Mike Howard (Vandegrift HS)

Mike Howard is currently in his 11th year at Vandegrift High
School and in his 17th year of teaching high school band. He was
one of the founding directors of the band when VHS opened in 2009
and became Head Band Director in the Fall of 2014. While at
Vandegrift, Mr. Howard’s bands have been consistent UIL Concert
Competition Sweepstakes Award Winners. He has also been
instrumental in several marching band high honors such as BOA
Regional Champion, BOA Super Regional Finalist, BOA Super
Regional Class Champion, multiple invitational marching contest
championships, UIL State Marching Contest Finalist, 6A UIL State
Marching Contest Bronze Medalist, 5A UIL State Marching Contest
Silver Medalist, and 4A UIL State Marching Contest Champion. At
Vandegrift, Mr. Howard is the director of the Viper Marching
Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. Aside from being the Director
of Bands at VHS, Mr. Howard is an active Leadership Consultant
and Workshop Presenter. He has been a facilitator for SASI for
the last 11 years. In this time, Mr. Howard has had the
opportunity to work with thousands of students and directors from
around the United States. As a lead facilitator for SASI, he is
heavily involved with the operations of all Drum Major camps as
well as teaching several site-based workshops throughout the
summer. Before coming to Vandegrift, Mr. Howard taught at James
E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. As Associate Director of
the JE Taylor HS Band, his responsibilities included directing
the Jazz Program, assisting with the marching band, conducting
the Concert Band, and coordinating and teaching the drumline. 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. Before teaching
at Morton Ranch, Mr. Howard was an 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. As a
performer, Mr. Howard has performed with the Madison Scouts Drum
and Bugle Corps, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Lyric
Opera and several bands around the Austin/San Antonio area. Mr.
Howard graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos, Suma
Cum Laude, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He lives
in Leander with his wife Amber, his daughter, Madison and his
son, Justin.