Zach Brake Band
Phone: 303-853-1225
Degrees and Certifications:
MME - University of Northern Colorado
BME - University of Colorado at Boulder
Mr. Zach Brake
Mr. Zach Brake, M.M.E., is a band teacher in Mapleton Public Schools, where he conducts the Skyview Symphonic Band, teaches 6th traveling grade beginning band, and serves as director of the Jazz Studies program, which includes the Mapleton Jazz Messengers and the Jazz Lab.
While at Mapleton, Brake started the Jazz Studies program, which now has nearly 60 students involved. In 2025, the Mapleton Jazz Messengers received "Excellent" ratings at the Mile High Jazz Fest in their first ever festival appearance. He has also organized the 2024 and 2025 Mapleton Jazz Fest, featuring guest artists from the Denver Municipal Band. The Symphonic Band performed a full orchestra work with Festival Orchestra at the CO-Asta 2025 conference. Under Brake's leadership, he organized and coordinated the first ever Mapleton Jr. High Honor Band Festival in Spring 2025, and has prepared numerous side-by-side opportunities for Mapleton band students including with Guerrilla Fanfare (2022-2025), Denver Brass (2023), Speak the Future Jazz Combo (2024) and Queen City Winds Brass Quintet (2024), as well as guest performances from the CMU Rowdy Brass Band (2023-2024) and Nebraska Wesleyan Wind Symphony (2023). He has also arranged music for all the zero hour bands, marching band, and all the jazz bands.
Mr. Brake has a Master of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado where he was recognized as a distinguished music education graduate, and a Bachelor of Music Education, and a Certificate in Music Technology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, which was awarded with highest honors.
In 2015, he founded the Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band, an active group which he currently manages and directs. He performs frequently with Guerrilla Fanfare, with whom he has performed well over 500 times, and has the honor of performing with the Otone Brass Band, Speak the Future Jazz Combo, Gora Gora Orkestar, Badda Boom Brass Band, Illigal States Brass Band, Trombombs, Royal Street Ramblers, and the Isaac Points Jakarta Band.
Prior to joining the Performing Arts team in Mapleton, Mr. Brake was the Director of Instrumental Music at Thunder Valley K-8 School for 5 years, where he directed the concert bands, string orchestras and jazz ensemble. While at Thunder Valley, his concert band received "Excellent" ratings at the Colorado Bandmasters Association Festival, and his jazz ensemble received "Superior" ratings at the Skyline Jazz Festival.
When he is not teaching or performing, Mr. Brake enjoys yoga, casual gaming, cooking, hiking and practicing. Mr. Brake feels fortunate to be an educator in Mapleton Public Schools.