Dr. Marco P. Samperio is an Associate Band Director at L.V. Berkner High School. His responsibilities include directing the Symphonic Band III and jazz band, assisting with marching band and other concert bands, and teaching sixth-grade beginner band classes at elementary campuses within the Berkner cluster. Having been inspired by his own high school director, who mentored him throughout his student years, Dr. Samperio is thrilled to pay it forward at Berkner High School and serve as a positive influence in his students’ lives.
Dr. Samperio’s love for the Berkner cluster began in 2013, when he taught as a trombone instructor for students at Apollo Junior High, Liberty Junior High, and Berkner High School. He led masterclasses and provided one-on-one lessons to students while he completed his Master of Music degree in trombone performance from Southern Methodist University, studying trombone with John Kitzman.
Most recently, Dr. Samperio received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trombone performance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, studying trombone with Thomas Ashworth. In addition to his performance obligations, Dr. Samperio undertook educational opportunities to rehearse the University’s Maroon and Gold Campus Bands, mentor trombone students in Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, complete an advanced conducting course, and teach applied trombone lessons to undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Music. Post-graduation, he studied orchestral trombone with Kari Sundström and jazz trombone with Dean Sorenson.
After high school, Dr. Samperio attended Blinn College before transferring to Sam Houston State University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Dr. Samperio studied trombone under Ben Osborne and John McCroskey and performed in the SHSU Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble II, trombone choir, and brass choir. As a music educator, Dr. Samperio taught trombone lessons to students in Montgomery ISD and completed his student teaching in Spring ISD. He served as a low brass instructor for Spring ISD the summer after receiving his undergraduate degree.
Dr. Samperio is ecstatic to be back working with the students in the Berkner cluster. He feels incredibly gifted to work with such amazing faculty and music students and continue cultivating their enthusiasm and passion for the arts on a daily basis.