Justin J. West 

Education:

Master of Arts in Music and Music Education--Columbia University

Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education--Lamar University 

Mr. West is a native of Houston, TX and has been directing choirs for almost 10 years. He holds a Master of Arts in music education, with distinction, from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Music in choral music education from Lamar University. A magna cum laude graduate of Lamar University, Mr. West studied voice with Professor Debra Greschner, piano with Drs. Roger Keele and Kingchi Au, and organ with Dr. Scott Feldhausen. Mr. West also performed in the nationally recognized Lamar University A Cappella Choir for three years and served as principal accompanist for the Lamar University Grand Chorus for two years. Before moving to Beaumont to pursue formal training, Mr. West was Assistant Director of Choral Ensembles and Staff Pianist at Resurrection Church and on the voice faculty of All About Music and Arts School in Houston. In Southeast Texas, he played for several regional competitions, choirs, children’s choruses, and solo vocal and instrumental concerts and performances. Additionally, Mr. West served as Assistant Musical Director and Pianist for Lamar Opera Theatre and as Principal Accompanist for the Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society. He continues to perform at the keyboard in the Beaumont and Greater Houston areas.  

As a lyric tenor, Mr. West completed studies abroad in summer 2011 on scholarship in the Concert Studio of the American Institute of Musical Studies’ Summer Vocal Institute in Graz, Austria. Mr. West is the recipient of several merit-based academic scholarships and awards including the TMEA Undergraduate Scholarship in Music Education, TMEA Student Teacher Scholarship, TCDA Scholarship, the Jo Swindall Holt Memorial Grant from the Delta Omicron Foundation, and the Mamie Vivian Hawkins Scholarship in Excellence and Academics among others. Throughout his undergraduate career, Mr. West was academically recognized every semester including three President's List appointments.

An award-winning essayist and scholar, Mr. West was a finalist in the 2010 TMEA Southwestern Musician Essay Contest for Pre-Service Music Educators for his entry, “Molding Young Musicians, Changing Young Lives: Music Education for the Future Generation.” Additionally, Mr. West was a Research Scholar as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at Lamar University. His senior thesis project was titled “Perceptions of Vibrato in High School and Undergraduate Choral Ensembles: a Study in Aesthetics” and can be found in the Lamar University McNair Research Journal. Mr. West was invited to present his paper at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention in February 2012 and the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference in June 2012.

Prior to his appointment in Crosby, Mr. West was Director of Music at First Christian Church in Beaumont for three years. A highly demanded and active church musician in southeast Texas, Mr. West also held music staff appointments at Pinecrest Baptist Church, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, and St. Henry Catholic Church. His professional and academic affiliations include the American Guild of Organists, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Delta Omicron Professional International Music Fraternity, the Council on Undergraduate Research, Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, and the Association of Texas Professional Educators.

As a choral conductor and music educator, his students consistently receive superior and excellent ratings from adjudicators at UIL and TMEA competitions. In addition to his duties in CISD as Director of Choral Programs, Mr. West serves as Piano Collaborator on the music staff of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Cypress.