Ed Maina is very active as a woodwind soloist and clinician as well as an educator. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Music and Jazz Studies and a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami and is excited to begin his second year as Associate Director of Bands, as well as the Orchestra Director here at Flanagan High School. Prior to teaching at Flanagan, Mr. Maina was the Director of Bands at Lawton Chiles Middle School for seven years and thirteen years at Westview Middle School, both in Miami-Dade County. While there, he earned the coveted "Louis Armstrong Fellowship Award", awarded by the International Association of Jazz Educators for excellence in Jazz Education (1992). To date, his bands have earned twenty-three Florida Bandmasters Association "Superior" Awards. Last year was the first year in Flanagan's history that the Symphonic Winds (Falcon Sound's second concert band) earned the right to perform at the F.B.A. State Evaluation by receiving a Superior rating at the district level!

While fulfilling his duties as an educator, Mr. Maina travels several times a year performing concerts and conducting clinics. He also was one the coordinators of the Superintendent's Honors Jazz Band (Miami-Dade County), and has also been the guest conductor and soloist for both Broward and Miami-Dade County's Honor bands. He was also a selection adjudicator for F.B.A., Middle School All-State bands for two years and was a board member of the Dade County Music Educators Association. Some of his performing and recording credits include Linda Eder, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Jon Secada, Chaka Khan, Pebo Bryson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Charytin (Univision), Ednita Rosario, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Bob James, Chubby and Duffy Jackson, Jaco Pastorius, Louie Bellison, Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and The Maynard Ferguson Orchestra.

Mr. Maina still performs, records, private teaches and resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He is happily married ( 25 years, now ) and is very proud his two children Justin (22), and Priscilla (20) who is an accomplished flute player with the United States Marine Corps Band (Okinawa). Both of my children are Flanagan HS and All State Band Alumni. Priscilla will also be featured on her dad's upcoming CD/album..."In the Company of Brothers". As well as a proud, member of the Flanagan H.S. family, he is obviously a proud dad!

Ed also played with the contemporary Christian jazz group Causeway – known to friends and fans for bridging the gap between yesterday and today – The Causeway recordings put their spin of contemporary jazz, samba, guajira, and even a little mambo with favorite hymns of yesterday. 

Ed currently plays in the band "The Circle"  featuring Rick Krive which is one of South Florida's most exciting new bands.  Ed is also working on a new solo CD due out soon!

Here are some Mp3 audio samples featuring Ed on Sax!

• All Creatures Of Our God And King 

• What A Friend We Have In Jesus 

• Smokin' Cubans 

• In The Garden  (Download on i-Tunes here!)

• My Cup Runneth Over