Stephen A. Howard, Director of Bands for the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas, will lead his “Marching Stars” in the 2021 Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: the Ann Richards School.
Like many people, I make it a tradition to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving Day. The parade will make a triumphant return this year, after having been cancelled last year due to the pandemic. For me, one of the highlights of the annual event is watching the young people from all over the country as they perform in a variety of high school marching bands. This year, the marching band from Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas, under the leadership of Stephen A. Howard will perform in the parade.
The Ann Richards School is a public all-girls school in the Austin Independent School District that serves grades 6-12. The school’s “Marching Stars” are the nation’s only all-female Marching Band. Under Stephen’s leadership, the Marching Stars have been named a Bands Of America (B)A) Regional Class Champion four times. In addition, the Ann Richards Color Guard program has earned accolades in the Texas Color Guard Circuit, including being named the 2017 Scholastic Novice Champion, the 2018 Scholastic Regional A Bronze Medalist, and the 2019 Scholastic AA Silver Medalist.
Prior to working at the Ann Richards School, Stephen was an Associate Director of Bands at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. At Bowie, he earned Division 1 ratings with the Freshman Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, and Wind Ensembles 2 and 3. The Bowie High School Outdoor Performing Ensemble also garnered success during Stephen’s tenure, being named a UIL 5A State Finalist in 2008, 2010, and 2012, a Grand National Finalist in 2009 and 2012, and a consistent BOA Regional Class Champion and Super Regional Finalist. His Winter Guards competed at the Texas Color Guard Circuit State Championships, where both the JV and Varsity teams were named class champions in 2014. The Varsity team went on to appear in the Scholastic Open Class Finals at the WGI World Championships.
For his work with young musicians, Stephen has earned many impressive honors. In 2015, he was awarded the Randy Julia Service Award from TCGC. In 2018, Mr. Howard was recognized as an Educator of Excellence by the Young Women’s Preparatory Network. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and is an active adjudicator in the Marching Band and Winter Guard world. He is a past President of the Texas Color Guard Circuit.
Stephen is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Radford University in Radford, Virginia, where he concentrated in both Instrumental and Vocal Music Education. He earned his Master’s degree in Music from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he studied Instrumental Conducting.