Angela Woo is the longtime Director of Instrumental Music at John Adams Middle School, where she has taught since 1995. A UCLA alumna, Woo holds degrees in music education, piano performance, education and conducting, as well as a master’s degree in educational administration from Cal State Northridge. Before coming to JAMS, she directed the band, orchestra, choir and jazz programs at Corona del Mar High School and later conducted the Santa Monica College Wind Ensemble during the 1995–96 season. At John Adams, she built one of the district’s largest instrumental programs, with nearly 300 students participating in three concert bands and three string orchestras.

Under Woo, JAMS ensembles have consistently earned top ratings at music festivals, and in 2011 the school’s Wind Ensemble became the only middle-school concert band selected to perform at the inaugural California All-State Music Education Conference. Woo has also become a nationally respected guest conductor and clinician, leading honor ensembles across the United States and abroad, including performances at Carnegie Hall. Her honors include SMMUSD Teacher of the Year in 2005, the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor in 2012, the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s Gold Award in 2020 and Outstanding Middle School Educator Award in 2025, and the California Music Educators Association Middle School Music Educator Award in 2024.

Angela Woo

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