Teachers & Staff
Mr. Jow
Music Director
Jonathan Jow's journey into the professional music realm has its starting points rooted in Saratoga’s music programs. He has been teaching in Saratoga for eleven years, first as the music program assistant for three years, thoroughly enjoyed a year as one of two elementary music teachers, and currently serves as the lead music director at Redwood Middle School, 5th grade band co-teacher, and Saratoga USD instrumental coordinator. A regular face to Saratoga music students since the Fall of 2006, Mr. Jow has actually been involved coaching and teaching music in the community since graduating from Saratoga High School more than a decade ago. Embedded in his teaching comes a genuine love of the very same programs for which he now works. He is alumnus of the current "era" of SUSD and Saratoga High music programs including its very first strings class during his fourth grade school year, the Redwood choir, concert bands, marching bands, jazz bands, and even guard for a winter season.
A native Saratogan, Mr. Jow was actively involved in his larger school community, serving positions from representatives to presidents of various school student councils and other student organizations throughout elementary to high school and receiving various recognitions including Redwood's Molly Woodruff Leadership Award. He served as a drum major of the Saratoga High Marching Band for two years and participated in numerous Santa Clara County Honor Bands and the California All-State Honor Band. Mr. Jow is also a recipient of many Saratoga Music awards, the most notable being the Roland Schwab 8th Grade Music Scholarship, Saratoga High School Outstanding Bandsman, the John Philip Sousa Band Award, and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award – all voted upon him by his peers. He was honored as a 2011-2012 Redwood teacher of the year and received the CMEA Gilbert T. Freitas Award for Achievement in Music Education in 2015. Most recently, Mr. Jow was honored as the 2016 Saratoga USD Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Jow attended U.C. Berkeley for his undergraduate education and received a B.A. in Mass Communications/Media Studies as well as a minor in Music. He graduated with high distinction in general scholarship (magna cum laude) and highest honors in his major. His academic excellence yielded him invitations and membership into the Golden Key International Honour Society and Phi Beta Kappa. Soon after graduating from Cal, Mr. Jow continued his studies in music at San Jose State University, from which he received his music credential to pursue a career in education. In addition to his academics, he studied saxophone with Professor Dale Wolford, played in the SJSU Saxophone Ensemble, the SJSU Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Diana Hollinger, and the SJSU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Edward Harris. In addition to teaching, Mr. Jow has also served as an Area Representative for CMEA Bay Section from 2012-2015.
Mr. Jow’s ultimate goal is to pursue both of his passions of music and media literacy, both of which he feels are often overlooked and underrepresented but vital in our modern school system to provide students with a comprehensive and meaningful education to face the challenges of the 21st century.
A native Saratogan, Mr. Jow was actively involved in his larger school community, serving positions from representatives to presidents of various school student councils and other student organizations throughout elementary to high school and receiving various recognitions including Redwood's Molly Woodruff Leadership Award. He served as a drum major of the Saratoga High Marching Band for two years and participated in numerous Santa Clara County Honor Bands and the California All-State Honor Band. Mr. Jow is also a recipient of many Saratoga Music awards, the most notable being the Roland Schwab 8th Grade Music Scholarship, Saratoga High School Outstanding Bandsman, the John Philip Sousa Band Award, and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award – all voted upon him by his peers. He was honored as a 2011-2012 Redwood teacher of the year and received the CMEA Gilbert T. Freitas Award for Achievement in Music Education in 2015. Most recently, Mr. Jow was honored as the 2016 Saratoga USD Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Jow attended U.C. Berkeley for his undergraduate education and received a B.A. in Mass Communications/Media Studies as well as a minor in Music. He graduated with high distinction in general scholarship (magna cum laude) and highest honors in his major. His academic excellence yielded him invitations and membership into the Golden Key International Honour Society and Phi Beta Kappa. Soon after graduating from Cal, Mr. Jow continued his studies in music at San Jose State University, from which he received his music credential to pursue a career in education. In addition to his academics, he studied saxophone with Professor Dale Wolford, played in the SJSU Saxophone Ensemble, the SJSU Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Diana Hollinger, and the SJSU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Edward Harris. In addition to teaching, Mr. Jow has also served as an Area Representative for CMEA Bay Section from 2012-2015.
