Mr. Stephen A. Howard is a native of Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Howard holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Radford University and a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University.
In 2007, Mr. Howard moved to Austin to start his teaching career as an Associate Band Director at James Bowie High School. At Bowie, Mr. Howard received consistent Division I ratings at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Evaluation with many of the school’s wind ensembles. The James Bowie High School Outdoor Performing Ensemble also experienced success during his time there, being named a UIL State Marching Band Finalist in 2008, 2010, and 2012. They consistently appeared in finals competition at Bands of America Regionals and Super Regionals as well as the BOA Grand National Championships in 2009 and 2012.
As Director of Bowie’s Color Guard, the program grew considerably to include over 50 members and 2 competitive teams. Most notably, the JV and Varsity Winter Guards were both named State Champions at the 2014 Texas Color Guard Circuit State Championships. The Varsity team went on to appear in the Scholastic Open Class Finals at the WGI World Championships that same year.
In 2014, Mr. Howard was named Director of Bands for the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, a school of choice that serves grades 6–12 in the Austin Independent School District. Under his direction, the band program tripled in size. The Marching Stars are a five-time Bands of America Regional Class Champion and recently represented the state of Texas in the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Ann Richards Color Guard program has seen tremendous growth from just 5 members in 2014 to 45 members and 2 teams in 2021. Under his direction, the Varsity Winter Guard was named the 2017 TCGC Novice Class Champion, the 2018 TCGC Scholastic Regional A State Bronze Medalist, and the 2019 TCGC Scholastic AA State Silver Medalist.
Mr. Howard is an active adjudicator in marching arts. As a performer, he was a member of Insignia Winter Guard, Innovation Winter Guard, Apex Winter Guard, and the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and is Past-President of the Texas Color Guard Circuit. He was recently inducted into the TCGC Hall of Fame. Mr. Howard and his wife, Hannah, live in Bryan with their two children, Aria and Andrew.
