Published June 4, 2025
BY LAITH RODRIGUEZ
Since 1998, Brian Handley, Carmel High School’s resident orchestra and band teacher, has been the central member of the music program on campus and is now retiring after a long, successful career.
“I’m super excited to see where the person who follows me takes it,” says Handley. “I’ve been able to grow the program while I’ve been here, and our programs on campus are primed to grow more. I’m certainly going to miss it.”
The conductor has been at CHS for the past 27 years and hopes to see the program continue to grow. Photo by CHELSEA WEAVER
Handley’s career at the high school has been nothing short of impressive, as CHS has a near 40-student
orchestra–four times what it was when he began conducting and directing the program on campus 27 years ago.
Under Handley’s supervision, both the band and orchestra have earned many accolades, which can be seen adorning his office and the music room. However, Handley explains that these rewards are artificial to him–he is more proud of the work his students do with the skills he teaches them.
“I’m not into going to competitions with music and winning against other teams,” says Handley. “It’s cool to receive awards for excellence and a measure of our success, but that means you have to beat other people. Imagine traveling for a day just to go to a competition and getting fifth. It doesn’t feel good, and music isn’t meant for that. Music is meant for enjoyment and passion, and performing should be rewarding in itself.”
Alongside teaching the Concert Band and Orchestra classes at CHS, Handley teaches Stage Band, Beginner Guitar, and Digital Music, and he hosts a Jazz Ensemble class on Monday evenings, where students are invited to work on their instrumentation skills.
Brian Handley’s love for his students comes from his fierce passion for their success, seen during every performance. Photo by BRUCE HAASE
Since announcing his retirement, Brian Handley has received emails that contain wishes for a good retirement from alumni and colleagues, thanking him for all he’s done on campus. Handley notes that among the emails, he has also received many images of him when he was still a new teacher on campus, images that bring back memories once forgotten.
“What stood out to me about Brian is his unwavering passion for music and his students,” says CHS dance teacher Kristine Tarozzi. “He gives so much energy to each class, performance and student.”
Tarozzi’s dancers and Handley’s musicians have put on many dance and visual and performing arts shows over the years, whether it be members of the orchestra and band playing their instruments in a group or performing solos to the digital music students helping with the sound board while the dance class performs on stage.
“I had a decision to make about whether or not I wanted to continue playing,” explains Alyssa Moore, a CHS senior violinist in orchestra. “Coming back freshman year, Handley’s passion for music is what drew me back in and helped me find my own love for violin again.”
Moore reflects that her favorite memories with Handley and the music program was the buzz around concerts and performances–notably how excited her conductor is for the students to perform.
Another student shares similar thoughts and remembers the energy Handley has for his students.
Handley’s passion for music has attracted many students to the music program. Photo by BRUCE HAASE
“Playing at the football games in the stands is one of my favorite memories with Handley,” says senior clarinetist and saxophonist Tommy Gardner. “Even though I’m graduating, I’m going to miss the energy he brings to campus every day, and I know many others will too.”
The conductor’s passion for music started at a young age with his fascination with records. From there, he began playing paper drums and would play on a toy organ at his grandparents’ home whenever he visited. No matter where he was, music wouldn’t leave his side.
This led him to becoming a musician and, further, a music teacher. He came back to the Monterey Peninsula after graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where he learned to conduct.
“There was nothing more that I wanted at the time than to teach at a secondary level,” says the musician. “I was teaching at an elementary school for the year after I got back from grad school, and when the position here at CHS opened, I decided to take the leap, and here I am now.”
Brian Handley hopes to travel and do home projects in his free time, and while he isn’t going to be directing the programs on campus anymore, he’s still going to have his hands in a few things on campus and is looking forward to seeing his students and the program continue to improve.
