Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Wind Ensemble

JOHN SEATON serves as the Director of Bands at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, an arts magnet school in the Clark County (Las Vegas) School District, one of the largest school districts in the country. Mr. Seaton is in his 8th year at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and his 4th year as Director of Bands. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble (V3) and Symphonic Band (V1), Co-Conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra (O4) and teaching Woodwind Techniques. Ensembles under Mr. Seaton’s direction have consistently garnered superior ratings in adjudication, and maintain an active schedule of travel and conference performances, most recently receiving the invitation to perform at the 76th annual Midwest Clinic in 2022. In 2018, Mr. Seaton was recognized as a “Teacher of Influence” at a reception hosted at UNLV, in which a recent LVA graduate submitted an essay highlighting his influence on their path to college. Mr. Seaton was recently selected by a student panel of the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra as the 2023 "High School Music Teacher of the Year," for "going above and beyond to offer students unique musical experiences, inspiring students to succeed, and exposing students to diverse repertoire, styles, and genres."

As a saxophonist, he has performed multiple times with both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Las Vegas Philharmonic, and has performed concerti as a soloist with both the Wright State University Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, and The Desert Winds. Additionally, he has given recitals across the United States and on the international stage, including performances at multiple North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Conferences, the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Conference, the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, and both a solo and quartet recital of world premieres at the 2012 World Saxophone Congress XVI in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Consistently in demand as a guest clinician and private instructor, Mr. Seaton has previously taught applied saxophone lessons for the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, district-wide clinics for the Clark County School District, and high schools across the United States. Students under his instruction have been accepted into the saxophone studios at the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Youngstown State University, Wright State University, the Interlochen Saxophone Institute, and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. An avid writer, he has been published multiple times by The Instrumentalist magazine with articles including “Adjusting Saxophone Fingerings” and “The Art of Teaching Saxophone: An Interview with Timothy McAllister.” Mr. Seaton has also recently presented invited sessions at both the Arts Schools Network and Nevada Music Teachers Association conferences.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Seaton serves as the Associate Conductor and Principal Saxophonist of The Desert Winds: A Contemporary Wind Ensemble, which recently traveled to perform at The Midwest Clinic in 2016. The organization features a roster of performers that include many local music educators, college students and freelance musicians. Since its debut, the Desert Winds has reached thousands of people through both inspiring performances and educational programs. Mr. Seaton also serves as the wind section coach for the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, a high school/collegiate extracurricular youth orchestra.

Mr. Seaton holds an M.M. in Saxophone Performance with Program Honors from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University and a B.M. in Music Education, summa cum laude, from the Wright State University School of Music. His primary teachers include Timothy McAllister and Shelley Jagow. Mr. Seaton is a Conn-Selmer Artist, D’Addario Woodwinds Artist, and Key Leaves artist. He performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones, D’Addario reeds, and uses Key Leaves saxophone care products.

PATRICK BOWEN is the LVA Director of Percussion, and has been the Director of the World Jazz Studies program at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts since 2001. He is presently the Principal Percussionist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and performed in a two-year run as a percussionist in “Showstoppers” at Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. He played in the Sinatra 100: An All-Star GRAMMY Concert with stars such as Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, Harry Connick, Jr., Seth MacFarlane, and Usher to commemorate Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. He has been a guest soloist with the Hartt Symphony, Henderson Civic Orchestra, and UNLV Percussion Ensemble. He has also played with Elton John, Clint Black, Sheila E, Wynona Judd, Lionel Richie, Dudley Moore, Boys II Men, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Oleta Adams, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, Tim McGraw, Brian McKnight, Andrea Bocelli, and David Foster.

Mr. Bowen has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the Hartt School of Music (Cum Laude), a Master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Montana, and a Teaching Certificate from UNLV. He studied jazz under Jackie McClean, Nat Reeves, Jaki Byard, and Alexander Lepak. Patrick Bowen is proud to be endorsed

by Crescent Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, Regal Tip by Calato, and Toca Percussion.