Our Directors

Daphne Wright - Musical Director

Daphne has a passion for life-long learning, especially when it comes to music and education. She is currently teaching music to over 400 elementary students grades K - 5 and is excited to provide professional training for music educators across the world. She is currently serving as the Music Director of the Grand Junction Centennial Band and is the Executive Director of the International Music Education Summit.

Daphne holds a bachelor’s in Music Education from Missouri State University. She is a passionate clarinet and piano player and has excelled in playing both instruments (self-taught for a number of years) since her mother’s deployment to Iraq when she was in 5th grade. Her passion for music is what pushed her through the tough 18 months and is why she continues to feel so passionately about music education.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her local church band, participating in the community band, and enjoying quality family time. Daphne loves the outdoors and can often be found skiing, hiking, or camping. She also has dreams of publishing a fantasy novel someday. Daphne resides in Grand Junction, Colorado with her husband, her son, and her cherished furry children. 

Brett Argo - Conductor

Brett L. Argo graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1980. He then began his teaching career in Nucla, CO, teaching grades 5-12. After two years he left to attend Western State College in Gunnison where he received his Master of Arts in Music and was a graduate assistant. After that, Brett spent three years in Cedaredge. CO, teaching grades 6-12 where his concert bands and jazz bands consistently received superior ratings, while the marching bands placed in the top 5. After a one-year stint in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Mr. Argo returned to Colorado to teach in Dolores, where he taught grades 6-12, for 4 years. The band grew under his leadership and the marching band earned three State Championships. Additionally, the concert and jazz bands consistently received Superior ratings.

In 1992, Brett moved to Grand Junction, CO where he taught at East Middle School and assisted with the Grand Junction High School marching and concert bands. His concert bands and jazz bands consistently received Superior ratings and they received the CBA Exemplary Band award 15 times during his tenure at East. In 2009, Mr. Argo moved to the Fruita 8/9 School and assisted with the marching band at Fruita Monument High School. Both the concert bands and jazz bands at F8/9 consistently received Superior ratings at both CBA Regional Festivals and the Colorado West Music Festival with the Ninth Grade Symphonic Band being named as the Outstanding Ensemble in its class in 2018. The bands at Fruita 8/9 received the CBA Exemplary Band Award 10 times.

Brett is a member of CBA—where he served as West Slope representative and Executive Secretary and was inducted into the Colorado Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2022, is a member of ASBDA—where he served as Region 1 Secretary and State Secretary/Treasurer, is a member of CMEA – where he served as District 7 Instrumental Representative and received a 25 Years of Service Award, is a member of Phi Beta Mu, and is a lifetime member to both Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Argo has also served as a clinician and adjudicator for numerous festivals in Colorado and New Mexico.

Brett has been married to his wife Mary since 1982 and they have an adult son, Shawn. They currently live in Grand Junction and love taking time to visit the National Parks. After 40 years in music education, Brett retired at the end of the 2021 school year.