Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor began his music education at the age of five. He would crawl under the old military barracks that the Three Rivers ISD had bought and converted into a "band hall". As his father was teaching, he would collect pennies, nickels, pencils, and other items that the band students had dropped through the cracks in the floor. Those lessons of efficiency and opportunity have stayed with him all his life.

His public school education was shared by the Three Rivers and Alice schools. He attended college at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. During his two years at Del Mar, he studied trumpet with Bill Hipp and played trumpet in the band directed by Marion Busby. Scott completed his undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Frank Elsas, Vince DiNino, and Bill Moody. He later returned to The University of Texas at Austin where he completed his Master of Music degree under the tutelage of Tom Lee.

Scott began his teaching career in the fall of 1970 at Lake Highlands Junior High as the assistant to Carroll Cantrell. In 1971 he was the head director at Forest Meadows Junior High and in 1972 he was named Director of Bands at Westwood Junior High. In 1977 the Westwood Symphonic Band was named "CCC" Honor Band. They performed at the Houston convention in 1978.

In the spring of 1978, Scott succeeded Howard Dunne as Director of Bands at Richardson High School. Fall 2003 will mark the beginning of his twenty seventh year in that position. In 1981 the "Symphonic Winds" and the "Jazz Ensemble" performed at the prestigious Mid - West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1982 the "Symphonic Winds" were named the "AAAAA" Honor Band. They performed for the 1983 TMEA convention in San Antonio.

During his 34-year teaching career, Mr. Taylor's ensembles have amassed an impressive record of first divisions in Marching and Concert competitions. They have many "Best in Class" honors in both fields, including Westlake and Plano East Marching Festivals, Buccaneer Days, Six Flags over Texas, Nashville, National Adjudicators Invitational, Directors Choice and Orlando on six different occasions. They were named Grand Champion four times. In 1983 the Richardson High School Band was named a "charter" recipient of the Sudler Flag of Honor. The Sousa Foundation has also named the Golden Eagle Band to The Historic Roll of Honor of High School Concert Bands for the period between 1960-1996.

Taylor received the Ross Perot Award for Teaching Excellence in the Richardson ISD. He has twice served on the Board of the National Band Association and has just completed a two year term on The Board of Directors of the American Bandmasters Association. In 1994 Mr. Taylor was named as one of ten band directors to the Bandworld Legion of Honor by the Sousa Foundation. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Wind Symphony as well as being a member of the Richardson ISD budget team.

Scott has served on several UIL and TMEA committees and in several TMEA positions and in 1988 was elected Vice President and Band Division Chairman, President - Elect in 1990 and President in 1992. Scott, his wife Betsy, and his daughter Sarah, reside in Dallas.