Session Proposals

Jason Finnels is currently in his 15th year of teaching and proud to serve as the first Director of Bands at Almeta Crawford High School in Fort Bend ISD. Prior to opening Crawford, Mr. Finnels was also the first Director of Bands at Ronald Thornton Middle School, Crawford’s main feeder program. He has enjoyed a rewarding career of teaching bands at both the middle and high school levels.
While under his direction, bands have received consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards and honors. The Watauga Middle School Honors Band was a two-time finalist at the annual North Texas Festival of Distinction in addition to being recognized as a two-time Commended Winner in the National Wind Band Mark of Excellence Competition. In 2022, the Thornton Middle School Band was a finalist in the North Texas Festival of Distinction, a Commended Winner in the National Wind Band Mark of Excellence Competition, and was selected as an Invited Band to perform in the 2023 Music for All National Concert Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. Most recently, in their inaugural year, the Crawford High School Band advanced to the TMEA 4A Honor Band State Semi-Finals.
In 2022, Mr. Finnels was named the Ronald Thornton Middle School Teacher of the Year and also selected as one of five Finalists for Fort Bend ISD's overall Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Finnels also serves as the Co-Conductor of The American Festival for the Arts (AFA) Orchestra & Chamber Music Workshop Full Orchestra.
Mr. Finnels is a 2009 Cum Laude Graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and a 2018 Summa Cum Laude Graduate of Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Finnels is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity and the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. He is an active adjudicator, clinician/consultant and has presented clinics at the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conventions.

Program culture and inclusion are crucial components in providing all students a high-quality music education experience. With experience teaching at all levels of secondary education, Finnels will share strategies that foster an inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environment while upholding standards of excellence designed to elevate the entire program. Topics to be included: Curriculum development and implementation, Recruitment and Retention Strategies, Classroom Management methods, and more!

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Choral - Middle School
• Choral - Secondary
• Orchestra - Middle School
• Orchestra - Secondary
• Mentorship/Beginning Teachers