Desert Mountain High School Instrumental Music Staff
Mr. Bryan Hummel-Director of Band and Orchestra
Desert Mountain High School Instrumental Music-Teaches IB Music, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Symphonic Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble.
Bryan Hummel is a Phoenix-based percussionist, music educator, and designer of marching arts activities. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He obtained his Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University.
He was the previous Front Ensemble Director at Arizona State University. He is currently the Front Ensemble Music Design/Program Coordinator for Breakthrough Indoor Percussion.
Bryan remains active in arranging and composing percussion scores for Marching Band, writing for indoor percussion ensembles, arranging Front Ensemble music for the Sun Devil Marching Band, and composing/designing wind books for Marching Band productions.
He has worked with many local Marching Band programs. Currently, he designs for Higley High School (Gilbert, AZ), Desert Mountain High School (Scottsdale, AZ), Southeast Polk High School (Pleasant Hill, IA), Adair High School (Columbia, KY), Mountain Ridge High School (Glendale, AZ), and Breakthrough Indoor Percussion. He regularly judges for the ABODA, AZMBA, and WGAZ circuits in Arizona and has also adjudicated in Iowa and Wyoming.
As a performer, Bryan tours nationwide, collaborating with colleagues to create chamber music at universities, community centers, and school districts. He has performed at universities and other venues in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Jackson Snyder-Director of Band and Orchestra
(Starting July 2025)
Desert Mountain High School Instrumental Music-Teaches IB Music, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band and Symphonic Orchestra
Mr. Snyder is a Tempe based educator, multi-instrumentalist, and performer. During his time at ASU he studied saxophone under Professor Bryon Ruth and Dr. Christopher Creviston while earning his Music Learning and Teaching Degree.
As an active performer, Jackson has performed with a wide range of ensembles including Big Bands, Latin Ensembles, Wind Ensembles, the ASU Saxophone Choir, Pothos Saxophone Quartet, and a number of Jazz Combos. These performances have allowed him the opportunity to perform in a wide range of musical settings all around the US, having performed in Arizona, Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Florida, and Georgia.
In addition to his performance experience, Mr. Snyder has demonstrated strong leadership in a variety of musical settings. He served as Head Drum Major of the Sun Devil Marching Band, where he led one of the nation's premier collegiate marching ensembles. He has also worked as Woodwind Caption Head at Gilbert High School, where he trained student leaders, coached the woodwind section, and contributed to musical and visual design. Mr. Snyder is thrilled to bring his passion for music and education to Desert Mountain High School, where he looks forward to building on the program’s strong tradition and inspiring the next generation of musicians. Please join us in welcoming him to Desert Mountain!