Sterling Bands

School Directors Page. 

 

John Fabela grew up in Wyoming and earned a B.A. in  Music Education from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska.  He taught for three years in Gering, Nebraska before moving to Sterling, Colorado in 1990.  He currently teaches Instrumental Music in Sterling.  John and his wife, Sheila, have four children and two grandchildren.

The Sterling High School Marching Bands have earned many awards in parade competitions, including the CSU Parade competition and the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  They have marched at Disneyland, Epcot Center, Sea World and they performed in Honolulu, Hawaii in April 2000 and 2004 and will return to Hawaii in 2008.  The Sterling High School Marching Band performed the National Anthem at a Colorado Rockies game in September of 2004. In 2005, Mr. Fabela was recognized in the SBO Magazine article, "50 Directors Who Make a Difference." He has served on the Colorado High School Activity Association Music Committee and he was recently appointed to the Colorado All-State Band Advisory Committee.

Under Mr. Fabela’s direction, Sterling Concert Bands have received Superior ratings at the CHSAA Large Group Festivals every year, since 1990. 

In 1982, John toured with “America’s Youth in Concert Orchestra,” performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He also performed in Philadelphia, London, Rome, Florence, Venice, Grenoble, Strassburg, and Lucerne.  J.P. Van Dusen featured him on two contemporary Christian CDs.   John has performed with the Western States Brass Band.

He is a member of the Colorado Music Educator’s Association, MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the American School Band Director’s Association.  He has studied conducting with Dr. Richard Strange, Dr. James Jordan and Dr. Richard Floyd.  Mr. Fabela has served as clinician and adjudicator extensively in Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado.