Joseph Guzman is currently serving as the Assistant Band Director at Taft High School and as Taft Head Junior High School Director for Taft Independent School District in Taft, TX. Mr. Guzman is the Percussion Specialist for the Mighty Taft Greyhound High School Marching Band and Symphonic Band, serving as arranger, composer, and percussion educator. He also serves as the Conductor for the Taft Junior High School Honors Band and received a 1st Division Rating at the UIL Concert and Sightreading Competition as a first year teacher.
Prior to working at Taft ISD, Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas A&M University Kingsville studying under Associate Professor, Mr. Randy Fluman. During his time at Texas A&M University Kingsville, Joseph performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2008 for a clinic/concert with the TAMUK Percussion Ensemble. In 2010, he performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention again, but this time with the Texas A&M University Kingsville Wind Symphony. The Texas A&M University Kingsville Percussion Ensemble has performed at many clinics and concerts including the South Texas “Valley Day of Percussion.” Joseph also served as the Drumline Technician for the “Pride of South Texas,” Texas A&M University Kingsville Marching Band for two years. He was also a member of the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra for 2 years. Mr. Guzman performed in various solo recitals and one of the biggest accomplishments was performing Merlin by Andrew Thomas at his 2012 Senior Recital. He was also given the opportunity to perform with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra in 2012, performing along with his mentor Mr. Randy Fluman and other performing artists and professors from the Texas Area.
During his work at Texas A&M University Kingsville, Joseph worked as a Percussion Specialist for many schools in the surrounding areas, giving private lessons and clinics. He served as a Battery Technician for Calallen High School in 2011 & 2012. In 2011, the Calallen High School Wildcat Band won UIL Area G competition and went onto the UIL State Marching Band Competition. Mr. Guzman also was associated with the Calallen Percussion Theater Indoor Drumline in 2011 & 2012, where they won the Texas Education Colorguard Association (TECA) Open Class State Championship.
Joseph also marched a year of Drum Corps International with Mystikal Drum & Bugle Corps in 2009, where he marched snare drum and aged out. He also serves and a member of Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps as part of the Percussion Staff.
Mr. Guzman is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), and Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB). Joseph currently resides in Corpus Christi, Texas with his wife Alyssa and daughter Haylee.