About the staff...
Mr. Cooper
Music Director
New Music Ensemble
New West Ensemble
Concert Choir
Music History & Appreciation
NWC+ Music Studio
Joseph Cooper is a native of Southern California. His primary instrument is piano and his secondary is French horn, though he has performed on nearly every instrument in numerous ensembles.
Mr. Cooper earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Oklahoma State University with a minor in Philosophy. He then went on to complete his Master's degree at Columbia College Chicago where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition for the Screen. Mr. Cooper has worked as a designer and choreographer for several marching bands, color guards, winter guards, and drum and bugle corps in Oklahoma, Illinois, and Washington. Mr. Cooper also works as a freelance composer for film and television as well as for various chamber ensembles, concert bands, marching bands, and jazz ensembles.
In April 2016 during his first year at New West, he was awarded the Adjudicators Award at the WorldStrides Heritage Festival in Anaheim as most outstanding director. This is Mr. Cooper's fifth year at New West.
You may contact Mr. Cooper via email here.
Ms. O'Neill
6th & 7th Grade
Music Director
Beginning Band
Beginning Strings
Percussion Ensemble
Intermediate Band
Intermediate Strings
8th Grade Ensemble
Sally O’Neill is a native New Yorker, where she studied Music Education and completed both her B.M from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam and M.A from Teachers College, Columbia University. She moved to the west coast in 2016 to begin teaching full time as a band, orchestra, and general music teacher.
Primarily a flute/ piccolo player, Sally has performed extensively with many ensembles including the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, Pasadena Community Orchestra, and the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria.
In the classroom, Sally looks to instill a passion for performing, listening, and enjoying music in every student. Through dedication and hard work, her students will learn a new skill and language, while making friends and having fun.
When Sally is not teaching, or practicing, you can find her at the yoga studio, cooking, or at a live concert.
You may contact Ms. O'Neill via email here.