Band Director, Karl Lampe, received his Bachelor of Music degree cum laude, California Teaching Credential and Master of Arts in Music Theory from San Diego State University. Mr. Lampe’s principal instrument is the French Horn and has played with symphonic bands and orchestras in the United States, Europe and Mexico. Mr. Lampe has studied French Horn with John Lorge, principal French Horn with the San Diego Symphony. In his free time, Mr. Lampe likes to participate in the Palomar College Symphonic band and the Huron Municipal Band.

Mr. Lampe started working in the Ramona Unified School District in late 2004 as Music Coach for the elementary band program. In the 2004-2005 school year, the elementary band program had 150 students participating in the 5th and 6th grades. In the 2005-2006 school year, 4th grade students were allowed to participate in the band program and student participation increased to 250 students. Band is offered to students for 1/2-hour instruction during school class time and the students are ‘pulled out’ of their regular class once per week. In the 2006-2007 school year, the band program was first offered to students at Ramona Community School.

In 2006, Mr. Lampe was hired full-time as a music instructor for the Ramona Unified School District. Mr. Lampe’s responsibilities included teaching General Music at Ramona Community School and instrumental band at James Dukes, Ramona Elementary, Barnett Elementary, Mt. Woodson Elementary, Hanson Elementary and Ramona Community School. In 2007, Mr. Lampe was asked to take over the band program at Olive Peirce Middle School and continue with his responsibilities as instrumental music instructor at James Dukes, Ramona Elementary, Barnett Elementary, Mt. Woodson Elementary, Hanson Elementary and Ramona Community School.

In January 2006, the Ramona Elementary Junior Royal Alliance Honor Band was first formed. This program was open to all students participating in elementary band in Ramona, who agreed to rehearse 45 minutes after school one day per week and rehearse on Saturdays for an hour from January to May. Thirty-five students participated in the honor band, which met in the music room, at Ramona Elementary. The Ramona Elementary Junior Royal Alliance Honor Band grew to 64 students in 2007 and rehearsals were moved to larger facilities at Ramona Community School. In 2008, the Ramona Elementary Junior Royal Alliance Honor Band grew to 75 students and again had to move to larger facilities at Olive Peirce Middle School. In 2008, a second honor band was formed, and for the first time, the second honor band (Advanced Honor Band), held auditions for participation. Twenty-three students passed the auditions and form the core of the Advanced Honor Band. The Ramona Elementary Junior Royal Alliance Honor Band participates each May in a Music Festival in Orange County, California and has received Excellent ratings and a trophy each year.