Chamberlain High School Bands 2018-2019 

MEET OUR STAFF

Mr. Fanara grew up in Binghamton, New York and moved his freshmen year to Florida to attend St. Augustine High School. While in High School, he marched two years with the DCA Sun Devils Drum Corps where he played lead Mellophone. He began his college career at the Florida State College at Jacksonville where he studied under Mr. John Thomas and Dr. Paul Weikle for two years and acquired his Associates in Arts with Honors. He continued his education at the University of North Florida School of Music where he graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education with honors. He studied under Dr. Michael Bovenzi on Saxophone and conducting under Dr. Gordon Brock. At UNF he was featured as a performer at the 2017 UF Saxophone Summit, sat as Principal Saxophone of the Wind Symphony both years, and was one of the winners of the UNF Concerto Competition.

During this time earning his degree, he also had an extremely active career in teaching music in the entire Northeast region of Florida being a clinician at multiple high school and middle school bands. His most prominent roll was at Duncan U. Fletcher High School as the Woodwind Specialist. During those two and a half years, he coached the Fletcher Saxophone Quartet to State Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessments receiving a Superior rating, taught over 15 private lesson students, two of which making the FMEA All-State Symphonic Band, and was a part of bringing the Marching band to FMBC finals for the first time in school history.

Brass/Visual Technician - Oscar Gonzalez 

Known for his love and passion for the tuba, Oscar is the newest addition to the Chamberlain Band of the Mighty Chiefs as the brass technician. 

Oscar is a graduate of Gaither High School and is attending The University Of Tampa to study Music Education and minor in Business. Oscar has field experience in a hefty supply of musical mediums - marching band, jazz band and wind ensemble. His most recent performances with Gaither's Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble received the highest possible marks at state MPA. 

As an active musician in the Tampa area, Oscar has been a part of the All-County Honor Band for the past three years, earning second chair for two years and first chair most recently, he's participated in Festival of Winds and Bay Winds for all four years and received multiple high marks at District 7 Solo & Ensemble.  

Percussion Technician - Daniel Melendez 

Daniel earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Florida's Music Flagship Program under the direction of Charlotte Mabrey.  While attending, Daniel was a member of the UNF Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Chorale, Chamber Singers, and Percussion Ensemble.  In addition, Daniel participated in the 2013 Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar featuring lectures, master classes, and concerts from world renowned marimbists such as Leigh Howard Stevens, Michael Burritt, Bob Becker, Gordon Stout, and Kevin Bobo.

Professionally, Daniel pursues a career as a private music educator, composer, and music arranger.  Daniel’s musical arrangements have been featured in Allen D. Nease High School’s 2012-2015 marching band shows, indoor percussion's 2013-2015 shows, and J.P. Taravella High School’s 2015-2016 marching band shows.

In 2016, Daniel’s started Dexterity Music, LLC expanding his private lesson studio servicing middle and high school band programs in the Hillsborough County area.

Daniel is currently the percussion caption head, front ensemble coordinator, and percussion arranger at Chamberlain High School.