Taylor Sitzman has served as the Associate Director of Bands at Braswell High School since 2017. Since starting at Braswell, the B-Well Band has more than doubled in size and continues to see growth in all aspects of the program, from marching to concert to jazz. Under his assistance, the B-Well Marching Band has been named a Bands of America Regional Champion and USBands Regional Champion. The concert ensembles at Braswell have seen such accolades as winning the Mark of Excellence Award, consistent UIL sweepstakes awards, an invitation to perform at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and a recent invitation to perform at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Sitzman takes pride in guiding a culture of "greatness" within the Braswell community.

 

         Prior to moving back to Texas, Mr. Sitzman was on the band staff at Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During his tenure at Union, Mr. Sitzman was fortunate to work with students in grades 6-12 from 2012-2017. In those five years, the marching band at Union was a Bands of America Regional Medalist, Grand National Finalist, and the ensemble medaled in all five years at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association State Marching Championships. His concert ensembles performed varying levels of literature and were consistent sweepstakes award winners. A highlight of his time at Union was taking his 8th grade Symphonic Band to the 2017 state convention where they performed as an OkMEA Honor Band.

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         Prior to teaching at Union, Mr. Sitzman taught privately and worked with many high school bands across Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma while obtaining a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During his time at the U of A, Mr. Sitzman became an established horn player in the Northwest Arkansas region; performing with the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Brass Choirs, and Brass Ensembles at the University. 

   

         Mr. Sitzman’s marching arts experience includes performing with Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (Rockford, Illinois) during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Following his age-out summer with Regiment he was hired as a member of Phantom Regiment’s brass staff for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasons. He went on to teach one additional summer on the brass staff at the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018. During the winter months, Mr. Sitzman has served as a judge for winter guard circuits across the country since 2013.

 

         Mr. Sitzman's professional affiliations include serving as the University of Arkansas Chapter President of College Music Educators National Conference in his senior year in Fayetteville. He is currently a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and International Horn Symposium. Mr. Sitzman is a native North Texan, graduating from Lewisville High School in 2007. He is excited to be “home” in DFW and closer to his family. Aside from teaching band, Mr. Sitzman enjoys traveling, cooking, and relaxing at home with his husband, Racey, and their two dogs, Apollo and Luna.