Biography

Colby Vasquez is from Tollhouse, a small town in California's Sierra Nevada foothills. He is currently a Doctoral Conducting Associate at the University of Florida where he is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Instrumental Conducting.

Prior to attending The University of Florida, Colby was the Associate Director of Instrumental Music at Clovis West High School in Fresno, California from 2020-2023 where he directed the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Marching Band in addition to assisting with instruction for the Wind Symphony, String Orchestra, and Color Guard classes. Before that, he was the Director of Instrumental Music at William C. Overfelt High School in San Jose, CA from 2016-2019 where he directed the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Orchestra, in addition to teaching piano courses and overseeing all other aspects of the instrumental music program. In 2018, Colby was voted Teacher of the Year by his fellow WCOHS teachers and awarded the Crown Award: Medal of Merit by the school site administrators.

Colby graduated from California State University Fresno in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music Education. He was a member of The Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band and the Bulldog Beat scholarship pep band. After student-teaching at Clovis High School and Clark Intermediate, he attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he earned a Masters of Music Education (MM) with a focus in Wind Conducting in 2016. He now serves as the Drill Writer & Visual Designer for the 400-member University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band.

Colby has also been very involved in the drum & bugle corps activity. He marched in the Santa Clara Vanguard for 3 years, 2010, 2011, & 2012. Since “aging out”, Colby has worked as a staff member for both the Santa Clara Vanguard & Vanguard Cadets in several roles:

  • 2013 & 2014: Admin & Visual Staff for Vanguard Cadets (2013 DCI Open Class Champions & High Visual Award Winners)

  • 2015 & 2016: Admin Staff for Santa Clara Vanguard

  • 2017, 2018, & 2019: Visual Caption Head for Vanguard Cadets (2017 & 2018 DCI Open Class Champions, 2017 High Visual Award Winners)

  • 2022: Visual Caption Head for Santa Clara Vanguard

  • 2023: Assistant Corps Director for Santa Clara Vanguard, Visual Consultant for Seattle Cascades.

  • 2024 & 2025 : Assistant Corps Director for Santa Clara Vanguard