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Department of

Music

Ella Steinberg, PhD

Instructor Jazz

Dr. Ella Steinberg (PhD University of Pacific) has been an established music educator and freelance trumpet player in California for over 25 years. She began her career teaching elementary and middle school band in San Bruno and then taught band and electronic music at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View for eight years. Before moving to San Diego, she taught instrumental courses and supervised student teachers at California State University, Stanislaus. In 2000, Dr. Steinberg moved to San Diego to begin her work as Director of Visual and Performing Arts for San Diego Unified School District. While observing numerous classrooms over her five years with the district, Dr. Steinberg decided to return to her primary interest, that of conducting and teaching. She currently serves as Band Director at Meadowbrook Middle School in Poway, Winds Conductor for the San Diego Youth Symphony & Conservatory, and is the Jazz Director at the University of San Diego. Dr. Steinberg holds a BM in Music Education and a MA in Secondary Education from San Francisco State University and a Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction with a Music Education emphasis from the University of the Pacific, where she taught conducting and was Assistant Conductor of the conservatory's bands. Her conducting teachers have included John Paynter, Frederick Fennell, and Edwin C. Kruth. Dr. Steinberg is also an active trumpet player, performing with numerous ensembles throughout San Diego, including membership in the Brad Steinwehe Jazz Orchestra and the Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine. Dr. Steinberg has been an adjudicator at the Fullerton College Jazz Festival, the KSDS Jazz Festival, Hayward Jazz Festival and is a founding faculty member for The Anthology Summer Jazz Workshop and the New Youth Orchestra Jazz Program.