Michael Westbrook is in his ninth year serving as Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies at Fort Smith Southside High School. His distinguished career spans over four decades and includes leadership positions in both public school and collegiate settings.

Prior to his tenure at Southside, Mr. Westbrook held positions in the Springdale Public Schools, where he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Springdale High School, George Junior High School, and Kelly Middle School. In 2014–2015, he was appointed Interim Director of Bands and Visiting Instructor of Music at Arkansas Tech University. While at Arkansas Tech, his responsibilities included conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Concert Band, and the “Arkansas Band of Distinction” Marching Band, as well as teaching instrumental methods and conducting courses.

From 2004 to 2014, Mr. Westbrook served as Director of Bands at Westmoore High School. Prior to that, he held the position of Director of Bands at Stillwater High School and served concurrently as Coordinator of Instrumental Music for the Stillwater Public Schools from 1991 to 2004. Under his leadership, ensembles consistently earned superior ratings in concert, sight-reading, and marching performances, achieving the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Sweepstakes Award on multiple occasions. Bands under his direction have also been selected to perform as Honor Ensembles at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) Conference on four separate occasions.

Mr. Westbrook earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University, where he studied under Mr. Gene Witherspoon and Dr. Richard Fletcher. He later received a Master of Music in Conducting Performance and Pedagogy from Oklahoma State University under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Missal. He has also participated in conducting studies with renowned conductors Frederick Fennell, H. Robert Reynolds, and Thomas Dvorak.

A recipient of numerous honors, Mr. Westbrook was awarded the Stanbury Award for Outstanding Young Band Directors by the American School Band Directors Association in 1990. He has received the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and was named one of "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" by School Band and Orchestra Magazine. In 2014, he was recognized with the Exemplary Teacher Award by OkMEA. He served as All-OMEA Honor Band Chair in 2000 and was later elected Band Vice President of OkMEA in 2003. In recognition of his significant contributions to music education, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2015.