About Mr. Allen
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/7/8/18784332/5378613.jpg)
I grew up in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. As a kid, I always loved anything involving music and the arts. In 4th grade I started playing clarinet in the school band and switched to saxophone the following year. In high school I was involved in just about every kind of music class that was offered which is when I decided I wanted to become a music teacher. I graduated from Arizona State University with my Bachelors of Music Education in 2005 and began teaching K-6 music in the Chandler Unified School District. In 2008 my wife and I moved to Oregon where I began teaching in the Hillsboro School District. In 2011 I received my masters in Educational Leadership and Policy from Portland State University. This year I am excited to be the music teacher at Orenco Elementary School. Other schools in Hillsboro I have taught at include Brookwood, Jackson and W.L. Henry. When I'm not at school, I enjoy playing my saxophone with the Portland Wind Symphony, hiking with my two greater swiss mountain dogs, teaching saxophone lessons, traveling, and planning new fun things to do with students in music class.
10 of My Favorite Things
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/7/8/18784332/1369674286.jpg)
- Musician - John Coltrane (saxophone player)
- Composer - Beethoven
- Band - The Shins, but it changes all the time.
- Restaurant - Serious Pie in Seattle (Best Pizza Ever!)
- Color - Blue
- T.V. Shows - Amazing Race & The Jimmy Fallon Show
- Movie - Star Wars
- Vacation Place - Anywhere with lots of history, culture and cool architecture.
- Time of Year - Fall
- Sports - Basket Ball, Skiing, Soccer