Justin P. Ward is the Director of Bands at Pelham High School in Pelham, AL where he oversees all activities of this storied band program. Under his direction the Pelham Wind Ensemble has been a featured ensemble at the 2018 Alabama Music Educator’s Association In-Service Conference, 2017 Kennesaw State University Concert Band Invitational, 2017 UAB Concert Band Invitational, 2016 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival and the 2015 Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic. He previously served at Pelham High School as the Associate Director of Bands. In 2012, Justin received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The University of Alabama School of Music Faculty and Pi Kappa Lambda. He previously served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (The University of Alabama) with the University Bands Department within the School of Music. Mr. Ward holds a B.S. in Music Education (2005), M.A. (2010) in Music and Secondary Education, and an Ed.S in Secondary Education and Curriculum Design (2011) from The University of Alabama. In 2011, Justin was selected as the Most Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the College of Education and Music Education Faculty. Prior to his appointment at The University of Alabama, Justin taught for three years in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as the Director of Bands/Orchestra at Aynor Middle School and the Assistant Director of Bands/Orchestra at Aynor High School. During this time, Mr. Ward also served on the staff of Coastal Carolina University.
Justin has designed marching band drill and music arrangements for over 40 high schools and universities, including The University of Alabama “Million Dollar Band.” Justin’s arrangements have been heard at the nation’s top sporting events from the NCAA Final Four and NIT Final Four to the AllState Sugar Bowl (2008 & 2014), Citi BCS National Championship (2010), AllState BCS National Championship (2012), the Discover BCS National Championship (2013), and the College Football Playoff (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). In January 2013, Justin presented a clinic entitled “Warming up our Concert Bands before MPA: What we Gleaned from Experts, Experience, Observation, and Research” at the Alabama Music Educator’s Association In-Service Conference in Montgomery, AL. The research study was published in UPDATE: Applications of Research for Music Education.