The Fabulous Marching Cavaliers

John Boyd is the Director of Bands at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, VA. A native of Southern Maryland (where he attended La Plata High School) he moved to Northern Virginia his senior year and graduated from Woodbridge High School in 1992, after which he attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama majoring in Music Education and graduating in May of 1997. His primary instrument was saxophone, but he also marched baritone and later tuba (Conn model 20-J) in the legendary Jacksonville State University “Marching Southerners”.  While at Jacksonville he had the pleasure of marching in the 1996 "Macy's Parade" in New York City.

After college, he was hired as Director of Bands at Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland from August 1997 until June 2001. His first year at the school, the Lackey Charger Marching Band earned a berth in the prestigious Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships for the first time in school history, and returned there every year under his direction. He also founded the Showtime Big Band, and placed heavy emphasis upon the Concert and Symphonic Band programs, with the Concert Band performing at the Maryland State Band Festival (Maryland bands must earn a Superior Rating at their District Festival to move to the State Band Festival).

He has been at Princess Anne High School since August 2001, directing the Symphonic Band, the Speed of Sound Big Band, the Wind Ensemble, and the famed Fabulous Marching Cavaliers. Mr. Boyd founded the Speed of Sound Big Band (the PA jazz ensemble) during his first year at Princess Anne, as well as instituting the “Big Spring Jam” concert series for percussion ensembles and jazz ensembles. In December of 2007, he founded the Dominion Storm Indoor Drumline. 

Princess Anne High School has been an active member of VBODA as well as regional marching band circuits (Tournament of Bands until the 2009 marching season, when they moved to the United States Scholastic Band Association and rekindled their participation in Bands of America), and during Mr. Boyd's tenure at Princess Anne the band program has earned the distinction of “Virginia Honor Band” numerous times (2002-2003, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009), for their Superior-rated performances at both the VBODA State Marching Festival in class 2A and the VBODA District II Concert Band Festival on grade 6 literature.

Mr. Boyd’s professional influences include in the field of conducting: Mr. Anthony Maiello, Dr. Sandra Dakow, and Maestro Alberto Ascercion; in the field of jazz: Mr. Randy Runyon and Mr. Chris Culver; in saxophone: Dr. Ron Attinger, Mr. Mike Hamilton, Mr. Carl Anderson, and Mr. Randy Runyon; in the field of marching arts: Mr. Bobby Jones; and in over-arching philosophies of band-directing, teaching, and fatherhood: Mr. Gene Inglis, Mr. John Brewington, Mr. Mike Brown, and Maestro Alberto Ascercion. Mr. Boyd’s professional affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Fraternity for Men in Music in America, the National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Virginia Music Educators Association, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, The Conductor’s Guild, and the Jacksonville State University Alumni Association. He is also featured in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”.

John is married to Mrs. Kelly Boyd, an 11th grade English and IB Theory of Knowledge teacher at Princess Anne High School. They have been blessed in life with their son, Gabriel, and daughter, Shannon.

Please feel free to contact Mr. Boyd with any questions or comments:
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(757) 648-5600, ext. 58453 (Office Phone)