About Mr. Miller

Henry Miller was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Torrance, California. He began playing the clarinet at the age of nine but failed at it miserably. In sixth grade, he switched to trumpet and experienced early success including participation in the SCSBOA all-Southern California Honor Bands in both middle and high school. His playing earned him a scholarship to play trumpet at the University of Southern California where he studied under Boyde Hood of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Ed Tarr, renowned trumpet historian from Basil, Switzerland. At USC he performed in many performing ensembles including the USC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Lewis, and four years in the "Spirit of Troy", The University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, the Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe.

Eventually he received his Bachelors of Music degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1989 and received his professional clear teaching credential the following year.  He earned membership in several professional musical organizations and honor societies including Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Delta Pi. In 1998, he graduated with honors from CSULB with a Masters of Music degree in trumpet performance and instrumental music conducting. He studied conducting with Larry Curtis and John Carnahan at Long Beach State and has been involved in conducting symposiums with Mitch Fennell (CSU, Fullerton), Jerry Junkin (University of Texas), Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan), Kevin Sedatole (Michigan State University), H. Robert Reynolds (University of Southern California), and world-renowned conductor and founder of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell.

He has taught instrumental music in the Irvine Unified School District since the fall of 1990 and has taught at every grade level from third grade up through university graduate school including twelve different elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, Irvine Valley College and CSU, Long Beach. Currently, he is the Director of Instrumental Music at Sierra Vista Middle School where he teaches three bands, three orchestras, and jazz band. He also annually co-conducts the Fine Arts Summer Music Program in Irvine. He was recognized as Teacher of the Year by the IUSD Fine Arts Department in 1999 and by Sierra Vista Middle School in 2016. Also in 2016, he was designated as the IUSD Middle School Teacher of the year and was a finalist for the Orange County Teacher of the Year. He has been recognized twice by the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators with an "Outstanding Arts Educator Award", and in 2013, he received the "Irene Schopefle Lifetime Achievement Award". In 2017 and 2019, he was one of ten finalists for the National Grammy Foundation Music Educator Award and a 2019 recipient of the Country Music Awards "Music Teacher of Excellence" award. Mr. Miller has presented several workshops for various professional organizations in the topics of music education and trumpet. He has directed a variety of ensembles including those at the college and university level and honor groups in the Irvine, Long Beach, Capistrano, ABC, and Ocean View School Districts, as well as the SCSBOA All-Southern California Middle School Honor Band.

You may contact Mr. Miller via e-mail: HenryMiller@iusd.org or voicemail: 949-936-6642.