Michael Howard is currently in his second year as Associate Director of Bands at Vandegrift High School. At Vandegrift, he is the Director of the Symphonic Winds, Co-Director of the Jazz Band and Concert Band, and assists with the Marching Band. Mr. Howard joined the Vandegrift Band Program from James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. As Associate Director of the JE Taylor HS Band his responsibilities included directing the Marching and Jazz Programs, conducting the Concert Band, and coordinating and teaching the drumline. He also taught beginner percussion classes at Memorial Parkway Junior High School.
Mr. Howard, a native of Hondo, TX, started his teaching career at Morton Ranch High School, where he was a band director and helped open the school in 2004. At Morton Ranch, he taught the Concert Band, Jazz Band, assisted with the marching band and directed all percussion activities. Before teaching at Morton Ranch, Mr. Howard was a percussion instructor for the Cedar Park High School Band in Cedar Park, Texas and an instructor for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, Wisconsin.
Aside from his responsibilities teaching the Vandegrift High School Band, Mr. Howard is an active Leadership and Marching Clinician. Since 2004, Mr. Howard has toured the state numerous times as a faculty member of the nationally recognized SASI Student Leadership Team. With SASI, he has the opportunity to work with band students from around the state in Leadership Development and Marching Skills. As a percussion clinician, he has conducted clinics all over Texas and the Midwest including clinic appearances at PASIC and Yamaha Sounds of Summer. Aside from teaching percussion, Mr. Howard has performed with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and the Austin Lyric Opera.
Mr. Howard graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos, Suma Cum Laude, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He lives in Cedar Park with his wife Amber, his five-year-old daughter, Madison and his 6-month old son, Justin.
