Alison Brightwell-Balot holds a Bachelor of Music from NAU in percussion performance, and her Masters in Education from Grand Canyon University.  During her time in Flagstaff,she was caption head and music arranger for Sinagua and Coconino High School.  She also taught the front ensemble for the WGI percussion group Dark Sky in the competitive 2007-2008 season. In addition to teaching, Alison has been a performer with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra for over ten years and served as Principal for three years of that tenure.  Alison has also performed for the Sedona Film Festival, Scottsdale Orchestra, Women in Tune, the Northwest Regional Concert, and various other concerts in the greater Phoenix area.

      

Currently, Alison is Director of Percussion at Cesar Chavez High School and teaches guitar, piano, and is their percussion music arranger. She also serves as caption head and percussion music arranger for Sandra Day O'Connor High School. She has also arranged music for various groups in and out of Arizona.  Alison has served as an adjudicator at the Greater Phoenix honor ensemble, Regionals, Solo and Ensemble, and PAS.  She has also been a guest director for the Greater Phoenix honor percussion ensemble.  In addition to the above, Alison is on staff and co-percussion writer for the newest group and only DCI Sound Sport program in Phoenix called  "Phenom Performing Arts".  Phenom is an organization created with the vision of providing an outlet for musicians of all ages to continually develop and excel in the pageantry arts through community based performance.  

      

Alison is an active member in the Percussive Arts Society, The Arizona Music Educator's Association, and the Music Educator's National Conference.  

    

Alison's passion is about music! She loves teaching music and sharing her passion of music with others.  Alison currently resides in Laveen, Arizona with the love of her life and colleague in percussion, her husband, Shad Balot, her step-daughter, and 4 dogs.