Zachary Harwell
Music Education
Office: TC 123
Email: zharwell@uwo.ca
Zachary Joseph Harwell is from South Texas, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Education at Western University in London, Ontario. Zachary obtained a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Maryland studying with the Director of Bands, Dr. Michael Votta. Additionally, while at the University of Maryland, Zachary studied conducting with the Director of Orchestral Activities, Prof. David Neely, and the Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand. Zachary also holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas A&M University Kingsville, where he graduated magna cum laude. While at Texas A&M University Kingsville, he studied piano with Dr. Joachim Reinhuber, voice with Dr. Kenneth Williams, and privately took conducting lessons from Dr. Brian Casey, Dr. Brian Shelton and Dr. Scott Jones.
In 2015, Zachary began his career teaching general elementary music for pre-kindergarten through grade five. From 2016–2020, Zachary was the Assistant Band Director for Orange Grove ISD. While serving as the Assistant Band Director, he taught instrumental music classes in trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba at the junior high level. From 2020–2021, Zachary was appointed as the Interim Head Junior High Band Director and became the full-time Head Junior High Director for the 2021–2022 academic year. While in this role, Zachary oversaw all aspects of the junior high beginning band, junior high concert band, junior high symphonic band and the junior high honor band. Zachary also helped with the high school marching band and taught the high school symphonic band, high school concert band, high school jazz band, high school beginner guitar class, and high school beginner piano classes. The students he was privileged to teach consistently earned excellent and superior ratings both at regional contest festivals and state adjudications.
Zachary’s current research interests include decolonization in education, critical pedagogy, anti-oppressive pedagogy, trauma-informed pedagogy, teacher persona, teacher emotions, and teacher education.
Zachary is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Golden Key International Honor Society, The Singing Classroom, the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, American Recorder Society, and the International Society for Music Education. Zachary continues to teach private music lessons, is the current conductor of the Western Youth Wind Ensemble and enjoys singing in the King’s University College Chamber Choir in London, Ontario.
