Faculty

Mr. Sorensen is the band director at Eisenhower Middle School and has been a part of public school band since he started playing the saxophone in 6th grade.  At Eisenhower Middle School he teaches Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band as well as Jazz Bands I & II.

Mr. Sorensen graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Music Education.  While at UNM, he played the saxophone for the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Spirit Marching Band, Soundpack Basketball Band, Jazz Bands, Jazz Combos and the Saxophone Studio.  He also played Sousaphone for the Spirit Marching Band.  He was the drum major for the Spirit Marching Band for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.  He studied saxophone from Dr. Eric Lau and clarinet from Dr. Keith Lemmons.  Mr. Sorensen was the recipient of the Outstanding Senior award for the Music Department of UNM in 2017.

Mr. Sorensen was previously the band director at Wilson Middle School and worked extensively with the Highland High School marching band program.  He is an active performer in Albuquerque, playing saxophone with local bands Moonhat and Keepin' Up With The Joneses.

Mr. Sorensen lives with his wife, Rebecca Kendall, who is the choir teacher at Rio Rancho High School.  They have two dogs, Earl and Roger.

Grace Sweet comes to Eisenhower Middle School from Massachusetts, where she has taught band, orchestra, general music, and chorus. Most recently, she served as Instrumental Music Director at Easton Middle School, teaching band, orchestra, and the school's three award-winning jazz ensembles. At Eisenhower she teaches The General Electric Ensemble and Advanced Band.

Grace studied Music Education and French Horn Performance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  There, she played in large ensembles including the university's Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble I and toured with the Mount Holyoke College Symphony Orchestra to Chicago and Washington D.C.  Grace also loves to play chamber and solo music, and owes a lot to her horn teachers Dr. Joshua Michal and Rachel Daly.

Band is one of Grace's favorite things in the world, but when she's not in the classroom, you might find her hiking, gardening, or petting someone else's dogs.