Meet the Director,  Mr. Paul Lucckesi (LOU-K-Z)
Mr. Lucckesi is the Director of Jazz Studies at the Buchanan Educational Center in Clovis, California. At the center he directs the Buchanan High School Jazz Bands and combos, as well as the Alta Sierra Intermediate Jazz Ensembles.

He has a degree in music education from CSU, Fresno and played lead alto with the the CSU, Fresno Jazz Band ‘A’. As a professional Paul has performed with Michelle Rosewoman, Craig Handy, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Michael Spiro, David Garibaldi, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and acclaimed poet Quincy Troupe as well as in numerous radio and television commercials. He is currently a member of the Jazz Composers Orchestra and a board member of the California Band Director’s Association. Paul is on the board of Directors as well as a staff member of the La Sierra Creative Arts Camp where he teaches private saxophone lessons and directs the top jazz ensemble. He and his lovely wife Sarah, and beautiful 1 year old daughter Sofia reside in Fresno, California.


Delta Jazz Festival, Dec. 1, 2007

  • BHS "A" came in 1st Place in the "Heavy High School Division"
  • BHS "B" came in 2nd Place in the "Heavy High School Division"
  • BHS Combo came in 1st Place in the "Combo Division"

Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, April 3rd - 6th, 2008

  • BHS "A" came in 1st Place in the High School Big Band Division which earned them the honor and priviledge of performing on CENTER stage at the 51st annual  Monterey Jazz Festival in September.
  • BHS Combo "A" came in 3rd place in their division (which is even more amazing considering they weren't expecting to go, but were listed as an alternate and were called approx. 2 weeks prior to the event to fill in for another band!)

Reno Jazz Festival, April 25th & 26th, 2008

  • Buchanan "A" Band came in 1st Place in the High School Big Band Division
  • Buchanan Combo "A" came in 1st Place in the High School Combo Division
  • Sean Shackelford, a senior at Buchanan High School won the festival's  "Outstanding Trombonist" award
  • Sean Richey walked away with the Best Original Composition for a Small Ensemble and the Best Original Composition for a Large Ensemble
  • Sean Richey and Tyler Cravines were selected to play in the "All-Star Combo Band"

DOWNBEAT Magazine's 31st Annual Student Music Awards (June 2008 issue)

  • Buchanan High Big Band  (Jazz Band "A") received High School Outstanding Performance Award in the Big Band Category
  • Sean Richey received High School Outstanding Performance Award in the Original Song category for his 2 compositions, "40 Days & 40 Nights", and "Peter's Crow"

It really was a GREAT DAY in the Fresno - Clovis area on Friday May 16, 2007 - click on the GREAT DAY logo to see why!