Mr. Jow’s ultimate goal is to pursue both of his passions of music and media literacy, both of which he feels are often overlooked and underrepresented but vital in our modern school system to provide students with a comprehensive and meaningful education to face the challenges of the 21st century.
Ms. McPherson
String Orchestra Director, Assistant Band Teacher, & SUSD Allegro Strings
Isabel McPherson, a native Saratogan, is very excited to join the music team at Redwood. Her musical journey when she picked up the violin in third grade and later added baritone/euphonium in fifth grade. She decided to switch to bass her freshman year of high school, playing it in both orchestra and jazz band while continuing to play baritone in the marching band. In her senior year, Ms. McPherson was accepted into Santa Clara County Honor Band and All-State Orchestra on bass, and served as drum major for the Saratoga High School Marching Band. She was then accepted into the bass studio at Northwestern University, and went on to receive a B.M. in Music Education and a minor in Japanese. At Northwestern, Ms. McPherson studied bass under Andy Raciti, while continuing to practice euphonium as well. She had the opportunity to perform with all six of Northwestern’s major and non-major bands and orchestras, as well as the “Wildcat" Marching Band. She also played bass and bass guitar in the pit for numerous musical theater and opera productions.
In her summers off from college, Ms. McPherson was an assistant teacher at SUSD Summer Music for one year, and marched two seasons of World Class Drum & Bugle Corps on euphonium. She is a proud alum of both the Sacramento Mandarins and the Phantom Regiment. After drum corps championships, she returned to Saratoga to assist with orchestra and marching band.
After graduating from Northwestern and completing student teaching placements in high school band and middle school orchestra, Ms. McPherson moved to Japan. For one year, she lived in the rural town of Toki and taught English at three elementary schools and two middle schools there. This opportunity allowed her to observe the differences between the Japanese and American education system, use Japanese in daily life, and eat lots of delicious food.
Ms. McPherson considers her continued passionate involvement in both orchestra and band to be her greatest achievement. She loves both equally and hopes to use techniques she learned in band to challenge her orchestras in new and interesting ways.
In her summers off from college, Ms. McPherson was an assistant teacher at SUSD Summer Music for one year, and marched two seasons of World Class Drum & Bugle Corps on euphonium. She is a proud alum of both the Sacramento Mandarins and the Phantom Regiment. After drum corps championships, she returned to Saratoga to assist with orchestra and marching band.
After graduating from Northwestern and completing student teaching placements in high school band and middle school orchestra, Ms. McPherson moved to Japan. For one year, she lived in the rural town of Toki and taught English at three elementary schools and two middle schools there. This opportunity allowed her to observe the differences between the Japanese and American education system, use Japanese in daily life, and eat lots of delicious food.
Ms. McPherson considers her continued passionate involvement in both orchestra and band to be her greatest achievement. She loves both equally and hopes to use techniques she learned in band to challenge her orchestras in new and interesting ways.
Mr. Ramirez
Associate Band Director, Marching & Jazz Bands
Jemal Ramirez has worked professionally in multiple facets of the music industry, including composition, instruction and performance. His musicianship has given him opportunities to work with accomplished musicians such as Eric Reed (Wynton Marsalis), Marcus Shelby, Joshua Redman, Mark Levine and many of the bay area’s best community bands and jazz musicians.
Jemal has valuable real-world music performance experience and is a talented music educator. He has taught for Music in Schools Today (MUST), Stanford Jazz Workshop and Starting Arts, and currently teaches music at University Preparatory Academy in San Jose and private drum and percussion lessons at SJG Music School at the Campbell Community Center. Jemal earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and his Music Credential at San Francisco State University.
Jemal has valuable real-world music performance experience and is a talented music educator. He has taught for Music in Schools Today (MUST), Stanford Jazz Workshop and Starting Arts, and currently teaches music at University Preparatory Academy in San Jose and private drum and percussion lessons at SJG Music School at the Campbell Community Center. Jemal earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and his Music Credential at San Francisco State University.
Mr. Powell
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Stay Tuned!
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Stay Tuned!
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Stay Tuned!
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Mr. Clark
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Ms. Nitzan
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Mr. "Jazz" (Legaspi)
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