Director of Bands ~ Brant Stai has been the Director of Bands at Sherwood High School since 2013 where he directs the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Bowmen Band (Freshmen), and the Jazz I Ensemble. Additional responsibilities include coordinating chamber music ensembles, coordinating jazz combos, directing the Basketball Band, and playing a role on the design team for the Sherwood Marching Band.
Mr. Stai earned his Masters in Music Education in 2008 from the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon. He earned his bachelor degree in Music Education in 2003, and his teaching credentials in 2004, from the University of Oregon. He is a member of Oregon Music Education Association, the Oregon Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu. He served as President on the executive board of the Northwest Association for the Performing Arts from 2017-2020 and as Past President from 2021-2022. In 2015, he was selected by the Portland Youth Philharmonic to receive the Mary Dodge outstanding music educator award. In 2022, he received a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association for his work with the Sherwood High School Wind Ensemble.
In addition to his teaching schedule, Brant Stai enjoys serving as a guest clinician for local bands, adjudicator at local festivals, and serving as a staff member at several camps in the Portland & Salem area. Brant lives in Sherwood with his wife Katrien, and three children Jack, Grace & Dean.
Email: bstai@sherwood.k12.or.us
Percussion Director & Fall Program Coordinator ~ Jeff Bush – Jeff is an educator and arranger in the marching, concert and drum set percussive arts. For over 25 years he has been the director of percussion for many of the top high school and independent percussion programs around the Northwest. Jeff’s passion in music is centered around inspiring and teaching others the joy and self-worth that playing music can bring.
Jeff attended the University of North Texas where he was a member of the PASIC Champion UNT Drumline in 1988 and 1990. He is currently the Director of Percussion at Sherwood High School and music/visual designer for West Salem and Westview High School. In addition, Jeff keeps an active private studio in drum set, concert and rudimental percussion.
Previous drum corps credits include work with the Marauders, River City Railmen, Seattle Cascades and Oregon Crusaders. Jeff marched in the Marauders from 1982-1987 and the Blue Devils in 1990. He is also the founder of the Oregon Crusaders Indoor Percussion Ensemble as well as the co-founder of the indoor drumline circuit in the Northwest.
Jazz Instructor ~ Nathanael Ankeny is a saxophonist and passionate music educator. He is an Assistant Professor of Music George Fox University, where he directs the jazz ensemble and teaches applied saxophone and other courses. He is also the director of the Sherwood High School Jazz Ensemble II. Nathanael enjoys teaching private lessons for saxophone, clarinet, and jazz improvisation, and is a regular clinician and adjudicator at area schools and festivals.
Nathanael attended Whitworth University, earning a BA in both jazz and classical saxophone performance. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in music from Eastern Washington University.
Nathanael has received recognition for his playing in various idioms, and has played professionally with the Bob Curnow Big Band, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, and the Soundstage Rhythm Orchestra. He has shared the stage with jazz musicians such as Kenny Garrett, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, Robin Eubanks, Byron Stripling, John Clayton, Matt Wilson, Benny Green, and Terence Blanchard. Nathanael currently performs in the greater Portland area with various jazz groups and as a leader of his own jazz combo, and resides in Newberg with his wife and three children.
Sherwood Bands 