Concert Band Director

Jeff Chariker has led the Ron Phillips New Horizon’s Concert Band since 2018 when he accepted the baton from the founder of the band, Ron Phillips. In addition, he currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Music and Media at Palm West Community Church in Sun City West, AZ.

Jeff received his B.S. degree in Music Education from Grand Canyon University in 1990 where he sat principal horn in the Wind Ensemble for four years and was a tenor section leader in the university’s choral groups. Following graduation, he taught choral and instrumental music in the public school system. Jeff also spent six years as a professional musician in the Valley gigging as an accompanist for all-state choral events and local high school groups, maintained a private piano studio, served as a choral and instrumental clinician, and co-wrote/performed an original show funded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Jeff lives in Peoria with his wife Samantha (a public school fine arts administrator) and have adult twin sons. Jeff is an avid woodworker in his free time and generally loves to create using his hands.

Jazz Band Director

Jim DeBusk is a Native Arizonan who received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Grand Canyon University, and a Master of Education Degree in Instructional Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Jim is an accomplished trombonist, vocalist, conductor and clinician. He retired in 2022 after 29 years as Director of Choirs at Washington High School in Phoenix, Arizona where he also served as Performing Arts Department Chair.

He served as Director of Big Band Grandstand, a community jazz band for the past 3 years. Jim has been an active member of the Sonoran Desert Chorale for the past 23 years, and served as the Associate Director of the Chorale for 5 years. As a member of the Chorale, he has toured Italy, France, Spain, Scotland and Ireland as a singer and conductor. He has held many positions for the Arizona Music Education Association including President and Treasurer of the Arizona Choral Educators. He has served as a clinician for festivals across the state of Arizona including the Eastern Arizona College Choral Festival, the Northwest Region Jr. High Honor Choir, the Scottsdale District Honor Choir, and he recently traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia to serve as the Director of the Honor Choir for the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools.

Jim Lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Tonya where they enjoy spending time with their 3 children and 3 grandchildren.