Directors
Alfredo Cordova, Director of Bands
Born and Raised in Albuquerque, Mr. Cordova has made music education his life in his home city. After graduating from Manzano High School, Mr. Cordova got his degree in music education from The University of New Mexico. While at UNM he played bassoon in the top performing wind symphony and symphony orchestra, as well as saxophone in the marching Band. Prior to THMS, Mr. Cordova was the band director at Taft Middle School. He is very excited to bring his love of band to THMS and help create an excellent band community.
Outside of teaching you will find Mr. Cordova cooking or seeing the latest Marvel movie with his wonderful wife Ms. Maris who is an orchestra teacher in Albuquerque. They have a daughter who is almost two now and her name is Lea.
Directors
Ian Davis, Assistant Director of Bands
Ian Davis graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s in Music Education. During his time at UNM, Ian played tuba with both the Symphonic Band and Marching band, and double bass in the University’s Jazz Combos, Jazz Band I and Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed in Musical Productions for Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts and for Musical Theater Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Currently, Ian plays tuba in a Swing-Polka band called 'Zoltan and the Fortune Tellers' which tours regularly around the Southwest. Locally, he also plays both electric and upright bass in a modern jazz quintet called Bopsque.
Along with assisting at Tony Hillerman, Ian teaches for the University of New Mexico’s Music Prep School, where he teaches a World Music Drumming Class that explores both West African and Caribbean music and culture.
Outside the classroom, Ian can be found practicing yoga, hiking around the Sandias, and baking homemade bread.
Our 2023-2024 Thunder Lesson Staff
Matt Lind- Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Matt is an active performer and instructor of woodwind instruments. His experience ranges across styles, including classical, chamber music, new music, jazz, and pop, and he is particularly interested in contemporary concert music as well as its intersection with other genres. Matt takes every opportunity to perform, including many musical theatre pits, chamber music recitals, orchestras, local jazz combos, and more. He also has extensive experience teaching individuals and classes, having held the UNM music theory teaching assistantship from 2018-2021 and working with private lessons studios including the Albuquerque Institute of Music where he currently teaches woodwinds.
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Matt is an active performer and instructor of woodwind instruments. His experience ranges across styles, including classical, chamber music, new music, jazz, and pop, and he is particularly interested in contemporary concert music as well as its intersection with other genres. Matt takes every opportunity to perform, including many musical theatre pits, chamber music recitals, orchestras, local jazz combos, and more. He also has extensive experience teaching individuals and classes, having held the UNM music theory teaching assistantship from 2018-2021 and working with private lessons studios including the Albuquerque Institute of Music where he currently teaches woodwinds.
Matt was selected as a presenter and performed at the 2023 North American Saxophone Alliance national conference to perform Emma O’Halloran’s Sum of its Parts, and was the winner of the 2017 Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra’s young soloist competition, performing Paule Maurice’s Tableaux de Provence with the orchestra. Matt has had several original compositions performed by professional ensembles.
Mary Reid- Trumpet
Mary Reid is a trumpet player from Cincinnati Ohio. She has earned her Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, studying with Alan Siebert, Michael Mergen and Phil Collins. In addition to this, she has recently graduated with a Master’s of Music from UNM, studying with John and Brynn Marchiando as a Graduate Assistant and member of Sandia Brass. Currently Mary is a freelancer in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Areas and has performed with many of the best ensembles in the area including the Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, Santa Fe ProMusica, New Mexico Symphony Chorus as well as locally known Mariachi Amigos de Nuevo Mexico.
Mary Reid is a trumpet player from Cincinnati Ohio. She has earned her Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, studying with Alan Siebert, Michael Mergen and Phil Collins. In addition to this, she has recently graduated with a Master’s of Music from UNM, studying with John and Brynn Marchiando as a Graduate Assistant and member of Sandia Brass. Currently Mary is a freelancer in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Areas and has performed with many of the best ensembles in the area including the Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, Santa Fe ProMusica, New Mexico Symphony Chorus as well as locally known Mariachi Amigos de Nuevo Mexico.
Derek Manteufel-Low Brass
Abel Cuevas- Percussion
