About Us

Travis Ranch School is a public middle school located in Yorba Linda , California . Our instrumental music program has grown to over 300 students. The program consist of: three bands (two of which march during marching season), three orchestras, and two jazz bands. The top instrumental groups have consistently received the highest ratings and awards at various festivals and competitions.

The program also has a very active parent booster organization known as the Travis Ranch School Instrumental Music Boosters or TRSIMB for short. TRSIMB is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide support whenever practical and possible to the Director of Instrumental Music so that his or her efforts can be more fully dedicated to the musical education of the students. This support includes logistics, financial, administrative, clerical, and organizational assistance.
Kay Crask

Director

Kathryn Crask is a distinguished California music educator.  She received bachelor’s degrees in both music theory and music education from the University of Kansas, and her master’s degree in gifted and talented education from Grand Valley State University in Michigan.  She has taught orchestra in public and private schools in California, Michigan, Kansas, and Iowa since 1980.

In 1996, she was hired as a string specialist for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.  Under her leadership, orchestra has flourished, with over 700 students participating in string orchestras in the secondary schools.  Her orchestras consistently score superior ratings at district and regional festivals, and her student chamber ensembles perform at numerous events throughout Southern California.

In 2009,  she was recognized by the California State Legislature as an outstanding California secondary instrumental music teacher.  She was chosen as the 2010 Southern California Teacher of the Year by the American String Teacher’s Association.   As a violinist, she performs regularly with the Laguna Brisas Piano Trio.

 
James Johnson

Director

James Johnson becomes the director at Travis Ranch Middle School after nearly twenty years of music education experience. Mr. Johnson has taught instrumental music throughout Southern California . He has been the band director at both Palm Springs and Rancho Cucamonga high schools as well as teaching at the elementary level for both the Upland and Jurupa Unified School Districts .

During his teaching assignments, Mr. Johnson's groups have performed at the highest levels. His high school groups gained national recognition with performances for the Fiesta Bowl Parade and National Band Championship (Rancho Cucamonga H.S.; with an invitation also extended to Palm Springs H.S.), a performance for the President of the United States and consistent Superior Ratings at festival performances.

Johnson is currently an adjudicator for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) and has been an adjudicator for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC) as well as for other contests and associations both in California and out of state.

Mr. Johnson holds an A.A. in Music from Saddleback College , a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a teaching credential from California State University Fullerton and a Master of Music from the University of Redlands where he was also selected for the Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society.