Meet The Staff

Meet the AGHS Band Staff

CJ Durso - Director of Bands

CJ Durso has served as the director of bands at AGHS since 2014, where he is responsible for conducting the AGHS Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and various other small groups, as well as teaching courses in Guitar, Piano, Percussion, and Music Theory. Prior to his appointment at AGHS, Mr. Durso served as the assistant band director and Pit Orchestra conductor at Uniontown Area High School for three years. Additionally, CJ has served as a performer and clinician throughout southwest Pennsylvania.

A Native of Masontown, PA, CJ graduated from Albert Gallatin High School, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from West Virginia University.

Charles Gibson - Assistant Director of Bands

Chaz is a 2015 graduate from Albert Gallatin Senior High School and is currently studying Music Education at Seton Hill University. Chaz has had the opportunity of studying under multiple professors but is currently studying under Dr. Christopher Marra on his primary instrument, Euphonium. At Seton Hill, Chaz is a part of West Moreland Symphonic Winds, the schools Brass Ensemble, he is a member of SHU’s collegiate chapter of NAfME, and serves as Vice President of the Seton Hill University Winter Guard. Chaz’s passion is to teach music to today’s youth and inspire them to become better members of society. Chaz has also been with the AGHS Band since 2017 where he started as the Brass Instructor and is now functioning as the Assistant Director of Bands. Chaz also is the Drum Major coach for the band. Through music and teaching, he finds his happiness is endless. Through working with the students of the band, Chaz has learned, they teach him as much as he teaches them. When Chaz isn’t with the band, he is working as a Manager at AMC Theatres to put himself through school.

Amber Hildock- Auxiliary Coordinator

Amber Hildock is a 2011 graduate of Albert Gallatin High School and a 2015 graduate from Robert Morris University, where she graduated with a bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in Organizational Leadership. She has been dancing since the age of 2 competing regionally and nationally winning many awards. Amber has had wonderful opportunities studying under big name dance instructors from all over the world. Without them, she wouldn’t be where she is today in her dance career. Even though she loved being on stage and performing for others, her passion is teaching others the love of dance. Amber is currently a staff member teaching multiple genres of dance at KayStars Dance Revolution in Fairchance, Pa. She joined the AGHS Band in 2017, where she became the Auxiliary Coordinator. Though dance may be her strong suit, she finds joy in working with all three teams associated within the auxiliary and continuing to learn more about each group. When Amber isn’t busy teaching dance or working with the auxiliary, she is a wife and mother of 2 little girls.

Elizabeth Rockwell - Percussion Instructor

Elizabeth Rockwell is a 2018 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School and a sophomore Music Performance major at West Virginia University. Elizabeth has played a variety of styles of music and is experienced in classical, world, chamber, and marching percussion. She has performed in the orchestra pit for a variety of musicals including Footloose, Newsies, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, and Into the Woods. In 2018, she was one of 125 high school seniors selected and given the opportunity to perform as a member of the US Army All-American Marching Band in San Antonio, Texas. Elizabeth has performed as a member of many ensembles, including the WVU Symphony Orchestra, the WVU Wind Symphony, the percussion ensemble, the Mountaineer Fife and Drum Corps, the Advanced Steel Band, the African Drum and Dance Ensemble, and the Taiko Ensemble. Her future plans include earning a master's and doctorate degree in music performance, and performing as a professional musician before becoming a university professor. She joined the AGHS Band in 2019 as Percussion Instructor and looks forward to another great season with the Colonials!