Homestead High School is a comprehensive public high school located in Cupertino, California, in the heart of the “Silicon Valley.” Homestead’s enrollment is approximately 2,200 students. Homestead has been honored as a “National Blue Ribbon” School and is proud of its diverse student population; over 14 languages are spoken in the homes of Homestead orchestra families.
Over 450 students are enrolled in the music program at Homestead which includes three concert choirs, two levels of orchestra, Technology-based Music Appreciation, Advanced Placement Music Theory, instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles, a world-class winter percussion ensemble, two levels of winter color guard, and four concert bands. The bands combine with the color guard to form the Homestead Mighty Mustang Marching Band, which performed in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, was a semi-finalist at the 2015 Bands of America Grand National Championship in Indianapolis, and performed in the 2018 Pasadena Rose Parade..
In addition to consistently earning high ratings at regional festivals, the Homestead Orchestra has performed in the following venues:
2022 Washington DC International Music Festival, Kennedy Center, Washington DC
2015-17 CMEA State Orchestra Festival, Mondavi Center, UC Davis
2015 Sounds of Summer Festival, Carnegie Hall, New York City
2014 Featured Concert California All-State Music Educators Conference, Fresno, CA
2007 New York Band and Orchestra Festival, Carnegie Hall
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John Burn is the Director of Bands and Orchestra and the Music Department Lead at Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he has taught since 1991. John is a Past-president of CMEA (California Music Educators Association), CBDA (California Band Directors), CMEA Bay Section, the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association, and the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival Board of Directors.
John has received several significant commendations including: 2019 Grammy Music Educator Award Semi-finalist; 2015 CBDA Distinguished Service Award; 2014 School Band & Orchestra Magazine’s California representative in their annual article, “50 Directors that Make a Difference”; 2010 CMEA California Band Director of the Year; 2009-2010 Homestead High School Teacher of the Year; and he is a 2009 Inductee to the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor.
John is active as a guest conductor for honor groups and summer music camps, and as an adjudicator for band, orchestra and jazz festivals. John is a contributing author in the book, Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra Volume 4.
Bands and orchestras under John’s direction enjoy performing at regional, state, and international festivals, including performances in the Musikverein in Vienna, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Under John’s direction the Homestead Marching Band has participated in the Bands of America Grand National Championships twice, and marched in both the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2011) and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (2018).
John holds a B.A. in Music Education from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, and graduated from the school where he now teaches, Homestead High. John lives in San Jose, with his patient and supportive wife, Allison.
about
the 50 state
string orchestra project
2022-2024
The 50 State String Orchestra Project is a large-scale consortium commission that is bringing new music to classrooms and concert halls all over the US in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, with educational and community orchestras in all 50 states commissioning a new piece for string orchestra, similar in difficulty level and scope to Stephanie’s 2011 work for string orchestra Beyond the Gate. Her consortium commissions for chamber music have already brought new string-centered music all across the world, from her 50 State Sonata Project for violin + piano, inspired by the work of her teacher John Kendall, and her World Sonata Project, which was commissioned by violinists from 35 countries in 2016.