Meet our directors
Mrs. Tamara A van der Paardt/Director of Bands
Bio - Mrs. Tamara Ann van der Paardt (formerly Schultz) is a native of Clovis, and a graduate of the Clovis Unified Schools, having attended Weldon, Clark, and finally Clovis High School, where she played clarinet and percussion in the Golden Cougar Marching band, symphonic band, and Jazz band (Class of 1978). After graduating from Clovis High, she went to Fresno City College where she studied under Gilbert Rodriguez, and then to CSU, Fresno, where she graduated with a BA in Music Education. During this time she studied with Sandy Schaeffer, Steven Schick, Joe Lizama and Karen Ervin Pershing at CSU, Northridge.
As a performer, she has been a percussionist with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra for the past 28 seasons and also performed with the Merced Symphony, Tulare Symphony, Bear Valley Symphony and the Fresno and Kingsburg Community Bands. She also is a free lance musician in the community and has backed up musical greats, such as Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, The Four Tops, The Canadian Brass, Doc Severnson, Steve Houghton, Bill Watrous, Carol Channing, Andrea Bocelli, Leonard Nimoy, and Buddy Childers.
As an educator, this is Tammy's 21th year in Clovis Unified, having spent 12 at Clark Intermediate with John Hackney, winning numerous superior ratings and awards with the percussion and jazz groups. Tammy became the Director of Bands at Reyburn Intermediate School when the school first opened it's doors in the fall of 1999. Under her charge, the school has consistently produced award winning, superior rated bands and ensembles, including the 2003 World Champion Class "A" Clovis East Winter percussion. Many of her former percussion students have gone on to become instructors at various jr. high and high schools through out the valley. Tammy is a member of FMCMEA and is presently serving as past- President of the CMEA-Central Section. She also has served on the advisory board for WGI (World Guard International). Tammy was also asked to conduct the FMCMEA 2008 Jr. High Honor Band.
Tammy is married to Pete, (also a music teacher in Clovis Unified) and has 3 children, Nicole, Melissa, and Andrew. Her hobbies include; home projects, decorating, gardening, traveling, and spending time with the family.
Mr. Ron Franklin/Orchestra Director
Mr. Pete van der Paardt/Webmaster/Husband/Father
Bio - Mr. Pete van der Paardt is a native of Fresno and a graduate of Central High School (Class of 1979). After high school, he attended Fresno City College where he studied trumpet under Mr. Robert Nielson and then finally to California State University, Fresno, where he studied with Dr. Ritchie Clendenin. He graduated in the spring of 1986 with a degree in Music Education. As a trumpet player he has performed with the Merced Symphony, the Fresno Community Band, Kingsburg Community Band, Clovis Community band, Reedley Community Orchestra, Tulare Symphony, was lead trumpet for the Statesmen Big Band for 10 years and still continues as a free-lance musician in the central valley. He has backed up and performed with many musical greats, such as Anna Maria Alberghetti, Daniel Valdez, Ritchie Cole, Bobby Shew, Mic Gillette, Steve Houghton and Bill Watrous. He now plays in the latin band " Revelacion Caribe".
As a conductor, he has directed orchestras for Center Stage (Clovis Community Theater) in productions such as "Stars and Stripes", "Fiddler on the Roof", Guys & Dolls", "The Music Man", " A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum", "Oklahoma", "Sound of Music" and (Clovis East High School) "Beauty and the Beast". Pete conducted the FMCMEA 2007 Jr. High Honor Jazz Band. Pete is a member of FMCMEA, IAJE and is currently the Band Representative for the CMEA CENTRAL SECTION BOARD.
As an educator, Mr. van der Paardt will be entering his 22nd year of professional teaching. He began his teaching career at Livingston Intermediate School in Livingston, Ca. After 3 years, he moved to Madera Unified and taught at Washington, Alpha, and Adams elementary schools as a instrumental/classroom music specialist for 7 years. Mr. van der Paardt came to Clovis Unified in the fall of 1996. He began teaching at Gettysburg Elementary, and later joined Clovis Primary. He was the band teacher for Clovis Elementary when it first opened in the fall of 1999. He joined the music staff at the Reagan Educational Center as the brass instructor in the fall/2002. His former students have gone on to become music teachers and performers through out California.
Pete spent 3 years as Director of Jazz Studies for Clovis East. Under his leadership, the Clovis East Jazz bands had consistently posted numerous superior ratings at jazz festivals as well as earning numerous individual awards. He is currently the band/choir/drama/music teacher at Reagan Elementary School and band/music teacher at Bud Rank Elementary He is also the webmaster for this site.
Mr. van der Paardt is married to Tammy and has 3 children, Nicole (CSU, Long Beach-Music Performance Major-French Horn & Bass) , Melissa (Clovis East), and Andrew (University High). His hobbies include: reading, golf, jamming with his son, movies, DVDs and watching his wife do home projects.