Conductor & Artistic Director
Francisco Borja
Francisco Borja is a conductor, clarinetist, and music educator. He is a graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder where he studied Wind Conducting with Donald McKinney and Matthew Dockendorf.
Francisco has performed and conducted internationally with the Honor Band of America, the WASBE World Youth Wind Symphony, and most recently as principal clarinetist of the MidEurope Festival’s World Youth Wind Orchestra Project. He also has participated in several conducting workshops with esteemed clinicians Jamie L. Nix, Craig Kirchhoff, H. Robert Reynolds, and Jerry F. Junkin.
Prior to studying at the University of Colorado, Francisco taught orchestra at Murphy Middle School in Plano ISD in Plano, Texas. Francisco’s teaching philosophy is driven by a commitment to student knowledge and musical quality. Currently Francisco is the Director of Bands at Timberline PK-8 in SVVSD where he teaches Band and Mariachi.
Assistant Conductor
Madeleine Cort
Madeleine Cort is originally from Las Cruces, NM and currently serves as the Director of Bands at Sunset Middle School in Longmont, CO. She began her music teaching career at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education
After graduating, Madeleine served as the Instrumental Music Teacher at Clear Creek Middle & High School (Evergreen, CO) and guided all aspects of the program. During her time at Clear Creek, Madeleine gained experience teaching concert band, pep band, jazz band, piano, guitar, music technology, and conducting the school musical. Madeleine also served as the assistant conductor of community ensembles including the Original Cow Boy Band and the Golden Eagle Concert Band. She later earned her Master's Degree in Music from Colorado State University.
While attending CSU, Madeleine served as a graduate teaching assistant and assisted several undergraduate music education courses, instructed the Woodwind Techniques course, and served as the Associate Director of the Middle School Outreach Ensemble program (MSOE) at CSU. She was also a member of Dr. Rebecca Phillips’s graduate conducting studio and conducted the CSU Concert Band and Symphonic Band. Madeleine has received several awards for her teaching and scholarship including the College of Liberal Arts Highest Achievement in Scholarship & Research Award for her presentation at the CSU Graduate Student Showcase and the CSU College of Liberal Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Her current position at Sunset Middle School has given her experience working with beginner musicians and furthering her skills as a pedagogue of young students. As a clarinetist, Madeleine has experience performing with large ensembles, in chamber groups, and as a soloist in the U.S. and Europe. Most notably, she has performed as a part of the Interharmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy, and the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria.
Currently, she enjoys keeping a busy teaching schedule and continuing her musical performance career as the Assistant Conductor of the Longmont Concert Band and a member of the B-Flatirons Clarinet Quartet. When Madeleine isn't teaching, she enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, spending time with her significant other, Alex, and snuggling with their two cats, Sophie & Kit.
