About Us

Welcome to the Enterprise High School Music Department. We know that it is the outstanding experiences that make high school memorable, and we are all about providing those experiences. Here at Enterprise Music we have over 15 performing ensembles, which take part in over 30 musical events throughout the year. Our students not only work hard to produce great results, they have a lot of fun while doing it!

About the Directors

Alissa Gibbs

Email: [email protected]

Alissa (Aune) Gibbs is honored and thrilled to return to her alma mater as the Choral Music Director of Enterprise High School since 2013. She conducts the Chamber Singers, A Cappella Choir, Low Voice and High Voice Ensemble, TBA Jazz Choir, and is the director of Enterprise Starship and the Victorian Dinner.

Born in Grass Valley, she moved to Redding in 1987 and attended Pacheco Elementary and Enterprise High School.  After two years at Shasta College, she attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She actively participated and is an alumnus of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national co-ed band fraternity.  She received her teaching credential from Simpson University, while student teaching at EHS.  She completed her Masters in Music, with an emphasis in Conducting and Music Education, at Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Alissa started her teaching career at Nipomo HS as the Director of the Instrumental and Choral programs, as well as the music director for three musicals a year.  She became a full-time choral director at Bear River HS, and during those five years directed seven choirs and a variety of musicals.

She has performed with and/or directed a variety of choral and instrumental organizations, as well as musical theatre companies, throughout the state.  She is the current Jazz Choir Representative to the Northern California Band and Choral Director’s Association, where she helps organize the annual select choir and honor jazz choir for all high schools in the northern part of the state. She is the past Summer Conference Chair for the California Choral Director's Association. 

She was recognized with the Choral Educator Award from the California Music Educators Association in 2020, a statewide recognition for her efforts in Choral Music Education.  

When not in rehearsal, she's probably hanging out with her husband John, chasing around her dogs, traveling, or cooking, all while listening to the Dave Matthews Band.

Gabriel Sakuma

Email: [email protected]

Gabriel Sakuma is the Instrumental Music Director at Enterprise High School, where he teaches marching and concert bands, jazz, percussion, and guitar.

He was born and raised in Red Bluff, CA. After graduating from Red Bluff High School, he attended California State University, Chico, where he majored in music. He began teaching music in Chico’s elementary schools as early as 18. By 20, he was the youngest ever student director for Chico State’s concert, jazz, and pep bands. He was involved in the Chico State Wind Ensemble, Jazz X-Press, the Chico Jazz Collective, and the North State Symphony. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in music.

In 2021, Sakuma received his Masters Degree in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University. During his Masters education, he worked with and learned from such educators and composers as Frank Ticheli, Robert W. Smith, David Holsinger. Dr. Paula Crider, and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. He has also performed with great artists such as Joseph Alessi, Greg Gisbert, Dave Pietro, Paul Romaine, Bobby Shew, Julian Bliss, Harry Watters, the Moanin' Frogs, the Boston Brass, and the Canadian Brass. 

Sakuma started his teaching career at Red Bluff High School in 2011. He took up his current position at Enterprise in 2015. As well as teaching music, he also composed and arranged several pieces for bands, percussion, and Starship. In 2022, he wrote the play for that year’s Victorian Dinner, entitled “What the Dickens!?”
​
Outside of music, Sakuma enjoys reading, cooking, and taking long and meandering walks. He lives in Redding with his wife, Lisa, and his daughter, Evelyn.