Costa Band Director Joel Carlson gains the title “Community Hero”

By Kit Humbarger

Staff Writer

Mira Costa band director Joel Carlson was awarded the title of “Community Hero” by local news website Patch on Nov. 17. Carlson currently directs several band programs on campus, including wind ensemble, jazz band, and marching band.

A Costa family, the Ohs, nominated Carlson for the title. Cathy Oh is president of the band booster club, and junior Shawn Oh is a part of both the marching band and wind ensemble. According to senior Rachel Oh, a member of Costa’s colorguard, Carlson is an exceptional teacher and deserves all the praise he receives.

“He is such a great role model to all of his students,” said Rachel Oh. “He always tries to make a connection to his students, which is something that you don’t see very often.”

According to Carlson, he fell in love with music as a young child. His parents, who met as a drum major and solo baton twirler on the Burbank boys police band, originally influenced him to play the piano, but his real passion for music came when he switched to the oboe in the third grade. 

“I think one of my biggest inspirations was my high school music teacher Bill Hoehne,” said Carlson. “He really expected us to do our best and had a high standard of professionalism for us.”

Carlson has been teaching on campus for 16 years and continues to set high standards for his musicians by combining constructive criticism with positive comments to give each student specific advice on how to improve. According to Carlson, he loves seeing his students smile when they incorporate new concepts and improve their performance. 

“I always want to encourage them so that they know what they’ve done is really resonating and delineate those things that they really need to work on, so they can have something concrete to practice and improve on,” said Carlson. “I hope to help my students take their standard of excellence that they have for themselves and help it come up to what my standard is.”

Carlson focuses on collaboration and connections in his lessons so all students build their confidence and understands their role in producing the band’s sound. It’s important to him that every band member is capable and proud in order to bring the band to its highest potential. 

“I try to have a place for everybody,” said Carlson. “What we try to do here [in the band] is rotate and work together, be collaborative with one another and have a strong understanding of what it means to be a member of our organization and to work for both our individual good and our corporate good.”

Patch and T-Mobile have partnered to recognize people who make a difference in their communities, such as teachers, first responders, and veterans. Carlson has won several awards, including the title “Community Hero” by Patch and the 2014 GRAMMY Signature Schools Gold Award, but he believes the community he’s fostered and grown is more valuable to him than the numerous awards he holds. 

“I’m less proud of the awards themselves,” said Carlson. “[My students] are my prize: what they accomplish, who they become, and who they have the opportunity to be, through what we do together.” 

Carlson’s influence at Costa is widespread due to his positive encouragement and musical knowledge. He’s helped his students grow as musicians and people. According to senior Evelyn Wang, his support and guidance have positively affected her outlook on music. 

“He’s definitely helped me grow to love music and be passionate about it,” said Wang. “I watch him conduct and help out other kids, and he’s always very passionate about what he’s doing so that’s helped me to love music more.”