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Meet our Directors

Mark De Hertogh

High School Director

Mark De Hertogh, a native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, is an Associate Director of the Jazz Program and HS Jazz Coordinator at the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy. Prior to GPFAA, Mark served in the same capacity at Plano Senior High School and Paschal High School. Mr. De Hertogh earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. Mark served as a Graduate Teaching Fellow in Jazz Saxophone and Jazz Chamber Music as well as touring the U.S. and Europe as a member of the six-time GRAMMY-nominated UNT One O'Clock LabBand. In addition, Mark has performed with numerous artists and entertainers including: John Mosca, Denis DiBlasio, Lyle Mays, Wayne Bergeron, Tim Ries, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Darcy James Argue, Ravi Coltrane, Bob Curnow, George Colligan, Justin Stanton, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Mark's recordings include the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band's Lab 2010 and Lab 2011, The UNT Zebra's Flamenco Jazz Project (DownBeat Award Winner), and The Sax Chamber Orchestra's America Remembers. De Hertogh has twice presented clinics on jazz pedagogy and advocacy at TMEA and is the President of the Texas Jazz Educators Association. In addition to his teaching duties, Mark created the Plano Jazz Invitational which has become a premier jazz festival in North Texas. 

  • The Paschal Jazz Ensemble, under De Hertogh’s direction, performed by invitation at the prestigious 2015 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, The Jazz Educators Network Conference as well as performing live on FOX 4’s Good Day program.

Jonathan Adamo

Teacher Portrait

Middle School Director

Jonathan Adamo received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas in 2007. While attending UNT, Mr. Adamo studied trombone with Tony Baker and Jan Kagarice. In addition, he performed and recorded with the UNT Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Corporon and was a member of the world renowned One O’Clock Lab Band. Mr. Adamo record with the One O’Clock Lab Band on Lab 2006. 

Mr. Adamo has 18 years of teaching experience in the DFW area. During these 18 years, he has taught both High School and Middle School band and jazz band. Jazz Ensembles under Mr. Adamo’s direction have consistently competed and been named festival champions on numerous occasions. Mr. Adamo regularly works with both high school and middle school bands as a clinician as well as performing as a guest artist. 

As a professional trombonist, Mr. Adamo has toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, and Japan with the Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras. He has also performed and recorded with Kris Berg’s Metroplexity Big Band throughout the US. Adamo continues to play professionally in the Dallas area with several big bands as well as freelance gigs and recording sessions. Additionally, Mr. Adamo has presented clinics on Jazz Pedagogy  and Advocacy at major conferences, including TMEA and TBA.

Mr. Adamo currently resides in the Carrollton area with his wife Anna and their three kids, Bridget, Pete, and Vivian.