Susan Burley
Concert Band Director
After 40 years as Music Director at Cherry Avenue Middle School in Tulare, Susan is currently the Visual and Performing Arts Advisor for Tulare City School District. She attended Kingsburg High School and received her bachelor of arts in music from California State University, Fresno under the baton of Dr. Larry Sutherland and Dr. Russell S. Howland.
She has been involved in Encore Theatre Company since it’s inception 45 years ago as a founding board member, President, as well as many more roles. Susan is the founder and director of the Mid Valley Jazz Festival, which hosts close to 40 bands a year in a 2 day non-competitive jazz festival that features top jazz educators from around the state.
Some of Susan’s accomplishments include Tulare County Teacher of the Year, California Finalist, CMEA Band Director and Jazz Band Director Award, Teacher of the Year, Region VII California League of Middle Schools Teacher of the Year, Tulare Woman of the Year, And CAJE Jazz Educator Award.
She has served many roles at La Sierra Creative Arts Camp over the years, including board member, camp director, and concert band director. Susan Burley loves music, loves kids, and has an ongoing passion to share music to all!
Lisa Butts
Symphonic Band Director
Lisa Butts has retired after 19 years as Director of Bands at Hanford West High School, and 33 years of teaching overall. Mrs. Butts attended the College of Sequoias in Visalia earning her Associate of Arts Degree in 1981. She finished her Bachelor of Arts in Music at California State University, Fresno in 1983. In 1998 she completed her Master's Degree in Music from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. While completing her Master's Degree she played under such notable conductors as Frederick Fennell, John Bourgeois, and Alfred Reed.
Mrs. Butts has also continued to study conducting under the tutelage of Robert Halseth, Stan DeRusha, Mallory Thompson, Jerry Junkin, Craig Kirchoff, John Whitwell, and H. Robert Reynolds. She is currently a free-lance trumpet player and plays with several groups including the The Hal Magnie Band, Sunnyside Big Band, and the Joe Lennigan Big Band.
She is active as an adjudicator throughout the Central Valley and was the guest conductor for the Fresno Madera County Music Educator’s Jr. High Honor Jazz Band in 1998, 2006 and 2016. She has also conducted the Tulare Kings Music Educators Association Honor Jazz Band in 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2015 and their Jr. High Honor Concert Band in 2002 and 2018. In 2011 she was selected to conduct the Bakersfield City Schools Jr. High Honor Band.
Mrs. Butts is an adjunct professor of music at West Hills College. She has a cool husband Bill, and ten cats.
Joseph Sosa
Orchestra Director and Strings Instructor
For the past eleven years, Joseph Sosa has been teaching orchestras at Golden West High School and Valley Oak Middle School. His dedication has resulted in his groups receiving unanimous superiors at the California Music Educators Association Orchestra Festivals across the central valley. Not only that, but his Golden West Orchestras have also received 1st place gold ratings at the World Strides Music Festival in San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as a Gold rating at Forum Music Festival in San Francisco.
Aside from his teaching career, Mr. Sosa remains an active musician. He plays violin in mariachis, a string trio, and a bluegrass band. He holds a master’s degree in Educational technology from the University of Concordia, Irvine, and earned his Bachelors in Music Education from California State University, San Bernardino. He also obtained his teaching credential from California State University, Fresno.
In his personal life, Mr. Sosa enjoys watching his five-year-old son Hendrix play baseball and his daughter create various imaginary animals out of playdoh. He has been married to his beautiful wife Julieanna for ten years, who is also a choir teacher in Porterville. They often engage in philosophical music education talks, which Mr. Sosa finds enjoyable.
Mr. Sosa is deeply grateful for everyone who contributes to making La Sierra Creative Arts Camp possible each year. He recognizes the tremendous effort put in by the organizers, volunteers, students, parents, and fellow teachers to create a memorable experience for the students. As a music educator, he believes that creative arts camps like La Sierra are crucial in fostering young talents and nurturing their passion for the arts. Mr. Sosa considers La Sierra Creative Arts Camp one of the highlights of each summer, and he cherishes the opportunity to be part of such a remarkable event.
Otto Lee
Jazz A — Saxophone Instructor
Otto Lee is a saxophonist, educator, and composer. He has completed a B.A. in Instrumental Jazz Performance (2010) and a M.A. in Music Performance (2012) at California State University Fresno, and a D.M.A. in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy (2017) at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Otto is currently teaching at both the University of California, Davis as the Director of the Jazz Ensembles, and California State University, Fresno directing large and small jazz ensembles as well as teaching saxophone lessons.
In addition, Otto continues to teach privately and works as a freelance musician throughout the Central Valley and the Bay area. He has performed with a vast array of musicians including Art Lande, Ernie Watts, Oscar Hernandez, Richard Lloyd Giddens Jr and many others.
Evan Hamada
Jazz B — Trumpet Instructor
Evan Hamada is the director of jazz studies at Clovis High School and Clark Intermediate. As a native of Fresno, he has been involved in the Fresno/Clovis music community from an early age. During his formative years Mr. Hamada was involved in the Milestones Jazz Workshop and La Sierra Creative Arts Camp as a camper and counselor, and he is excited to continue being involved with La Sierra as a director this year.
After graduating from Bullard High School in 2016, Mr. Hamada attended CSU Long Beach, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance with an option in Jazz Studies. In 2020, he then went on to the University of Oregon, where he received his Master’s degree in Jazz Trumpet Performance. During his time in Southern California and Oregon, Mr. Hamada has had the honor to perform with artists such as Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Bob Sheppard, Jeff Hamilton, Rebeca Mauleon, and Ulysses Owen Jr.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Hamada continues to perform, compose, and produce on occasion. He is passionate about being involved in every aspect of the musical process and hopes he can encourage others to do the same.