performer and looks forward to continuing the program's growth in the 2025–2026 school year and beyond.

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