Music Teacher Bios

Our Music Teachers – listed by schools

                                               Band                                 Orchestra                                       Guitar

Bear Canyon                 Zach Saccomano                                                                         Rachael Padworski

Copper Mesa                    Donnie Lemley              Zach Saccomano                               Andrew Boyce

Northridge                                                                                                                      Andrew Boyce

Saddle Ranch                   Donnie Lemley

Trailblazer                        Rachael Padworski

Stone Mountain                                                                                                                Andrew Boyce

Rock Ridge                     Rachael Padworski             Zach Saccomano                             Rachael Padworski

Zach Saccomano

Orchestra and Guitar

Zach’s musical journey commenced when he started playing the violin in fourth grade. Playing the violin opened his mind to the dynamic sound-scape of classical music; immediately the prospect of composing music became irresistible. In high school he began the piano and studied composition, jazz, and orchestration with Denver-based musical phenomenons R.J. Miller (MSCD) and Drew Morrell (CU).

After high school Zach attended Berklee College of Music majoring in musical composition with an emphasis in film composition. He has privately studied composition with Alla Cohen, Yakov Gubanov (pupil of Dimitri Shostokovich), and Greg Fritze. He also studied conducting with David Callahan (pupil of Leonard Bernstein and Sir Colin Davis). He has had several orchestral, chamber, and vocal compositions performed by professional ensembles and is a working concert and film composer. Zach has also written in a wide variety of genres for films including jazz and songs. 

Zach currently resides in Denver and is passionate about transmitting the energy of the arts to young musicians through education. In addition to teaching with Springboard, he tutors high school and college students in music theory and teaches piano privately.   Zach can be contacted at zsaccomano@springboardschool.com. 

Zach’s orchestra ensemble will utilize the Strictly Strings Book 1.  His guitar ensembles will utilize Essential Elements for Guitar Book 1: Comprehensive Guitar Methods. These can be purchased at local music stores or online at www.amazon.com

Rachel Padworski

Band, Orchestra, and Guitar 

Rachel is a fun, creative, and passionate music teacher.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with concentrations in Performance and Education from Eastern University in St. David’s, Pennsylvania. Rachel taught general music to the second and third grades in the Cherry Creek School District at Coyote Hills Elementary School and is currently teaching private music lessons through TakeLessons.com.

Rachel has performed on the flute, her main instrument, for 15 years in numerous ensembles, concert bands, orchestras, and marching bands, such as the Susquehanna University Honors Band, Wind Ensemble. She has been featured as a soloist in several ensembles at Eastern University as well as in the Denver, Colorado community. In addition to her love for the flute, Rachel has performed as a bassoonist with the Owen J. Roberts High School Concert Band, sung Soprano with Calvary Baptist Church of Denver Choir, directed Cedarville United Methodist Children’s Choir, and directed Calvary Baptist Church of Denver Adult Hand Bell Choir.

Rachel brings a wide array of creative techniques for learning and motivation to Springboard’s Music program.  She can be contacted at rpadworski@springboardschool.com.

Rachel’s ensembles will utilize the Essential Elements 2000 Method Book for elementary students.  This can be purchased at local music stores or online at www.Amazon.com. 

Andrew Boyce

Guitar

Andrew Boyce graduated in 2004 from the University of North Texas in Denton with his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at UNT Andrew was involved in the jazz lab band program there as well as immersing himself in many of the Jazz classes UNT had to offer. At UNT, Andrew had the opportunity to learn from such jazz notables as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Dave Douglas, Maria Schneider, John Stowell, Bob Brookmeyer, Ben Monder, Jimmy Heath, Freddie Bryant, and many more.  During this time, Andrew gained valuable experience teaching private guitar, bass, and improvisation lessons, orchestra, and elementary general music. 

Andrew has been teaching privately for fifteen years. Andrew’s performing career has included performances in New York, the Czech Republic, Texas, Oklahoma, and throughout Colorado and the Denver area. He has performed at such venues as Dazzle Restaurnt and Lounge, The D Note in Arvada, the Fox Theater in Aurora, the Greeley Jazz Festival, and the OK Mozart music festival to name a few. Andrew can be heard regularly playing in restaurnts and clubs playing solo or in a variety of groups. Andrew has also been hired in a professional capacity to perform in various pit orchestras for musical theater shows thoroughout the Denver area. For a current schedule of Andrew’s performances check his website at www.andrewboyce.net . 

Andrew has completed graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado, and has extensive private study with master musicians/teachers Dale Bruning and Art Lande. Andrew is a member of the Music Educator’s National Conference, as well as the local chapter of the organization.   Andrew can be contacted at aboyce@springboardschool.com.  

 Andrew’s guitar ensembles will utilize the Phase One Method Book by William Leavitt.  This can be purchased at local music stores or online at www.Amazon.com

Donnie Lemley

Band 

Mr. Lemley grew up in Kansas, where he went to Kansas State University to receive his bachelor’s degree in music education.  From there he was the head band director for four consecutive years with grades 5-12 at Basehor-Linwood schools in Basehor, KS (just outside of Kansas City).  He continued his education to receive a master’s degree in music performance on the trumpet at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. 

Donnie moved to Denver in October of 2009.  He is a fan of movies, live concerts, traveling, hiking, fishing, skiing, and pretty much anything to do with the mountains.

Donnie is very excited for the Springboard program to begin in Denver and can be contacted at d_lemley@hotmail.com.  

Donnie is very excited for the Springboard program in Denver.  His students will need a band notebook (any rule and/or size) for assignments and notes, a pencil, and the method book Accent on Achievement Book 1, which can be found at Flesher-Hinton Music Company (303) 433-8891 or online at www.Amazon.com.