ABOUT US
Basha High School is a 5A senior high school serving the East Valley area in the Chandler Unified School District. The Band Program participates in the AMEA Southwest region and includes many diverse groups, such as the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Bands, Winter Drumline, and Winter Guard.
Basha Bands is supported by the Basha Band Boosters, a non-profit organization of volunteers who lend their time and talents, not only to raise funds, but also for supporting tasks such as equipment transportation, uniform alteration, photo and video production, meal provisions for game days, etc.
Basha Bands is supported by the Basha Band Boosters, a non-profit organization of volunteers who lend their time and talents, not only to raise funds, but also for supporting tasks such as equipment transportation, uniform alteration, photo and video production, meal provisions for game days, etc.
STAFF
Mr. Miles Denny joined the Basha Bear family in 2017. He is currently the head director of bands, teaching such ensembles as symphonic band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, marching band, and winter drumline.
Mr. Denny graduated from Arizona State University in 2016, where he received his B.M. in Music Education. During his time there, he received the Gary Thornton Extra Distance Award in 2013 for leadership & service, in addition to teaching at various ensembles throughout the valley such as Dobson High School, Basha High School, and Poston Butte High School. Upon graduation, Mr. Denny became the director of bands at Smith Jr. High School and Stevenson Elementary before joining Basha in 2017. In 2020, Mr. Denny was awarded the Winter Guard Arizona Percussion Director of the Year award for his continued contributions to the winter guard activity. In addition to his position at Basha, Mr. Denny currently serves as Vice President for Winter Guard Arizona, Member-At-Large for the Arizona Marching Band Association, and is the tenor percussion specialist for Vision Percussion Ensemble. He remains passionate about expanding and enriching the educational experiences for student musicians in Arizona.
Mr. Shawn Schive is proud to serve as Associate Director of Bands at Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. Originally from Southern California, he graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University in 2022 with his Bachelor of Music in Music Learning and Teaching. While in college, Mr. Schive was an active member of the ASU Trumpet Studio under Canadian Brass performer and innovative pedagog Joe Burgstaller and served as the drum major of the 400-member Sun Devil Marching Band. His experience in the marching arts has taken him all over the world, performing in cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Paris, and several cities in Southern China.
As an educator, Mr. Schive has worked with several band programs in Arizona and Southern California, most recently as the Brass Caption Head for the state finalist Dobson High School, and as the Visual and Music Specialist for the state finalist John W. North High School in Riverside, CA. One of his proudest educational achievements is serving as a staff member for the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, a summer leadership workshop that serves thousands of high school band students from across the United States through lessons in conducting, teaching, and leadership. Mr. Schive is thrilled to be a part of the rich tradition of music education in the state of Arizona.
Zeth Shirley is the caption head for the Basha High School Color Guard program. Born in Corona, California, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He has spun with groups like Desert Vista High School, Arizona State University, and was to be contracted with Santa Clara Vanguard for the 2020 season. He has also competed in the WGI world championships in 2019. Zeth taught for Fred J. Miller, based in Miamisburg, Ohio, in the summer of 2019 and hopes to return sometime in the future. His teaching experience includes Basha High School, Mesquite High School Winterguard, Williams Field High School Varsity Winterguard, and the Cooley Middle School Winterguard. He hopes to spend many years at Basha and is super excited to work with each and every student.
Tess Evans is a color guard tech for Basha High school. She is from Phoenix, Arizona. Tess has been involved in color guard since she was just 9 years old, spinning with various groups such as Desert Vista High school. She will also be spinning with Arizona State University in the fall as well as Carolina Crown over the summer. She has volunteered many years helping to teach for the Altadena Middle school color guard and coached their JV guard program in 2018. She is super excited to be working with Basha and can not wait for many amazing seasons with them.
Jaelan Kim is a front ensemble instructor from the West Valley. Since graduating from Perry High School in 2017, he has been teaching front ensemble for numerous programs. That would include Buckeye Union, Desert Mountain, Peoria, PUSD Indoor, Deer Valley, Sandra Day O’Connor, Campo Verde, Millennium, and Vision Percussion. This 2022 fall season he will be on staff with Millennium, Campo Verde, and Basha High school.
Aside from teaching, he has performed with the Sun Devil Marching Band and is a 4 year Alumni of Breakthrough Indoor Percussion. Much of his knowledge comes from performance, as well as personal studies and explorations.
Aside from teaching, he has performed with the Sun Devil Marching Band and is a 4 year Alumni of Breakthrough Indoor Percussion. Much of his knowledge comes from performance, as well as personal studies and explorations.
Jennifer Johnson is currently a sophomore at ASU pursuing a major in Biomedical Sciences and a certificate in Interdisciplinary Health Humanities. She has marched with the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, Phenom Drum and Bugle Crops, and Flux Indoor Percussion. She is currently a member at the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.
Aaron Weiland is in his third year teaching with Basha High School as their woodwind tech.
Mr. Weiland is a product of MPS, attending Summit Academy (Frost Elementary), Rhodes Jr. High and graduating from Dobson High School. He also plays clarinet, saxophone, flute and sings professionally in Symphonies, Wind Ensembles, chamber ensembles, pit orchestras, jazz groups and records in studios outside of teaching for Basha High and Mesa Public Schools.
Mr. Weiland has his Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance from Northern Arizona University where he taught Masterclasses, Music theory/Ear Training and tutored clarinetists; and graduated Cum Laude with his Bachelor's in Secondary Instrumental Education from Ottawa University.
He has instructed privately since 2012 and since worked with schools all over the valley including, Isaac Middle School's Summer Band Camp program, Summit Academy, Mesa High School, and Mesa Community Colleges' Summer Band Camp.
Mr. Weiland is a product of MPS, attending Summit Academy (Frost Elementary), Rhodes Jr. High and graduating from Dobson High School. He also plays clarinet, saxophone, flute and sings professionally in Symphonies, Wind Ensembles, chamber ensembles, pit orchestras, jazz groups and records in studios outside of teaching for Basha High and Mesa Public Schools.
Mr. Weiland has his Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance from Northern Arizona University where he taught Masterclasses, Music theory/Ear Training and tutored clarinetists; and graduated Cum Laude with his Bachelor's in Secondary Instrumental Education from Ottawa University.
He has instructed privately since 2012 and since worked with schools all over the valley including, Isaac Middle School's Summer Band Camp program, Summit Academy, Mesa High School, and Mesa Community Colleges' Summer Band Camp.
