Texas Bandmasters Association

Lieutenant Matthew Stuver currently serves as Director, Navy Band Southeast aboard at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL. A native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Lieutenant Stuver enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 5th, 2011 after winning the jazz/classical tenor saxophone position with the United States Naval Academy Band, Annapolis, MD. He was selected for commissioning as a Limited Duty Officer Bandmaster in February 2020. His commissioned assignments include Assistant Director, Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band in Naples, Italy, and Training Officer, Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Lieutenant Stuver earned a bachelor’s in music education from James Madison University and holds masters degrees in both saxophone performance and literature and in jazz studies and contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music. He is a graduate of the Naval School of Music’s Unit Leader and Sound Reinforcement courses.

In his career, Lieutenant Stuver has performed or conducted ensembles in 24 countries, 21 states and Washington, D.C. reaching combined live and broadcast audiences of over 100 million. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards) in addition to numerous campaign, service, and marksmanship awards. His enlisted assignments include: United States Naval Academy Band, Annapolis, MD; United States Navy Band, Washington D.C.; Naval School of Music, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Navy Band Southeast, Jacksonville, FL; United States Pacific Fleet Band, Pearl Harbor, HI.

Warrant Officer Sean Salazar currently serves as assistant director of the 1st Marine Division Band. In this capacity he leads the band in performance and serves as the band’s operations officer responsible for matters pertaining to training, plans, and operations. He coordinates and directs the preparation and employment of the band and oversees the daily scheduling and logistics.

Warrant Officer Salazar holds an Artist Diploma in Music from Osceola County School for the Arts and studied jazz studies, clarinet, and saxophone performance under Dr. Keith Koons, Dr. Sullivan, J., Bruce Thompson, Russ Weaver, Bill Henley and Miguel Alvarado.

Warrant Officer Salazar enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2011 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He completed the Basic Music Course in 2012 at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Warrant Officer Salazar served as a clarinet instrumentalist in the following fleet Marine bands: III Marine Expeditionary Force Band (2012-2015), and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2015-2017). Warrant Officer Salazar served as an enlisted conductor in the following fleet Marine band: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2017). As do all fleet Marine musicians, Warrant Officer Salazar served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.

Warrant Officer Salazar served as an instructor at the Naval School of Music (2018-2022). From 2022-2025, he served as a musician technical assistant with 8th Marine Corps District. Warrant Officer Salazar is a formal schools instructor, Marine Corps martial arts instructor, and a force fitness instructor.

Warrant Officer Salazar was appointed a warrant officer and graduated from The Basic School in 2025.

Warrant Officer Salazar attended the Unit Leader Course (2018), Sound Reinforcement Course (2012), Advanced Musician Course (2024) and is a graduate of Career School 2020. Warrant Officer Salazar was the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Musician of the Year (2019) and the recipient of the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands (2012 and 2017). His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Dr. Stephen G. Peterson was appointed Director of Bands at the University of Illinois in the fall of 2015. As Director of Bands, he conducted the Wind Symphony, led the graduate wind conducting program, taught courses in wind literature, and guided all aspects of one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most storied band programs. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Illinois, he served as Director of Bands at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, for seventeen years. From 1988-1998 he served as Associate Director of Bands at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Dr. Peterson was also the conductor of the renowned Northshore Concert Band. He held positions as Associate and Interim Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and has several years of successful teaching experience in public schools in Arizona.

Since his retirement, Peterson maintains a busy schedule as a conductor and clinician, and as such, has appeared on four continents and in forty-two states. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association, and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and has been honored with membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota, and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is the immediate past president of the College Band Directors National Association.

Dr. Peterson was the first to receive the Doctor of Music degree in wind conducting from Northwestern University and earned Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University. In 2012 he was awarded the prestigious Ithaca College Faculty Excellence Award, recognizing his contributions to Ithaca College. His ensembles have appeared before national conventions of the American Bandmaster’s Association, the College Band Director’s National Association, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, the American School Band Director’s Association, at Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and at Lincoln Center

Captain Adam R. Williamson continues to serve as the 7th director of the United States Coast Guard Band during its 91st Concert Season. Under Captain Williamson's direction, the Coast Guard Band has performed concerts and supported official Coast Guard functions at every corner of the continental United States, playing for Congressmen, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard Commandant, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.

