About Us

Desert Vista High School is a 5A senior high school serving the South East Valley area in the Tempe Union High School District. The Band Program participates in the AMEA North-Central region and includes many diverse groups, such as Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensembles, Marching Band, Jazz Bands, Steel Drum Bands, Winter Drumline, Fall Guard, and Winter Guard.

DV Band is supported by the Desert Vista Band Boosters, a non-profit organization of volunteers who lend their time and talents, not only to raise funds, but also for supporting tasks such as equipment transportation, uniform alteration, photo and video production, meal provisions for game days, etc.

Director of Bands
Music Caption Head / Woodwind Caption Head
MKrill@TempeUnion.org

Michael Krill also directs the Jazz Program at Desert Vista High School and the Marching Band. Mr. Krill has been arranging the brass and woodwind music for DV Marching Band since 2005. He was also the director of the Akimel A-al Middle School Bands from the 2000-2001 school year through the 2021-2022 school year.

Mr. Krill is an active performer in the Phoenix Metro area. Performing experiences include Broadway show orchestras, and free-lance work with local jazz and salsa bands. Mr. Krill currently performs regularly with DH4 (The Dave Henning Quartet), The MCC Red Mountain Big Band and The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

Director of Percussion
Front Ensemble Instructor
ViLopez@TempeUnion.org

Vicente Lopez earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Percussion Performance from the University of Arizona. Mr. Lopez earned his teaching certificate in Texas, and has most recently been the Director of Percussion for Bel Air High School in El Paso, TX.

A Tucson native, Vicente is a former Director of the University of Arizona Drumline, and has also served as a judge for AZPAS festivals and regional band auditions. He has worked with Dark Sky Percussion, Pueblo, CDO, Rincon/University, Empire, Cienega, Sabino, and Mountain View High Schools. In 2001-2003, he marched The Academy on the same Drumline as Mr. Morales.

Battery Caption Head
Phil Edwards

Brass Caption Head
Tristan Jagielko

Guard Caption Head
Keith Casey

Visual Caption Head
Jeff Whipple

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