Staff

Gregory Whitmore began his tenure as Director of Bands at Cathedral City High School in August, 2001. Mr. Whitmore, a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, received his Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While a student at The University of Michigan, Mr. Whitmore performed under conductors H. Robert Reynolds, Dr. James R. Tapia, Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole, Dennis Glocke, and Jeffrey Grogan. Mr. Whitmore actively performed in the University of Michigan Concert and Symphonic Bands; and he led the University of Michigan Marching Band as "Michigan's Man Up Front" - Drum Major from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Whitmore is one of only two African-American University of Michigan students to be selected to the position of Drum Major for the University of Michigan Band in the University's 191-year history.

A recognized member of four editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, Mr. Whitmore has been selected as the Cathedral City High School Educator Of The Year twice (2007 and 2005). Additionally, Mr. Whitmore has been selected as a CCHS Top Ten Educator Of The Year four times, and Mr. Whitmore has been recognized as High School Educator Of The Year for the entire Palm Springs Unified School District. Mr. Whitmore has been included in the 2005/2006 Edition of the National Honor Roll's Outstanding American Teachers. Mr. Whitmore is a Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Educator Award Recipient, and Orion Award Recipient for Excellence in Education.

Mr. Whitmore has conducted the Cathedral City High School Symphonic Band in such notable concert venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City, and Meng Hall in Orange County, California. Under Mr. Whitmore's leadership, the Cathedral City High School Marching Band has garnered numerous awards and performed on national television twice (2005 and 2007), and the Cathedral City High School Symphonic Band was selected to perform as the showcase ensemble during the 2008 California Band Directors Association Annual Convention. Mr. Whitmore belongs to several professional organizations that include Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, Phoenix Honorary Leadership Society, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Music Educators National Conference, and California Music Educators Association.

Mrs. Tiffani Natalini-Whitmore

Tiffani Natalini-Whitmore has been the Director of Visual Activities at Cathedral City High School since 2001. During that time the size of the color guard has grown from 4 members to 24 members. Tiffani's color guard experience includes being a four year member and color guard captain of the Bands of America National Champion Plymouth-Canton Marching Band and a four year member and color guard section leader of the University of Michigan Marching Band. Tiffani has worked with several groups in Michigan including Plymouth-Canton, Saline, and Southlake High Schools. She has also worked with the color guard at Desert Hot Springs High School in Desert Hot Springs, CA.

Tiffani's focus with all the groups she has worked with includes making color guard and marching band an enjoyable and rewarding learning experience. It is also important that all students feel they are welcome and valued members of the organization. The skills pride that develops while in color guard apply to many areas of life . Tiffani's hope is that students will take this experience and apply their new knowledge base throughout their lives.

Tiffani is originally from Michigan where she attended the University of Michigan and received a Bachelor's degree in Sports Medicine and a Master's degree in Ergonomics. In May 2005, she received her Registered Nursing degree at College of the Desert. She currently works at Eisenhower Medical Center as a medical-surgical nurse.

Brian Scott Morales

Brian Scott Morales has been involved with the Cathedral City High School band program since 2000. He excelled in band and music throughout high school, participating in all of the bands' performing ensembles. In addition to the CCHS band program, Brian has also performed with various honor bands, three Drum Corps International championship groups, and other various groups and ensembles.

While pursuing drum and bugle corps, Brian has studied under many world renowned percussionists and educators, including: Brian S. Mason, Andrew Beall, Ike Jackson, Caleb Rothe, and Dan Duffield. He has performed in venues such as The Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, Mile High Stadium (home of the Denver Broncos) in Denver, Colorado, The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots) in Foxboro, Mass.

After graduating in 2004, Brian began volunteering to help with the drumline and front ensemble. He was hired on as a front ensemble tech the following year. Over the years, he began to extend his instruction to the full drumline and will be taking over this year as percussion caption head for the marching band season.

Brian is currently studying music at RCC and has been accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston for the fall term of 2009.