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Mike Howard (Leander, TX) Mike Howard currently serves as Director of Fine Arts for the Leander Independent School District. Prior to this, he spent 20 years as a high school band director, most recently in Leander ISD at Vandegrift High School. He was one of the founding directors when VHS opened in 2009 and became Director of Bands in 2014. During his time at Vandegrift, Mr. Howard’s marching bands were recognized with several high honors, including being named 2019 Bands of America Grand National Champion, a four-time BOA Regional Champion, consistent BOA Super Regional Finalist, and three-time UIL State Marching Contest medalist. The Vandegrift High School Marching Band was also awarded the Sudler Shield by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2019. Under Howard’s direction, the Vandegrift Wind Ensemble was selected as the 2018 TMEA 6A State Honor Band and performed at the 2019 TMEA Convention and was chosen as a featured ensemble at the 2021 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The Vandegrift Concert Band Program was also the recipient of the 2020 Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Prior to his time in Leander ISD, Mr. Howard was an assistant band director in Katy ISD.
Mr. Howard currently serves as Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) State Vice President and Band Division Chair. He has also served as the Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA) Concert Band Vice-President, TMEA Region 32 Band Division Chair, and TMEA Area E Band Division Chair. Mr. Howard is an active clinician around Texas and has served as an adjudicator for UIL, Bands of America, and Drum Corps International.
Mr. Howard’s professional affiliations include membership in the American Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, TMEA, TMAA, and the Texas Bandmasters Association. He graduated from Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, and from Concordia University Texas with a master’s degree in Educational Administration. He lives in Leander, Texas, with his wife Amber, daughter Madison, and son Justin.