Mr. Harris
Mr. Harris is in his 25th year teaching and is originally from the Texas Gulf coast area where he attended Lamar University and received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance. From there he attended The University of North Texas in pursuit of a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies where he was a member of the award winning and nationally acclaimed Two O’clock Lab Band. In the interim, Mr. Harris earned his Texas Teaching Certification in Music EC-12 and became a full time teacher.
Mr. Harris was a full time professional musician for nearly 20 years. During this time he became very well known nationally as a trombonist, musical director and writer/arranger for live performances and concerts as well as studio appearances. He has many national awards including two Downbeat Magazine DB awards, a Dove Award Nomination and a Grammy Award Nomination. Although semi-retired from playing, Mr. Harris still performs locally in the Dallas area as a free lance musician and makes public school and university concert appearances.
As a teacher, Mr. Harris founded the band program at The North Hills School in Irving, TX and cultivated it from approximately 30 members to well over 130 6th-12th grade band students. From there, Mr. Harris was the Director of Bands at Gainesville Junior High School and Associate Director of Bands at Gainesville High School. While at Gainesville, all programs grew to record numbers of band students and received unprecedented awards and ratings in Marching, Solo and Ensemble, Concert and Sight Reading and Jazz Contests.
Mr. Harris has resided in the Denton area since 1993 and is happily married to his wife, and Denton ISD teacher, Maria. They have four children: Michael, Jonathan, Abby and Travis. Mr. Harris enjoys “family time” which includes music, food and the outdoors.
