The Utah Band Masters Association represents Utah band directors by furthering interest in school band music in Utah, sponsoring professional development opportunities for directors, advancing and bettering current school bands, and strengthening the professional standing of the school band teacher in Utah.

This year, the Utah Bandmasters Association needs to select a new president who will serve from July 1, 2024-2025 as President-Elect and then July 1, 2025-27 as President. Candidates for this year's election are Randall Brady and Zachary Giddings. Their biographies can be found below. Only current members of the NBA may vote at the following location: LINK TO VOTE

Candidate Biographies

Zachary Giddings

Zachary Giddings is currently in his ninth year of band directing and is in his third year at Ecker Hill Middle School. Mr. Giddings teaches over 220 students in the 7th grade Concert Band, 7th Grade Honor Band, 7th Grade Percussion Ensemble, 6th Grade Beginning Bands, and the Ecker Hill Jazz Band. The Ecker Hill Band consistently earns superior ratings and first place in festivals attended and performed for the first time in school history at the 2023 UMEA State Junior High Band Festival.

Prior to Ecker Hill, Mr. Giddings taught in Murray City School District and Canyons School District, where his ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at Region and State Festivals. His bands at Riverview Junior High and Draper Park Middle School performed in the Utah Music Educators Association State Band Festival for the first time in each schools’ history. In 2015 Mr. Giddings graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Music Education from The University of Utah, and in 2020 he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Music Degree in Saxophone Performance and was a Graduate Assistant for the Wind Ensemble. Mr. Giddings was a member of the University of Utah Wind Ensemble for six years and was the saxophone section leader for three of those years. Mr. Giddings was fortunate to learn and study with Dr. Mark Ely, Scott Hagen, Dr. Randal Clark, and many other esteemed faculty.

Mr. Giddings is an active performer in Salt Lake and Summit Counties and proudly holds a spot in the Utah Wind Symphony, a professional wind band located in Salt Lake Valley. Mr. Giddings’ Saxophone Studio has produced several students who have performed in the UMEA All-State Bands and received many superior ratings at the UMEA State Solo/Ensemble Festival.

Mr. Giddings’ professional memberships include the Utah Music Educators Association and the Utah Bandmasters Association. Mr. Giddings has served as the UMEA State High School Jazz Band Festival Manager, the Vice President of Junior High, and is currently the UMEA State Junior High Band Festival Manager.

Mr. Giddings lives in West Valley City with his husband, Curtis Black, who is Director of Instrumental Music at Highland High School, and their two pets, Stripes the Cat and Harvey the Dog.

Randall Brady

Randy Brady currently serves as Director of Bands at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs,Utah where he directs the marching band, three concert ensembles, and two jazz bands. Duringhis time at Westlake the band has continued its tradition of high achievement by performing asa finalist in the Bands of America St. George Regional, receiving Superior ratings at Music For All Western Regional Concert Band Festivals, regularly qualifying for State Jazz Band Festival, receiving Superior Ratings at State Concert Band Festival, and performing at the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional in San Antonio, TX (2019). Mr. Brady was award 2019-2020 Teacher of The Year by the Westlake High School PTSA.

Mr. Brady is now in his 15 th year of teaching that began by teaching in the Snake River School District in Mooreland, Idaho. During his tenure at Snake River the 6-12 band program increased in size from 36 students to just over 200. He also facilitated the creation of a fifth grade beginning band, high school jazz band, marching band, and two percussion ensembles. Mr. Brady wrote several successful grants that resulted in thousands of dollars of funding to the Snake River band program. In 2011-2012 he received the Snake River Junior High Teacher of the Year Award and the Snake River School District Teacher of the Year.

In 2015 Mr. Brady began working as visiting faculty at Brigham Young University-Idaho teaching courses in band education and supervising student teachers. Ensemble responsibilities included directed the University Band and Jazz Lab Band. Mr. Brady also served as interim SaxophoneStudio Instructor teaching lessons and directing the Saxophone Ensemble. Throughout his three-year visiting contract, he assisted with directing the BYU-Idaho Symphonic Band and was interim director of the ensemble during the 2018 Spring semester.

Mr. Brady is a graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho where he completed a Bachelors in Music Education. He later attended the American Band College of Sam Houston State University where he completed a Master of Arts in Band Conducting. Mr. Brady has been fortunate to receive conducting instruction and critique from Anthony Maiello, Robert Ponto, Scott Hagen, Craig Kirchhoff, and Jermie Arnold.

Mr. Brady is an avid mountain biker, road cyclist, and RC enthusiast. He loves spending time with his wife and four children in their favorite family activities of hiking, biking, legos, and pretty much any sport.