Faculty

Paul Norris, Conductor

If things were different Paul Norris might be living in England playing the trombone. Instead he is an ex-Texan living in the mountains of Virginia with his wife, two sons, dogs and a barn full of llamas. He makes radio-controlled planes, drives a motorcycle, plays in a blues and 40's pop band, is the Director of Music at a local middle school and serves as conductor of our New Horizon Band.

The son of a percussionist, Paul was born in England. His father died when Paul was a young child, his mother remarried and when he was eight the family moved to Texas. As a school boy he wanted to play the trombone, but his family couldn't afford one. The school furnished the drums so a drummer he became. In high school and college he played in Drum Corps International, an organization designed to "provide a life changing experience for youth through the art of marching music performance." It must have worked. In college at East Texas State University Paul got his bachelors in Music Education and later a Masters in Education at George Mason. The seeds of his conducting were planted at ETSU when he conducted the Marching Band on the field as Head Drum Major.

While teaching at a Texas public school Paul auditioned and was accepted for a position in "The Commandant's Own" United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. Following Marine basic training, he spent four years as a snare drummer at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C, playing for dignitaries and two presidents. All this before becoming a United States citizen, as it was four years after being out of the Corps when he became one. While in the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps Paul married. Knowing that he was on the road seven months of the year, he resigned to have and raise a family.

Currently he serves as Director of Bands at Swanson Middle School and teaches at Levine Music. He was honored as teacher of the year in Arlington County a few years back. A couple years before that Paul mentioned to a Levine administrator it was too bad there wasn't an opportunity for adults to enter a beginning level band. When the administrator heard of the New Horizons Band organization, she approached Paul who agreed to conduct one and our band was born. Paul's patience, kindness, attention to detail, ability to teach, sense of humor (and did I say patience?) is legion. A novice band member need never fear embarrassment or criticism. We all feel very grateful for his leadership.