February 25, 2026
Registration opens November 1!
The Volunteer Concert Clinic is an exciting opportunity for MS and HS concert bands to perform on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus in the beautiful Student Union Auditorium. Ensembles will have a 15-20 minute performance slot followed by a hands on rehearsal clinic with a featured music educator and the UT bands faculty. This is a non-rating format festival focused on student achievement and growth!
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Cost: $150 per ensemble
Payment Link: Available November 1.
CLINICIANS:
UT Bands faculty: Dr. John Zastoupil, Dr. Michael Stewart, and Dr. Fuller Lyon
KERRY TAYLOR – FEATURED CLINICIAN
Retired as Director of Bands for Westlake High School and Fine Arts Director of Eanes ISD in Austin, Texas, as well as Department Chair of Fine Arts at Westlake High School. Mr. Taylor taught 37 years as a band director in the Texas public schools; five years in Katy ISD and 32 in Eanes ISD. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree in Applied Conducting, both from the University of Texas at Austin.
Under Mr. Taylor’s direction, the Westlake High School Band has been named ‘Best in Class’ or ‘Runner-up’ at the Buccaneer Music Festival, South Coast Music Festival, MusicFest (Orlando, Fl.) and the DC Festival in San Antonio. The Westlake Band has made concert tours to the Pacific Northwest, Canada and the British Isles. Under Mr. Taylor’s baton, the Westlake Wind Ensemble has performed twice (2002 and 2015) at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the American Bandmasters Association on March 4, 2006 and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles on July 8, 2009. In 1997, the John Philip Sousa Foundation presented the Westlake Band with the Sudler Flag of Honor recognizing excellence in concert band over an extended period of time. The Westlake Marching Band has been a Finalist in multiple Bands of America Regionals and Super Regionals and has been a Finalist at the 5A and 6A State Marching Contest-placing in the top 10 on five occasions. On January 2, 2017 the Westlake Chaparral Band performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. This was their second time (2003) to perform in this parade. In 2010, the Sousa Foundation honored the WHS band with the Sudler Shield for excellence in marching. In December 2016, the international honorary band fraternity, Phi Beta Mu, recognized the Westlake Band Program as a first recipient of the Earl Irons “Program of Distinction Award” for excellence in all aspects of a well-rounded band program.
Mr. Taylor is active as a clinician and adjudicator in Texas and across the US. He has served the Texas Music Educators Association in many positions including Chairman of the Band Division and in 2005-06 as President of the 10,000+ member organization. He currently serves as President-Elect of the American Bandmasters Association. His other professional memberships include the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, and the College Band Directors National Association. Recently, the UIL honored Mr. Taylor with the “Sponsor Excellence Award.” In 2016 the Texas Bandmasters Association honored Mr. Taylor wth the “Meritorious Achievement Award.” He is also the Music Director of the Waterloo Wind Band, a south Austin community concert band.
