WMS Music Directors

My name is Colton DeCarteret and I grew up in Auburn Washington. When I joined band in 6th grade, I had a pair of drumsticks on hand, so the director encouraged me to pick up percussion. Since then, I have played in countless groups, both school related and professional. I was in multiple rock bands throughout high school who performed often. I was also a resident percussionist for a local playhouse in Auburn, performing professional season shows and summer camps. Throughout college I coached the drum lines at Mercer Island HS, AC Davis HS, and Cle-elum Roslyn high school, while serving as the vice president for Central Washington University's NAFME (National Association for Music Education) club. I graduated from CWU, finished up my student teaching, and then substituted in the Auburn school district for the 2022-2023 academic year. Also during that year, I was given the opportunity to judge a marching band competition, judge a solo and ensemble contest, adjudicate a band competition, and coach a week long middle school jazz camp

Joseph To

Joseph is the Director of Orchestras and Choir at Washington Middle School. He teaches beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of orchestra, and choir

Before joining the Washington Middle School music faculty, Mr. To served on the Northwest Girlchoir board as the co-chair of the Racial Equity Committee. He is an advocate for providing equitable music education programs for all students. He has been deeply involved in the local music scene, directing multiple music programs in the area. This includes leading the Magnolia Chorale, the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle, and most recently, teaching Northwest Girlchoir.