The 91st Concert Season's programs under his direction will feature the extraordinary talents of individual Band members with brilliant concerti, while revisiting classic wind ensemble repertoire and introducing exciting new works for band. The Coast Guard Band will also perform numerous works composed or arranged by the Band’s arrangers, MU1 Nelson and MU1 Langslet; frequently feature the Band's talented soprano soloist, MU1 Weikleenget; and continue to explore both familiar and lesser known military band marches.

Captain Williamson's leadership philosophy to "Encourage, Enable, Support, Reflect" has further tapped into the creative ideas of the Band musicians, generating new ensembles, such as the Guardians Big Band, and developing new performance platforms, such as the Coast Guard Chamber Concert Series. His efforts to create and strengthen local and regional partnerships have created numerous performance opportunities for the Coast Guard Band and Coast Guard Band small groups, and further developed the Band's Community Outreach Initiative, performing educational concerts and recitals for thousands of school students in Connecticut and Washington DC.

Captain Williamson earned a Bachelor of Music in music education and saxophone performance from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York College at Potsdam in 2001, and began graduate work at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and the University of Hartford's Hartt School. His wife, Lisa, the former Coast Guard Band vocalist, has an active career as an in-demand lyric soprano, taking her across the globe.

Michael Brashear assumed the position of Texas Bandmasters Association Executive Director in September, 2008. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the operation of TBA including management of the association’s office located in San Antonio. Mr. Brashear works with the Board of Directors to present the annual TBA Clinic/Convention which is the largest convention of its kind for band directors. TBA also presents professional growth outreach sessions for band directors throughout the year. Other responsibilities include serving as editor of the association’s publication The Bandmasters Review. Mr. Brashear served on the TBA Board of Directors from 1998 to 2004 and was President of TBA in 2003.

Prior to this position, Mr. Brashear was the Director of Fine Arts for the Richardson ISD. Before serving in this role, Mr. Brashear completed his thirtieth year as a band director and his thirteenth year as Director of Bands at L.V. Berkner High School in Richardson. Before his tenure in Richardson, Mr. Brashear taught in the Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring Branch, and Irving public schools. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Tarleton State University and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas.

Bands under Mr. Brashear’s leadership have won many awards, including selection as “Best in Class” at numerous festivals, selection as finalists in the Texas Music Educators State Honor Band competitions, and selection as finalists in the Texas State Marching Contest. In December 2000, the Berkner Band performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. In 2005, the Berkner Band was presented the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor.

In 1998, Mr. Brashear was one of fifteen teachers in Texas to win the UIL-Southwestern Bell Sponsor Excellence Award, and one of eight Richardson ISD teachers awarded the RISE Foundation “Excellence in Teaching” award. He is an active member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. In 2004, he was elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association. In 2006, Mr. Brashear was awarded the TBA Meritorious Achievement Award and in 2019, was further honored by being inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame.

Michael and his wife Priscilla, a retired Richardson ISD music teacher, reside in San Antonio. Their son, Robert, is an elementary PE teacher in Katy ISD where he resides with his wife, Leah and children Cecilia and Ryder. Their daughter, Sarah, lives in Washington, D.C. and works in administration for the D. C. Public Schools.

Master Sergeant Michael A. Jones currently serves as the Director of Band Operations for "Fort Sam’s Own" Army Band and will soon assume the role of First Sergeant for the 1st Armored Division Band in El Paso, Texas. A dedicated military musician, Master Sergeant Jones has served in the United States Army for over 22 years. Throughout his distinguished active-duty career, he has had the privilege of conducting premier musical ensembles worldwide, including The United States Army Band "Pershing’s Own," the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and featured ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.

His career highlights include performing for three Presidents of the United States and deploying to Afghanistan, where his ensembles provided vital musical support to service members on the frontlines. Throughout his tenure, he has remained deeply committed to mentoring and developing the next generation of Soldier-Musicians.

Beyond his military duties, Master Sergeant Jones is an active and highly sought-after adjudicator and clinician. He works extensively with high school marching bands and Drum Corps International (DCI) ensembles across the nation. Prior to enlisting in the Army, he served as a public school band director in southeastern Ohio and was an instructor for the Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics and the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.

He has studied conducting under the esteemed tutelage of Dr. Andrew Hunter, Colonel (Retired) Lowell Graham, Dr. Greg Wolyneck, and the late Dr. Ronald Hufstader. Master Sergeant Jones is deeply honored to have the opportunity to conduct the United States Air Force Band of the West for this performance.